The Catholic Fundraiser Podcast

You may have heard that Facebook stopped allowing ads to target groups based on religious interests. In practical terms, Catholic apostolates could previously tell Facebook to show their ads to anyone who liked topics such as Our Lady, the Rosary, the Divine Liturgy, and the Pope. Now, it's not allowed to ask Facebook to show ads to people based on their religious interests. Is Facebook censoring Catholics? What does this mean for your apostolate? I outline what has changed, how to use Facebook still, or if you should abandon the platform. Here is what you should know regarding Facebook's changes to Catholic interests: https://catholicfundraiser.net/is-facebook-censoring-catholics-latest-changes-may-provide-evidence

When you drive, you see signs on the side of the road indicating dangers up ahead. "Road Work Ahead" "Slippery When Wet" "Railroad Crossing" When you fundraise, you should also see signs of dangers ahead. These signs usually come in the form of hunches, advice, and experience. Today, I want to share three warning signs for fundraising. You could say these signs indicate the pitfalls to avoid. Each is extremely important and should not be overlooked: https://catholicfundraiser.net/3-pitfalls-catholics-should-avoid-when-fundraising/

Emails. Appeal letters. Phone calls. Events. Social media. There are many different ways you can ask people for donations. But how do you get the courage to ask? Today, I want to share with you some recommendations on how you can overcome the fear of asking for donations.

You've likely considered using volunteers to help you fundraise. It seems logical to use the "divide and conquer" strategy, right? When you fundraise with volunteers, I recommend you listen to Kenny Rogers' advice: https://catholicfundraiser.net/waste-of-time-to-fundraise-with-volunteers/ You got to know when to hold 'em, Know when to fold 'em, Know when to walk away, And know when to run. Let me explain further: Waste of Time to Fundraise with Volunteers? Learn more by clicking here:

We are two days into Lent. As you know, the three pillars of Lent are: 1) Prayer 2) Fasting 3) Almsgiving How do you approach fundraising/almsgiving during this holy season? Here are three recommendations for you and your Catholic apostolate: https://catholicfundraiser.net/fundraising-in-lent-3-recommendations/

You or an acquaintance is involved in school fundraising. I receive many inquiries about fundraising for a Catholic school. Sometimes the questions come from a network of homeschooling parents who want to launch an actual "bricks and mortar" school. Sometimes the leadership team of a longstanding school with hundreds of students has questions about expanding their enrollment. Whatever the case may be, there are certain fundamentals that you never want to forget. Here is what I think they are: https://catholicfundraiser.net/catholic-school-fundraising/

We all want to find that one donor who can write a MASSIVE check. Well, how do you get the big BIG check? How do you find the MAJOR donor? I've had my share of success stories in the arena of a major gift fundraising, and if I could offer you some advice, it would be this:

Using old-fashioned fundraising tactics to expand your apostolate might seem like a solid plan. But tread carefully. You might get stuck in the past and not reach your goal; however, you also don't want to use progressive and untested tactics. So, what is the future of fundraising? I do not believe in crystal balls, but if I had to guess, I have a hunch it looks like this. Check out my future fundraising forecast: https://catholicfundraiser.net/the-future-of-catholic-fundraising/

There are countless opinions about reaching new people and finding new donors. And there are a lot of fundraisers telling you their way works. But there is also a time-tested approach that rises about the rest. It's the approach that makes the most sense in today's world of computers, smartphones, and tablets. While you may be hesitant to take your apostolate online, it is worth pursuing because of how easy and cost-effective it is to find new people and donors. Let me explain why: https://catholicfundraiser.net/how-to-reach-new-people-and-find-new-donors/

I ran my first fundraising campaign 10 years ago. But it wasn't until a few years later that I discovered something that made my fundraising explode. I know “explode” might sound over-the-top, but looking back, that is how it felt.  Suddenly, I went from making slow and steady progress with my campaigns to experiencing giant leaps forward. I saw a significant increase in donors and donations. You could say that I discovered a few secrets about fundraising. Yes, there are some things that many people - including you - do not know about fundraising. Today is your lucky day! I am going to share these fundraising secrets. Here you go:

