In Episode 51, we ask Dr. Ekren Miller, a major gifts fundraiser, to explore the fundraising principles applicable to personal ministry support. Ekren shares his journey from raising small gifts for overseas work to securing large donations for a university, emphasizing relationship-building, confident asking, and donor stewardship. The episode unpacks four fundraising pillars—qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship—and offers practical tips for overcoming fear, crafting effective asks, and fostering lasting donor relationships, all while framing fundraising as a meaningful, spiritual act of inviting others into a shared mission.

0:00 - 6:00 | Introduction and Ekren’s Fundraising Journey
Heather and Andy introduce the episode, focusing on applying major gift principles to personal fundraising. Ekren shares his evolution from raising $1,200 for short-term work to securing $25,000+ gifts, highlighting how early experiences built skills for his professional role.

6:01 - 23:00 | Reframing Fundraising as Investment and Relationship
Ekren explains why fundraising feels like asking for money but is an invitation to invest in a meaningful mission. He emphasizes sharing passion authentically to build relationships, drawing on Henry Nouwen’s idea of asking with dignity. Fundraising is spiritual, reflecting God’s design for giving, and requires confidence and professionalism, even for smaller asks.

23:01 - 48:00 | Fundraising Pillars: Qualification and Cultivation
Ekren outlines four pillars: qualification (identifying donors with affinity), cultivation (building trust through genuine engagement), solicitation, and stewardship. He advises casting a wide net but moving on after three unresponsive touches, focusing on cultivating those with interest.

48:01 - 1:19:00 | Solicitation, Stewardship, and Perseverance
For solicitation, Ekren stresses clear, specific asks (what, why, how much, how long) and letting donors respond first. Stewardship involves consistent gratitude (calls, notes, gifts) to maintain trust, avoiding transactional approaches. He encourages perseverance, discipline, and finding mentors or partners to stay accountable. He notes how generosity surprised him and affirms that funds are available with the right approach.

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