An open thank-you note

This is an open thank-you note to those donors who help make fundraising worth it.

To those donors who return phone calls, thank you. You have no idea how rare you are.

To those donors who give special gifts, even on top of your regular giving, thank you. It is common for a regular gift to be skipped; it is not common for someone to help make up the difference.

To those donors who pray for us, thank you. Many people, including us ourselves, can believe that what we need most is funding. But you know the truth: what we need even more is Jesus. Please keep praying that we would know Him more. (And for funding, too, please!)

To those who send us a card, text or Facebook message to let us know we’re being prayed for, thank you. You are like the previous donor but worthy of double honor.

To those who remember the name of our ministry when we call the second time, thank you. We often appreciate this even more than you remembering our names.

To those who confront the elephant in the room by asking what our needs are, thank you. There is not a fundraiser in the world who knows how to bring this up in a non-awkward way. If anyone claims otherwise, they're lying.

To those who talk about Jesus more than anything else, thank you. We need this for the sake of our souls. We also need this modeled for us because being in full-time ministry doesn't mean we're good at it.

To those who control their pets when we meet together, thank you. Our allergists also thank you.

To those who send us home with leftovers, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

To those who treat us like royalty when we feel like beggars, thank you. You remind us that we are ambassadors of the King. Please continue reminding us of this, because we forget it more quickly than you know.

To those who introduce us to your friends at church, thank you. We may appear confident on the outside while meeting new people at a church, but inside we're terrified. (Watch our eyes and you'll see it.) You standing by our side and saying even one encouraging thing about our ministry is like offering a glass of water to one dying of thirst.

To those who see yourselves as our partners in the gospel, thank you. We truly need you. Without you we would wither and fail, but with you we are encouraged each day to trust again in God's sustaining grace.


If you have done any of these things, on behalf of those you're supporting, we sincerely thank you.

For you fundraisers: when’s the last time you've thanked God for your donors by name, and especially those who come to mind as you read this list?  Why not drop them a note right now to let them know that you’re thankful for them?

What else would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments or on your favorite social network!