Are you looking for more eyes on your apostolate?

If you are, come join me!

This week, I discuss the two ways to spread the message of your apostolate. One way is through manual tasks, and the other way leverages free digital tools made available to you today. These are your two options, and can you guess which is better?

Learn about these two options to spread the message of your apostolate and help you take your fundraising from a one-time campaign into a sustainable and scalable apostolate. Check it out:

So, we wrapped up Lent last week...

... which means wrapping up Lenten fundraising appeals.

I completed many appeals these past weeks for lay apostolates, religious communities, parishes, and schools.

And as always, there were lots of lessons learned.

Today, I will focus on whether or not you should apply for secular grants. I discuss the pros and cons and what to consider when looking for funding from grants.

Should Catholics apply for grants (specifically secular grants). Check it out:

https://www.catholicfundraiser.net/should-catholic-apostolates-apply-for-secular-grants/

Think you cannot get excited about asking for donations?

That’s what many people are telling me lately (and that thought can be paralyzing!) until they realized that major success often starts by looking at fundraising from a different perspective.

Looking back, I can see that’s how things unfolded in many other apostolates, too.

If you’re starting out or at a crossroads, and you need some help getting excited, I have some excellent advice for you. Check it out:

https://www.catholicfundraiser.net/how-to-get-excited-about-fundraising/

I recently had dinner with a famous Catholic personality, and we discussed an interesting topic that evening.

We discussed the 'art' of building a sustainable Catholic apostolate.

It got me thinking about the roadblocks for most people.

What do you think is your BIGGEST roadblock?

I'm guessing it's FEAR.

The fear of asking for donations is a HUGE challenge. So, I thought to share my thoughts on how you can overcome your fears of asking. Check it out:

I enjoy fundraising for Catholic apostolates, and I also enjoy helping Catholics run their apostolates. But I think your fundraising should serve your mission, not the other way around.

Take for example capital campaigns.

Running a capital campaign can be very important; however, a campaign can overwhelm the apostolate's mission and focus.

And if you've been reading everything that I send you, I'm all about focusing on the mission WHILE achieving fundraising success - especially with capital campaigns.

Check out how I always start my capital campaigns to make sure they (1) are successful and (2) serve the mission:

If you’re starting to fundraise, here’s a critical thing you need to remember:

You may feel guilty when asking for donations.

It’s okay to feel this. I felt guilty at first, but feelings don’t equal facts. Would you agree? You are asking because your mission can do so much more with some financial support.

So how do you overcome that guilty feeling?

Well, that is what this week’s lesson is all about. Check it out:

https://catholicfundraiser.net/how-to-not-feel-guilty-when-fundraising/

As you've heard, Texas is experiencing unprecedented freezing weather and power outages. Like many of my fellow Texans, I've been without water or electricity - sometimes days.

Praise be to God; my family was partially prepared for these events.

With that said, assisting neighbors has been the silver lining during these trials.

Serving people reminds us why we are Catholic.

I am confident that helping people is why you launched your apostolate.

But when you fundraise, you naturally have to focus on your apostolate's needs because more funds can help SERVE MORE people.

So, where is the balance between focusing on your needs (organizing fundraising campaigns) and staying glued to your mission (serving others as Christ wants you)?

Here is my suggestion of where that balance should be:

https://catholicfundraiser.net/balance-mission-and-fundraising-during-the-texas-freeze/

Engaging with an apostolate's community can be easy when you are starting out. You have time for conversations with everyone (donors and non-donors) and replying to every email and message.

As your apostolate grows, though, it can become harder to "keep up" with everyone. You have to find new ways to be available and stay focused on the mission - without having to spend the entire day stuck in your email's inbox! (maybe you are now?!)

It sounds counterintuitive, but I realized that as you raise more funds, there's a point when you CANNOT forget the basics.

Check out the full article here: https://catholicfundraiser.net/the-basics-of-fundraising/

Putting together a great fundraising campaign means knowing how to ask for donations.

However, you are likely asking:

Why is it SOOOOOO hard to ask for donations?

The answer to this question would change your apostolate forever, would you agree?

So that's what I did this week. I debunked the mystery as to why it's so hard to ask for donations. Check it out:

You and I both know how successful St Bernard of Clairvaux was in doing the will of God – founded numerous monasteries, composed many written works, advised Popes, and helped reform the Benedictine order.

Today, he is a household name among Catholics.

He also offered wisdom to anyone wanting to launch an apostolate.

This advice is especially pertinent to anyone wanting to run an apostolate and fundraise in today's climate. Check it out:

https://catholicfundraiser.net/st-bernard-advice-catholic-apostolate/

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