How do I raise money?

When it comes to funding your spiritual innovation, remember—nothing moves forward without actually asking people to get involved! Spiritual innovator Nick George talks about how funding comes down to relationships, so it's important to ask yourself before pursuing a funding strategy: "Do I want to build and be in relationships with these people?", whether that's a large community audience, or individual funders.

And the best way to start is by really listening. Before you pitch your idea, take time to get curious: ask what your community cares about, or what your potential funders dream about and where they feel stuck. Let those first conversations be more about understanding them than trying to convince them. When you find where your visions line up, that’s your chance to invite them into building something amazing together.

Growing these relationships takes patience and a lot of heart. Fundraising isn’t just a one-time ask; it’s about deepening a real connection around a shared mission. Lennon Flowers, who co-founded The Dinner Party, advises that it can be valuable to “invite potential donors into the mess.” Here’s what she means:

“No, I don't mean your books: Keep your finances clean, and understand what comes in and what goes out. But remember that you're not just convincing someone that your cause is worthy of an investment; you're convincing them that you're the person to pursue that cause. You want them to know you're clear-eyed and rigorous, thoughtful and visionary, and able to get the ship from here to there. Don't prostrate yourself. Invite them into the sticky questions you're holding, and ask for their advice.”

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The best fundraisers stay in touch and keep caring about their partners even after someone has given or invested. Remember, behind every donor or foundation is a real person with hopes and passions of their own. When you see and honor that, you’ll create partnerships that don’t just keep your work going—they’ll help it thrive.

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Starting Exercise: Raising Money

Read this Sacred Design Lab tip sheet on Resourcing Your Spiritual Innovation Work. Then seek out three people who might give money to your spiritual innovation, be that via donation, investment, or community membership. Invite each of them to a listening conversation. Focus the whole time on asking them questions about their current passions:

• What are you working on? What do you care about changing?
• What would success look like if everything worked out?
• What is tricky? Where do you see things getting stuck?

Don’t put any pressure on the conversation to raise money, or even necessarily talk about your spiritual innovation at all. Just get to know them better. From here, you will have a relational foundation for future conversations to build on.

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Tools

• Mazin Jamal has a great introductory video on non-profit fundraising which busts myths and shares some practical strategies. 
• Bridgespan has a helpful overview on nonprofit fundraising strategies, including a breakdown of the different categories of donors.

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Deeper Learning

• Henri Nouwen’s classic short primer on the spirituality of fundraising has helped many spiritual leaders figuring out how to ask for money. 
• Or if you’re looking for a coach to help you fundraise, check out Sonya Mehta. 
• Watch this webinar from Sacred Design Lab with guest Nick George on resourcing your spiritual innovation work.