Are you a faith leader who struggles with fundraising? I know you dread talking about money and I understand. After all, you are a leader in your faith, and your main role is to shepherd your flock; you don’t want to be begging for money or talking about money all the time; your mission and vision are the lifeblood of your religious institution. However, money is the oxygen that enables the blood to keep flowing. I would, however, like to pose a question to you. What does your faith say about philanthropy? Almost all religions regard philanthropy as foundational. For example: 

Buddhism believes in The Circle of the Way. Buddhism does not seek publicity for charity. In fact, its monks wear large straw hats to obscure their face—there is neither a giver or a receiver, only the giving! People are encouraged to give alms; the giving will merit the giver. Givers often dedicate the merit of their giving to someone else, or to all humanity

Christianity cites many Biblical passages about giving.

• Acts 20:35 “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the word the Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give then to receive.” 

• 1 Peter 4:10 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

• Corinthians 8 and 9: Paul discusses the Christian duty to provide financial support for Christians in Jerusalem

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has an entire Code of Ethical Principles and Practices regarding fundraising. Presbyterians, Methodists, United Brethren, and other Protestant churches have healthy attitudes on giving time, talent, and treasure. In Corinthians 8 and 9, Paul discusses the Christian duty to provide financial support for Christians in Jerusalem

The great Roman Catholic theologian, Henri Nouwen, wrote an entire book about fundraising. In The Spirituality of Fundraising, he says, “We must declare, ‘We have a vision that is amazing and exciting. We are inviting you to invest yourself through the resources that God has given you—your energy, your prayers, and your money—in this work to which God had called us.’

Islam has Zakat, or charity, as one of the five pillars of Islam. In the Quran 2.274 we read, “Those who in charity spend of their goods by night and by day, in secret and in public, have their reward with their Lord: in them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” And also in the Quran 2.263: “Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants, and he is more forbearing.”

Judaism traces love of God and love of neighbor to The Shema Prayer, and in Leviticus 19:18 it is written, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people but shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Also, the Jewish religion has a sect called Chabad, which supports 5000 charities globally.

The Hindu religion has the concept of Dana, in which charity is held in high regard and believes that all living things have an atman, or a piece of Brahman within themselves. The practice of Ahisma—not killing or harming any living thing—is another concept of charity, and Hindus believe that giving while receiving nothing in return is the right thing to do.

Native American Spirituality is cited in Giving in America: “Giving is not only reciprocal but is an honor to give and to receive. Giving is a spiritual investment in the protection of future generations.” In contrast to “noblesse oblige” giving is expected of all people regardless of their social and economic status.

Some of the challenges to fundraising in religion are:

• Many clergy are not trained in business, finance, fundraising, human resources.

• Misinterpretation of Paul’s letter to Timothy: The love of money is the root of all evil. Many interpret this as money itself is the root of all evil. Many 

I hope after reading this you might have a different perspective on fundraising in your faith community. Some questions to ask yourself:

• Do you think your faith background encourages philanthropy?

• Do you think philanthropy will “just happen?”

• Do you view fundraising with a “tin cup mentality?”

• Do you believe that “God helps those who help themselves?

To learn more about this topic pick up my book, The Pastor’s Guide to Stewardship and Philanthropy and take my course, Philanthropy and Religion