I have a proposal for you: let's make 2022 the year you reach your fundraising targets. Even better, let's exceed your fundraising targets! You have a mission to spread the Gospel, and you want to boost this mission with donations. With that in mind, I want to share how I think you will find donors in 2022. My approach is simple, easy to execute, and works. Check it out: https://catholicfundraiser.net/3-successful-ways-to-fundraise-in-the-new-year

If you watched my introduction video to my Catholic Fundraising Mentoring Program, you know that I outline who to ask for donations. However, I do get follow-up questions like this one: "Who should you target with your fundraising, older or younger people?" Younger people can donate for many decades. Older people, however, tend to donate in higher sums. So does this mean you should go for one and not the other? I outline my thoughts on this subject: https://catholicfundraiser.net/which-donors-are-best-older-or-younger-people

Fundraising has experienced significant changes in recent years. With the arrival of the internet, it seems everything has shifted online. Or has it? As we gradually approach the new year, you should consider what fundraising strategies will work in 2022. Should you fundraise online? Should you send appeals in the mail? I offer you my three recommendations for Catholic fundraising in 2022. Mull over these suggestions over a warm cup of mulled wine! https://catholicfundraiser.net/3-best-catholic-fundraising-strategies-for-2022/

The fundraising industry has experienced significant changes in recent years. With the arrival of the internet, it seems everything has shifted online. Or has it? As we gradually approach the new year, you should consider what fundraising strategies will work in 2022. Should you fundraise online? Should you send appeals in the mail? I offer you my three recommendations for Catholic fundraising in 2022. Mull over these suggestions over a warm cup of mulled wine!

Thanksgiving is this week.  Advent is this weekend.  December starts next week. You know what that means. The End-of-Year Fundraising season is just around the corner. You can raise a significant amount of donations in December. Some Catholic apostolates raise 30% to 50% of all their financial gifts during this one month. To help you make the most of December, check this out: https://catholicfundraiser.net/december-and-end-of-year-fundraising-advice-for-catholics/

We are a few weeks away from Giving Tuesday (the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving). Giving Tuesday is a day when non-profits encourage people to donate to their favorite causes. Why is this day so important for you and your apostolate? It is one of those rare days people expect you to ask for donations. Therefore, you must seize this opportunity! Today, I want to share with you how to make the most of this day. I have seen small apostolates raise more than $20,000 with the right Giving Tuesday campaign. You can, too, with the right approach! Check out my recommendations:

"Is there a Catholic way to fundraise?" I hear this question all the time, practically every day. Let me put your worries at ease. The answer is YES. For the last two weeks, I shared with you the advice of a Catholic priest regarding the key facts every apostolate should know about fundraising. Fr Michael is a Catholic priest in Baltimore and wrote a book titled Church Money: Rebuilding the Way We Fund Our Mission - Lessons from a Catholic Parish (Order through Ave Maria Press). Today, I want to share Fr Michael's recommendation on how to ask for a donation. Yes, this priest gives concrete advice on how to make the request. Check it out: https://catholicfundraiser.net/catholic-priest-explains-how-to-ask-for-donations P.S. You will be surprised that he does NOT organize fundraising events, all the while raising more than the parish needs. Anyone with ears should listen to his advice.

