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Growing Givers' Hearts : Treating Fundraising As A Ministry

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Do Christian organizations and development officers fundraise in a way that appeals to motives "at odds with the teachings of their faith"? Are they simply interested in getting a dollar or equally interested in nurturing the spiritual life of donors? These questions are important since, as the authors assert, "Some fundraising appeal or another is quite likely to be the first-and may be the only-contact of the unchurched with Christianity today." Does this fundraising reflect the Gospel?

Jesus warned us, "No one can serve two masters...You cannot serve both God and Money." Growing Givers' Hearts begins be surveying the theology of giving in the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament, and throughout the history of the Church. This initial section alone is worth the price of the book.

The largest part of Growing Givers' Hearts is based on a three-year study funded by the Lilly Endowment. Jeavons and Basinger explored six organizations that are successful at both raising funds and encouraging the spiritual growth of their donors and identified six "necessary conditions" for such a program. These organizations are: Compassion International, Union Gospel Mission of Seattle, the Catholic Charities of Cleveland, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson, San Francisco Theological Seminary, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Biola University. The six conditions are the chapter headings for "Part Two" listed below.

The final section moves from the organizational perspective to that of the individual. These chapters are a challenge and an invitation to the ministry of fundraising. Jeavons and Basinger offer specific insights into how the "necessary conditions" flow out of our daily lives.

Written for a decidedly Christian audience, Jeavons and Basinger have tried to be inclusive of the Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Evangelical traditions and vocabulary. The book is filled with concrete, but not formulaic, suggestions and practices of those that treat fundraising as ministry. These well-placed, compelling examples ground the principles in real life and make the Growing Givers' Hearts approach even more believable.

I highly recommend Growing Givers' Hearts! It a challenge and an encouragement for Christians but would probably be compelling to anyone interested in the spirituality of fundraising.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction: Fundraising and the Expression of Faith

Part One: What is Christian Fundraising?
1. Creating Resources for God's Work
2. What the Bible Says About Giving and Asking
3. A Brief History of Christian Fundraising

Part Two: Six Essential Characteristics of Fundraising as a Ministry
4. Confidence in God's Abundance
5. A Holistic Perspective on "Kingdom Work"
6. Clarity About Core Theological Beliefs
7. Giving Donors Opportunities for Participation
8. Integrated Organizational Planning
9. Spiritually Mature Leadership

Part Three: The Fundraiser's Ministry
10. Fundraising as a Calling
11. Fundraising as an Invitation to Cooperate with God's Grace

As someone who is a fundraiser for a Christian organization, I found this to be a refreshing look at fundraising from an explicitly Christian perspective. It doesn't focus very much on fundraising methods, but it reflects on what should be a major goal of Christian fundraising--the continued growth of the faith of a Christian organization's supporters. That is, in the methods they use, Christian fundraisers should seek to expand their givers' faith experience--that's the ultimate goal of stewardship. The book provides numerous examples of how Christian fundraisers have pursued this goal with their donors.

The authors conducted lengthy interviews with staff in several well-regarded and successful Christian organizations, including seminaries and service organizations. The insights from these people are worth the price of the book. In addition, the authors also reviewed some of the history of Christian philanthropy, including St. Paul's exhortations of the earliest Christians.

When fundraisers are easily criticized, this book gave me a real sense of inspiration about what I do.

A scholarly text that explores ways to bring Christianity back into fundraising. It is based on a two-year study of 7 Christian organizations (none of them parishes). It is not about the "how to" of fundraising but rather the "what if."
Not as useful for parish work as "Behind the Stained Glass Window" or "Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church."

This book is an excellent resource for Christian-based non-profits. The author demonstrates just how fundraising should be, seeing donors as not just sources of revenue, but as people who are also personally affected by our organizations. It portrays a biblical perspective. If you have ever asked: "How should fundraising be different in a Christian organization?" this book is one of just a few that gives the answer. And it is both philisophical and practical, using examples from respected organizations who are dong it right.

I found this work to be very research based. If you are a full time fundraiser in the Christian community it has useful information. If you are on a church committee, I would turn to another resource for support and information.