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Q Star
By Zach Clark
W
HEN IT COMES TO MONEY, most people carry
baggage. The topic of money can evoke emotion in a
person that travels as far back as their childhood. I find that
many leaders bring baggage with them into their conversa-
tions with donors about giving. After all, money is a topic of
conversation for every leader!
The notion of asking or needing money that belongs to
someone else causes some leaders of faith-based organiza-
tions to simply hate themselves while in such conversations.
Let’s face it: it can be an awkward, uncomfortable, difficult,
and sometimes very frustrating to ask for money. A feeling
of self-loathing can overwhelm the person who is actively
asking people to consider giving.
I find a prevailing belief among most who work and lead
in faith-based organizations is that there is a separation
of the mission-related work of their organization and the
work of raising money. They see these items as two different
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things. This is seriously flawed thinking that holds so many
of us back.
You can hear this in their everyday language. They say,
“Well, if we work too much on raising money, there won’t
be enough time for the ministry,” as if somehow the work
related to raising money is not ministry. The feeling is that
raising money for ministry is not part of the overall ministry
work God has called them to do.
I believe that development is the disciplined work of
connecting people to make a difference through your
mission. Development is less about raising money and
more about the language of leadership. Development is an
essential set of leadership skills and disciplines.
Consider it this way: the currency you are after as a devel-
opment leader is not money. What you are trying to grow is
the currency of influence. Influence is what really matters.
The essential work of the leader is the work of getting things