Last week, I shared with you the advice of a Catholic priest regarding the key facts every apostolate should know about fundraising. Fr Michael is a Catholic priest in Baltimore and wrote a book titled Church Money: Rebuilding the Way We Fund Our Mission - Lessons from a Catholic Parish. Today, I want to outline how Fr Michael recommends you START fundraising. It's great to learn what a priest has to say because he keeps you and me on the right path. Learn what this priest has to say: https://catholicfundraiser.net/catholic-priest-advice-how-to-start-fundraising/

There's never been a better time to fundraise… Yet standing out from the crowd can be more challenging than ever. Enter Fr Michael White. Fr Michael is a Catholic priest in Baltimore. He wrote a book titled Church Money: Rebuilding the Way We Fund Our Mission – Lessons from a Catholic Parish (Order through Ave Maria Press). As a fundraiser, I was eager to review this book and share this priest's advice which applies to ALL Catholic apostolates. Check it out: https://catholicfundraiser.net/catholic-priests-advice-on-fundraising-church-money-book-review-part-1/

Nobody knows how to fundraise when they start. Even I was naive for my first campaigns! We all start in the same spot - zero knowledge and zero experience. Just like with any activity, you have to learn along the way. Today, I want to share three essential fundraising skills that I think every Catholic apostolate should know. Whether you are starting to raise funds or looking for some new ideas, you should know these three skills: https://catholicfundraiser.net/3-fundraising-skills-every-catholic-apostolate-should-have/

If you are starting your apostolate and wanting to fundraise, I have some advice. Also, if you want a refresher of what to focus on, I think you will enjoy these words of wisdom. Check it out: https://catholicfundraiser.net/advice-for-starting-a-catholic-apostolate/

Have you ever wondered why people might be reluctant to donate? If you've ever had people reluctant to donate to your Catholic apostolate, then keep reading. Asking for donations, as you can imagine, can be tricky. You spend all this time, energy, and effort fundraising, but instead of receiving financial support, you get crickets. Why the silence?!? Why were people so reluctant to donate? This week, I dive into the reasons why people are so hesitant to donate to your apostolate. Check it out: https://catholicfundraiser.net/why-people-reluctant-to-donate/

When it comes to asking for $, where is the sweet spot? Some people like to use the "soft ask" - meaning you ask indirectly. For example, the donate button on your website or at the bottom of an email. It could also be a sentence somewhere in a mailer. Other people like to use the "hard ask" - meaning you ask point-blank. A common fear is that you will turn people off if you use the "hard ask." At the same time, if you use the "soft ask," potential donors may not SEE your request... and you will lose donations. So what's the solution? I learned early in my fundraising career that knowing which ask to use is essential. There's a subtle difference between the two asks that every Catholic apostolate should understand. Let me explain:

Often, we think that we cannot fundraise alone. It is wise to look to others for help. With any campaign you launch, you will have to get people to help you. That is why you might turn to volunteers. However, there are significant risks to getting people to help you fundraise. Therefore, is using volunteers prudent? I want to share my thoughts with you: https://catholicfundraiser.net/the-real-and-present-danger-of-volunteers/ - Get your free e-book on how to fundraiser here: http://catholicfundraiser.net/ - Get your Purchase Alms: http://bit.ly/almsbook - Brice Sokolowski is not your typical fundraiser. After enjoying a successful career in technology consulting in various cities (Dallas, San Francisco, Paris, Abu Dhabi, and London) around the world, he left it to help my Catholic diocese in London, England with a fundraising campaign. The campaign went on to raise over $50 million, the largest sum ever raised for the Catholic Church in the United Kingdom. Learning from professional fundraisers, I figured out the basics and then left the diocese to focus on what I love doing most: To help build Catholic charities, parishes, religious orders, and lay apostolates that change the culture and bring people to Our Blessed Lord. — Follow Me Online Here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricesokolowski/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catholicfundraiser/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricesoko Website: http://catholicfundraiser.net/

It's a question many Catholic apostolates struggle with: “How do I manage my time when fundraising?” Balancing your time can be tricky. Should you organize an event that will attract many people all at once, or do you meet with people in smaller groups - or even individually? A lot of people will tell you, “it depends.” But I don't think that's true. I believe there is a best fundraising strategy when it comes to managing your time. What's more, this strategy works regardless of your mission, where you live, or how long you've been an apostolate. Find out how I think you should manage your time:

