When CatholicFundraiser.net launched in 2016, the focus was to take a CATHOLIC approach on how to ask for donations.

Here we are three years later, and I am talking to you about Pope Benedict XV...

Success!

Benedict XV left us a treasure chest of letters, homilies, bulls, and encyclicals on how to grow in holiness. And... yes, how to also fundraise properly.

So here’s some insight that I've learned from him.

You can learn more here: http://bit.ly/2DYlsRq

I’m a big believer in learning from the experts…

I even tell my team that it’s all about learning from the best.

Who are these experts? They are the heroes of the Catholic Church. Take for example Saint Pope Pius X, who led the Church in the early 20th century.

In his encyclical, IL FERMO PROPOSITO, he offers us a blueprint for taking action. He explains that an apostolate must ”enlarge its sphere and multiply its results.”

Often, this requires you to fundraise… and that’s what this week’s blog is all about.

Check it out in this week's podcast.

To learn more, click here: http://bit.ly/2sZCBUm

I'm reading Abbot Jean-Baptiste Chautard's classic book on the interior life, the Soul of the Apostolate.

This book is so good that it has been given the thumbs up by three popes: Pope Pius X (had a copy on his nightstand, Benedict XV ( who wrote a foreword for it), and Benedict XVI (who cited it during his visit to Lourdes in 2008).

As a fundraiser, Dom Chautard's guidance is priceless because he offers recommendations for being a "soldier of Christ" who takes "zealous action."

Cistercians, like you and me, had to fundraise at times. Here are three recommendations I have learned from Dom Chautard on fundraising correctly as a Catholic.

You can learn more here: http://bit.ly/2MvXFdU

How much do you organize your day to day based on a saint's life?

I’m not talking about when you pray at Mass, Adoration, or in your room... I’m talking about what to do in all those other moments in life... the day to day stuff... like asking people for donations.

Do you follow your gut?

Do you let things happen as they may?

Do you phone a friend?

None of these choices are necessarily wrong, but they could be the difference between getting that next big donation (and moving your mission forward) and missing it ---> which then leads to frustration and feeling like you can't help more people.

This past week, I picked up The Rule of Saint Benedict, and here is what he taught me about fundraising. Take a look.

Learn more here: http://bit.ly/2MeM82I

So if you’ve been following along for the last few years, you know that I take my Catholic faith seriously in all parts of life...

... especially when it comes to fundraising.

I believe you have to look at the teachings of the Church, doctrine, and saints for ideas on how to fundraise.

This week I was in Detroit... and the blistering cold weather (along with a few books) got me thinking about the monastic traditions.

I asked myself, "How would a monk fundraise?"

Yes, religious communities do fundraise! ... and after helping several these past few months, here is what I've learned.

To read the full article, click here: http://bit.ly/2M1aBIN

It’s 2019 and you might be thinking about setting some fundraising targets for the New Year. Well, you might want to hold off on that until you watch this.

As Catholics, you know that we see the world differently. Take for example Saint John the Baptist in today's reading.

I think the same applies to how Catholics should fundraise. Remember, we can't simply copy what everyone else does. Today, I want to share with you some great ideas that can help you have a holier and faith-based approach to fundraising.

Go deeper here: http://bit.ly/2Sze9nT

My fundraising started to kick into high gear when I better understood how it connects with my Catholic faith.

When we talk about faith in the context of fundraising, we often hear lines such as, “You just have to have faith. It’ll all work out.” “Do not worry about fundraising. What is supposed to happen, will happen."

What do these phrases mean? Better yet, are they helpful?

Personally, I think such phrases demonstrate an incorrect approach to how we -- as Catholics -- should connect faith and fundraising.

Read the full article: http://bit.ly/2rMAbrq

Fundraising has changed dramatically in the past decade, and 2019 will be another year of new ways to ask for donations. The focus used to be on direct mail appeals. You’d collect a mailing list of people and mail them your appeal. That method is slowly being replaced by online appeals for two reasons.

The first is online appeals are dramatically less expensive. Mailing a letter would cost you around a buck and change, while an email usually costs less than a nickel.

The second reason is ‘return on investment’ or ROI Non-profits - especially ones with smaller fundraising budgets - find this new approach to be more successful. You can send 2,000 emails for the same price as it would cost to send a single letter. More requests equal more donations, and fewer costs mean more money back into the mission.

Read the full article here: http://bit.ly/2PB11MA

End-of-year fundraising is on most Catholic causes and non-profits to-do lists this time of year. So I thought it would be a great time to share the advise a parish priest once gave to me.

He had observed, after a few years as their priest, what inspired his parishioners not only to give but also not to give. He thought if he could only do more of what inspired them to give, then more parishioners would donate.

Year after year, he fine-tuned his process for end-of-year giving and was able to boost his weekly collection by 30%.

That’s really good, but when you read how he actually did it, it’s even more amazing.

Here is what one parish priest did: http://bit.ly/2PpAfH0

After writing hundreds of appeal letters, I’ve found what works best, especially when writing to a Catholic audience. These are not fundraising tricks. I don’t believe in using tricks for one simple reason. We are created in the image and likeness of God, and that means we are designed to give because God is the greatest giver of all.

You will find my tips focus on our Catholic faith and most importantly, your mission. By following these simple steps, you will feel more comfortable about sending your letter, and you should see a boost in donations.

Read the full article here: http://bit.ly/2Pahpn5