This post was written years ago, but it’s worth reposting. It’s about a book almost everybody I know should read. A friend mentioned the book recently, so it seemed timely to repost my thoughts.
Henri Nouwen was brilliant, of course. He gave a talk on fundraising and somebody had the good sense to publish it as A Spirituality of Fundraising.
And I think everybody should read it. Here’s why.
In his book To Sell is Human, Daniel Pink said that we are all in sales now.
True, but we are all in fundraising now, too.
You don’t have to operate a non-profit organization to be in fundraising. In my mind, fundraising is encouraging people to use their wealth in a way that best impacts the world, their own spirituality, and the spirituality of those receiving the gift.
Looking at fundraising from that perspective means that all of us are fundraisers. We all influence how others use their wealth. By what we buy, or what we applaud, or what we say. Through our own decisions, actions, values and opinions, we shape those around us.
So if we’re going to be fundraisers in this way, don’t you think we should understand the importance of doing it right?
That’s where Nouwen’s book comes in. Here’s a book that looks at fundraising without being intimidated by wealth. Nor dismissive of wealth, corrupted by wealth, or lustful for wealth. Nouwen gets our heads screwed on straight about how to view people with wealth through a spiritual lens. And when we do that we put a proper perspective on their contribution to our work, ministry, church, non-profit group, school, etc.
Get the idea? Read the book.