Hello faithful Catholic, Today, I want to discuss with you the topic of persuasion. How do you persuade some to donate? I picked this topic because several people this week have asked me this question. The definition of 'persuade' is to move by argument, request, or expostulation to a belief, position, or course of action. Therefore, in the case of fundraising, we want to know how to "move by request. " Here are my thoughts on how to persuade someone to donate. https://catholicfundraiser.net/how-to-persuade-someone-to-donate-to-your-catholic-apostolate/

You've likely asked yourself one of the following questions:        "How do I ask for a donation?"   "Who should I ask?"      "When should I run a campaign?"    "What are the best strategies to use?" If you are reading this email, then you've either asked these questions or similar ones. Today, I want to share with you three ways you can get help with your fundraising. It's best not to guess what works best. Instead, I recommend you take these easy steps to help you: https://catholicfundraiser.net/where-to-find-help-with-your-next-fundraising-campaign/

Have you ever searched for a development director? If you have been on the hunt, finding a GOOD one can be a challenge. It's another thing to find a good and CATHOLIC development director! You want someone that understands both your mission and can assist your apostolate raise funds. So what's the secret to striking gold? Here are my thoughts:

As you know, May is the month of Mary. With fundraising, I describe May this way: “month of May, fundraisers go away.” Most apostolates stop fundraising altogether. It's like an extended holiday for their fundraisers because they don't get back to work until October. But you'll be working hard this summer and fall to serve people, right? So, additional funds would go a long way! From my experience, while most apostolates forget about fundraising in May, you can have a lot of success this month. Here is what I recommend you do: https://www.catholicfundraiser.net/fundraising-ideas-for-the-month-of-may/

This week, multiple people asked me the same question, "How do I fundraising in poorer parish and community?" This is a genuine concern for many apostolates around the country. Thankfully, I have good news! Over the years, I've come up with a few ideas that work when fundraising in areas that aren't as affluent as others. Check it out: https://www.catholicfundraiser.net/fundraising-in-poorer-parishes-and-communities/ - Get your free e-book on how to fundraiser here: http://catholicfundraiser.net/ - Get your Purchase Alms: http://bit.ly/almsbook - Brice Sokolowski is not your typical fundraiser. After enjoying a successful career in technology consulting in various cities (Dallas, San Francisco, Paris, Abu Dhabi, and London) around the world, he left it to help my Catholic diocese in London, England with a fundraising campaign. The campaign went on to raise over $50 million, the largest sum ever raised for the Catholic Church in the United Kingdom. Learning from professional fundraisers, I figured out the basics and then left the diocese to focus on what I love doing most: To help build Catholic charities, parishes, religious orders, and lay aposolates that change the culture and bring people to Our Blessed Lord. — Follow Me Online Here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricesokolowski/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catholicfundraiser/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricesoko Website: http://catholicfundraiser.net/

Are you looking for more eyes on your apostolate? If you are, come join me! This week, I discuss the two ways to spread the message of your apostolate. One way is through manual tasks, and the other way leverages free digital tools made available to you today. These are your two options, and can you guess which is better? Learn about these two options to spread the message of your apostolate and help you take your fundraising from a one-time campaign into a sustainable and scalable apostolate. Check it out:

So, we wrapped up Lent last week... ... which means wrapping up Lenten fundraising appeals. I completed many appeals these past weeks for lay apostolates, religious communities, parishes, and schools. And as always, there were lots of lessons learned. Today, I will focus on whether or not you should apply for secular grants. I discuss the pros and cons and what to consider when looking for funding from grants. Should Catholics apply for grants (specifically secular grants). Check it out: https://www.catholicfundraiser.net/should-catholic-apostolates-apply-for-secular-grants/

Think you cannot get excited about asking for donations? That's what many people are telling me lately (and that thought can be paralyzing!) until they realized that major success often starts by looking at fundraising from a different perspective. Looking back, I can see that's how things unfolded in many other apostolates, too. If you're starting out or at a crossroads, and you need some help getting excited, I have some excellent advice for you. Check it out: https://www.catholicfundraiser.net/how-to-get-excited-about-fundraising/

