“Glory to God for All Things” – St. John Chrysostom
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The ultimate purpose of all fundraising in a parish or organization will be to fulfill the mission of the gospel – worship God, serve God, glorify God, proclaim the good news, help the poor and the needy, personally acquire the Holy Spirit and abide in love.
The ultimate well-being of every prospective donor must be of foremost concern.
All communication and actions will be conducted courteously, humbly and honestly.
Fundraising efforts will be devoid of manipulation, coercion or any guilt-inducing or shaming tactics.
Every member of the fundraising team will attend to their own spiritual life before undertaking this task for it can lead to judging others, impatience, gossip, frustration and misunderstandings.
Every person engaged in fundraising will first make their own sacrificial and meaningful gift before asking others to do so.
Every gift will be received with gratitude accepting that the Lord alone knows which gifts are truly sacrificial.
The asking parish or organization utilizes the gift for the purpose for which it is given, or if this is not possible, asks the donor if the gift may be applied to a similar purpose or one meaningful to the donor.
Parishes and organizations will work toward the ultimate goal of funding all operational expenses through stewardship giving.
The parish or organization will maintain confidentiality concerning the gift or the giver unless permission has been received to announce the gift.
The parish maintains excellent record keeping and diligently mails statements and reports to donors.
The deliberations, decisions and actions of the parish council or board of trustees is as transparent and open as possible, acknowledging that at times, confidentiality needs to be maintained.
The parish or organization will make a sincere effort to find three ways to thank the donor.
Properly prepared fundraising team members need not feel shy, fearful or ashamed when they personally and politely ask fellow parishioners or supporters for their sacrificial gift support remembering the encouraging words of Our Lord, “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)