Let’s get serious because you wouldn’t be reading this if you were not looking for better ways to improve your fundraising. I want you to be successful and accomplish all you want with your mission. To do just that, I want you to take your fundraising to the professional level.

But before we talk about professionalism, I want to put this word into context with our Catholic faith. When we often talk about professionalizing anything in the Catholic Church, we can quickly think of suits, flow charts, graphs, colorful brochures, policies, and procedures. That’s not what I am talking about here.

When I say go ‘pro’ with your Catholic fundraising, I mean keeping your eyes on the bigger picture; Jesus Christ. I say this in all seriousness because there is a small but vital distinction to be made with your fundraising.

Step 1. Get on with your mission, with or without donations

You and I know that what matters most is doing God’s will. This means to be part of his Kingdom and to tell all nations. It also means to save lives and souls. Therefore, let’s stay focused on these goals when we fundraise rather than the amount you raise in your next campaign. Why? God is more interested in you fulfilling your vocation than you raising funds to do your vocation. To be more bluntly, you following God is more important than raising funds, wouldn’t you agree?

That’s what going pro with your fundraising. Press on with or without funds.

I continuously see Catholics never following their vocation because they are waiting for the funds to come first. They think that if God wants them to do something, then He will first provide the money. No, that’s not correct. That’s not going pro with your fundraising.

Get started without the funds. Show people what you can achieve without donations. Inspire them what you can do even before they choose to support you. Then, when you do get their donations, go above and beyond. Meaning, turn everything to the next level. In other words, keep going pro.

Step 2. Overcoming you biggest roadblock – you

As I help more and more Catholic agencies (and I’m helping a lot) with their fundraising, I see the most significant distinction is here.

The ones that do best with their fundraising have their eyes on their mission and keep going. They are always looking to move forward with or without donations. They never stop. Their faith is in Jesus, not in a major donor that will appear at any moment.

The Catholic agencies who seem to never get out of their struggles, or even pick things up, slow down or completely stop when fundraising doesn’t go as planned. Meaning, their level of commitment to their vocation is dependent on money.

Your biggest roadblock is you thinking that external resources are going to pick things up. They may or they may not, who knows? If someone were to give you a big fat check, what would you do? You probably wouldn’t know what to do, and that’s the problem. You are not doing enough already to even know what to do with donations. So, focus on you, your ideas, your will, your focus, and get moving, because I know that God is already blessing you with the tools necessary to move forward.

Step 3. Excuses are not a valid option

Let’s take this even further because when I make this point, I often get pushback, otherwise known as excuses. Catholics often think that in order to do their mission, they have to have money. This is particularly the case when they have none. Well, I fully disagree. If you don’t have money, and you believe 100% that this is what God wants you to do, he probably wants you to move forward without money. My grace is sufficient, as Jesus said to Paul when he was grumbling.

My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. – 2 Corinthians 12:9

Therefore, stop grumbling and get moving. Stop making excuses. Find alternative ways to move forward without the donations you think you need. Change your plans to fit your current situation. If you dream of opening a religious house or retreat center where you can help hundreds of people, but you don’t have the money to do so, start with helping one person. If you are already helping one person, help another one.

I guarantee you that Jesus will help you along the way, so give him the time and space to do so. Remember, we are on his time, not ours. Share your story with everyone around you and inspire them. Get people to trust you with your actions so they can are willing to trust you with their money.

Step 4. Understand the difference between ‘want’ and ‘need’

This is an important point. You must not forget this point when you go out and fundraise. There’s a distinction between want you need and what you want. You want money, but you don’t need. You need God, and you’ve got him. Please don’t mix these up, so just go. He will give you all that you need. You just have to show up (every day) and keep your eyes and ears open to spot the people and resources God places in your life.

I am completely serious that God is giving you everything you need right now. You however are unfortunately spending too much time focused on what you don’t have than looking at what you do have.

That’s what I mean by going pro with your fundraising. If you can move your mission forward without money, just imagine what you can do with donations, am I right? If you do have some funds, keep going on what you have, learn to keep those donors, and find ways to get a few more at a time.

I often tell Catholics who start with fundraising, “If what you are doing is God’s will, you must believe that he will never leave you out to dry. Instead, believe he will give you everything you need. Just get started, move forward and always keep your eyes and ears open.”

Question: What is one action you can do today to go pro with your fundraising? You can leave a comment by clicking here.