I recently had dinner with a famous Catholic personality, and we discussed an interesting topic that evening. We discussed the 'art' of building a sustainable Catholic apostolate. It got me thinking about the roadblocks for most people. What do you think is your BIGGEST roadblock? I'm guessing it's FEAR. The fear of asking for donations is a HUGE challenge. So, I thought to share my thoughts on how you can overcome your fears of asking. Check it out:

I enjoy fundraising for Catholic apostolates, and I also enjoy helping Catholics run their apostolates. But I think your fundraising should serve your mission, not the other way around. Take for example capital campaigns. Running a capital campaign can be very important; however, a campaign can overwhelm the apostolate's mission and focus. And if you've been reading everything that I send you, I'm all about focusing on the mission WHILE achieving fundraising success - especially with capital campaigns. Check out how I always start my capital campaigns to make sure they (1) are successful and (2) serve the mission:

If you're starting to fundraise, here's a critical thing you need to remember: You may feel guilty when asking for donations. It's okay to feel this. I felt guilty at first, but feelings don't equal facts. Would you agree? You are asking because your mission can do so much more with some financial support. So how do you overcome that guilty feeling? Well, that is what this week's lesson is all about. Check it out: https://catholicfundraiser.net/how-to-not-feel-guilty-when-fundraising/

As you've heard, Texas is experiencing unprecedented freezing weather and power outages. Like many of my fellow Texans, I've been without water or electricity - sometimes days. Praise be to God; my family was partially prepared for these events. With that said, assisting neighbors has been the silver lining during these trials. Serving people reminds us why we are Catholic. I am confident that helping people is why you launched your apostolate. But when you fundraise, you naturally have to focus on your apostolate's needs because more funds can help SERVE MORE people. So, where is the balance between focusing on your needs (organizing fundraising campaigns) and staying glued to your mission (serving others as Christ wants you)? Here is my suggestion of where that balance should be: https://catholicfundraiser.net/balance-mission-and-fundraising-during-the-texas-freeze/

Engaging with an apostolate's community can be easy when you are starting out. You have time for conversations with everyone (donors and non-donors) and replying to every email and message. As your apostolate grows, though, it can become harder to "keep up" with everyone. You have to find new ways to be available and stay focused on the mission - without having to spend the entire day stuck in your email's inbox! (maybe you are now?!) It sounds counterintuitive, but I realized that as you raise more funds, there's a point when you CANNOT forget the basics. Check out the full article here: https://catholicfundraiser.net/the-basics-of-fundraising/

Putting together a great fundraising campaign means knowing how to ask for donations. However, you are likely asking: Why is it SOOOOOO hard to ask for donations? The answer to this question would change your apostolate forever, would you agree? So that's what I did this week. I debunked the mystery as to why it's so hard to ask for donations. Check it out:

You and I both know how successful St Bernard of Clairvaux was in doing the will of God – founded numerous monasteries, composed many written works, advised Popes, and helped reform the Benedictine order. Today, he is a household name among Catholics. He also offered wisdom to anyone wanting to launch an apostolate. This advice is especially pertinent to anyone wanting to run an apostolate and fundraise in today's climate. Check it out: https://catholicfundraiser.net/st-bernard-advice-catholic-apostolate/ - Get your free e-book on how to fundraiser here: http://catholicfundraiser.net/ - Get your Purchase Alms: http://bit.ly/almsbook

I have a friend who is launching a Catholic apostolate who wants to raise funds. But he's hit a small stumbling block... He's never asked for donations, and he has ZERO donors. He asked what I suggested so he can start fundraising in the New Year and raise funds fast. Here's what I suggested he do: My top fundraising recommendations for 2021

