An Appeal

AN APPEAL

Michael hates asking for money.

I would guess that most of us here feel the same.

There is, however, someone I know who loves asking others for money… my wife.

My wife has been a professional fund-raiser for most of her professional life.  She has been the director of development for an opera company, two private schools, a European university, a United Nations agency, a Smithsonian affiliated museum and a major civic institution.  

Now, most of us believe that fund-raising is about getting people with lots of money to give to causes or institutions that need money.  “They’re rich… they should help us…”

As a result of her experience, however, my wife has realized that this is not the case.  Let’s face it, there are tens of thousands of good causes to which we can give our money. So, my wife has established certain guidelines that inform her fundraising.

Firstly, people do not give money to organizations.  People give money to people.  There is a human face and a measure of trust behind our desire to give.

Secondly, people give money to those who share their values.  It is not about us and the “good work” we are doing.  It is about their values aligning with yours.  When that happens, people can be extraordinarily generous.

Here at the Phoenix Preacher there is a person who stands behind the articles, links, editorials and observations.  It takes an enormous amount of work to not only write, format and present the materials, but to also curate and moderate the threads.  That person is Michael.  We know him even if we have not met him… and, we trust him even when we might not agree with him.

Additionally, at the Phoenix Preacher, we find shared values.  That is why day by day, week by week, and year by year, we take time to comment on threads, to engage in conversation and to pray for those whom we only know as names from their comments.  It truly is an online community of faith.

For this to continue, however, the Phoenix Preacher needs your help.  I would ask that if you value this forum, if you value the person who stands behind this forum, to give generously. 

Oh yes, one more thing… my wife reminds me that there is one more rule in fund-raising – Always say “thank you”.

So, thank you in advance for your support.

Duane W.H. Arnold, PhD

The Project