Five Fundraising Steps to Create Life-Long Givers

Science of Fundraising

Fundraising is both a science and an art. The science part is something all church planters can master if they understand the donor cycle. This process involves five steps that move people from being an outsider to becoming a committed stakeholder (giving member) of your church. Let’s take a closer look at this cycle.

The Donor Cycle

1. Identification

Identifying potential donors is part of the natural process you are already going through as a church planter. To plant a church, you will seek out people to join your launch team, become members, and participate in your church after launching. Doing this creates a grassroots donor base by default.

One way you can move forward with identification is by having members bring friends to recruiting meetings. There is built-in trust when a friend invites someone. Another option is to have a recruiting lunch where people you ask to attend also invite people to hear about your church’s vision. Encouraging current stakeholders to invite friends to this type of gathering is a huge win for fundraising.

2. Cultivation

Every interaction you have with a person a cultivation opportunity. You may not need to add that much to your schedule to cultivate a donor relationship. You are already doing things that are as developing givers. Wherever you are already gathering with people is a chance to grow relationships and discover more about potential givers.

The way you successfully cultivate a fundraising relationship is to be genuinely interested in your donors. Getting to know them personally helps you see what they care about. Your objective in this part of the process is to learn what they are passionate about so that you can know which areas of your vision to ask them to give towards.

3. Solicitation

Here is a simple formula that can help you with solicitation:

Clear Vision + Financial Need + Current Gap = A Successful Fundraising Ask.

A more detailed breakdown of this formula looks like this:

Clear articulation of vision + Confidently sharing the dollar amount needed to accomplish the need + the gap between what you have and what you need = A successful fundraising solicitation. 

The clear articulation of vision should inspire them to see how the world could be better with what you are doing. The financial need to accomplish that vision shared confidently provides the potential donor with an action step to get involved and sharing the gap between where you are currently in your fundraising and where you need to create urgency. The end goal would be that a giver would see the potential impact of their donation and have a sense of confidence that their gift will accomplish what you say it will

4. Follow Up 

This is simply touching base to ensure that they do not have any further questions or need further clarification. There may also be things you need to know to continue to follow up and help you with the next step of the donor cycle. This is why it is vital to prepare with the right questions.

5. Stewardship

Stewardship is very similar to cultivation, but the difference is that it takes place after someone gives. Believe it or not, this is the most critical step. You may think that asking for a donation is the most essential step, but let me tell you why that is not the case. If you do this step right, then that first gift is not the last. Instead, it becomes the first step of many.

Bonus Step

Studies show that the number one reason people give or do not give again is because of how well they were thanked. Taking time to know your donors is vital here because it will help you understand how to best show appreciation. Knowing their sizes and likes helps tremendously if you plan to send gifts. It is a simple thing to say, “Thank you,” but do not overlook it.

Giving to Change Lives

Making the ask may be uncomfortable, but people will not give if you do not ask. Remember, they are not giving to you. They are giving to people. They are investing in lives changed. When someone donates to church planting, they are giving to one of the most significant causes you can support becomes a new church leads to a more populated heaven.

We would love to help you with giving solutions that will help make fundraising easy and effective for your church. Click here to schedule a free coaching session with one of our team members.