Advent is here - we made it! While this year has been challenging for you and me, Advent reminds us that Jesus is coming - THANK YOU, LORD! You are likely putting the finishing touches on your end of the year appeal letter. Here's how I am writing my end of the year appeal letter, and you might want to try it as well. 3 Tips - Writing an End of the Year Appeal Letter https://catholicfundraiser.net/3-tips-writing-an-end-of-the-year-appeal-letter/

Uncertainty seems to be around every corner this year. The pandemic, then the lockdowns, then the suspension of public Masses, then a second wave of panic and lockdowns, and now the confusion around the US election. Among all of this chaos, is it possible to fundraise? All of this uncertainty can keep you stuck, especially if you're worried about making the “right” decision. I won't claim to have all the answers (no one does), but I can say this: every campaign I've successfully run in the last ten years is because I took these three steps. It's all in this week's article: https://catholicfundraiser.net/fundraise-times-of-uncertainty/

“What is the best way NOT to annoy people when asking for donations?” I get asked this question a LOT. Many people get hung up on this question when they're starting their apostolate, and I get it! The last thing you want to do is ANNOY someone. I can answer this question in two ways. First, you have to look at what annoys people. Then, you look at what does not annoy people. You should know about essential information, and you're better off thinking about this BEFORE you start sending appeal letters. Here's what I mean: https://catholicfundraiser.net/how-to-annoy-people-when-fundraising/

Writing Better Catholic Appeal Letters by Brice Sokolowski

This week, I want to pose you a question: if we were having a cup of coffee together and had a few minutes to talk (and you wanted me to donate), how would you ask me? I get asked lots of questions about fundraising. I have noticed that some approaches are more productive questions than others. Here is the reality. Some ways of fundraising just don't work anymore. On the other hand, there are some NEW ways of fundraising that work INCREDIBLY WELL. The way you ask someone for a donation can make a huge difference in your apostolate. Here is what I mean: - Get your free e-book on how to fundraiser here: http://catholicfundraiser.net/ - Get your Purchase Alms: http://bit.ly/almsbook

I've received a lot of messages from people diving into fundraising for the first time. The rookies are coming because September, October, November, and December are the most significant fundraising months. So, it's understandable more apostolates want to launch a campaign. Here's what I would do if I were a 'rookie fundraiser': https://catholicfundraiser.net/advice-to-rookie-fundraisers/

You've likely come across someone respond to your donation request like this: "Donate? ... but the Church already has millions!" Or, maybe someone was even more critical in their response. When you fundraise, you are bound to come across these types of responses. It can be deflating when you do. Worse, you can even second guess your campaign. I've come across my fair share of critical remarks about fundraising, and here's how I respond: https://catholicfundraiser.net/donate-the-church-already-has-millions/

Each week, I've been taking questions from people, and the question about volunteers came up multiple times. Mainly, how do you find people who can help run a campaign? If I had to start a campaign tomorrow, here's how I would use volunteers to help me raise funds: https://catholicfundraiser.net/how-to-get-volunteers-to-fundraise/

Here's another episode from my "What to do after the Pandemic" series. In other words: what are some of the biggest lessons learned during the past five months that will set up my success for the rest of the year. I'm talking about 'being smart' with the 'downtime' you have right now. Included, I'm sharing with you the BIG lesson I learned at the beginning of 2020. This one lesson - you could say - has set me up for the rest of the year. That's what this week's video is all about… https://catholicfundraiser.net/post-pandemic-fundraising-strategies-for-catholic-apostolates/

A few years ago, I earned my Masters in Theology to ground my approach when it comes to fundraising. This time learning the roots of Catholicism has helped me tremendously make the right decisions. Take, for example, the common fundraising strategy of list-renting or list-buying. When you rent someone's list, you can contact the list of people, but you can't see who they are. When you buy someone's list, you acquire the list of people and can contact them as much as you like, but you don't know who's on the list in advance. Therefore, the question is, should you be buying or renting lists? I've thought about it a lot, and here's my response. https://catholicfundraiser.net/list-renting-not-a-smart-fundraising-strategy/