Episode 52 launches a series on church partnerships, emphasizing their relevance for missionaries. Guest host Corrie McKee, a global worker and author of a forthcoming church partnership curriculum, joins Heather and Andy to discuss stable financial support, networking, and spiritual growth through church collaborations. Sharing personal stories, they highlight how partnerships inspire generosity and plant seeds for future missionaries.

0:05 - 3:14 | Series and Curriculum Intro
Heather frames fundraising as personal formation; Andy introduces the church partnership series. Corrie McKee shares how her experience with 12 churches inspired a curriculum to guide missionaries.

4:12 - 15:23 | Benefits and Spiritual Impact
Corrie emphasizes churches’ stable, substantial financial support. Andy and Heather highlight networking and spiritual formation, inspiring congregations and future missionaries. Churches focus on long-term care, complementing sending organizations’ training, per Corrie’s “three-legged stool” analogy.

16:18 - 26:02 | Stories and Challenges
Corrie describes partnerships with 12 churches via creative efforts; Andy discusses the difference between mega-church and smaller church support. Challenges include navigating large churches, building relationships, and aligning with church visions while addressing accountability.

27:31 - 34:19 | Committee Insights and Series Preview
Corrie outlines her church’s support programs and notes biases in support. Heather previews series topics: biblical partnerships, communication, and sustaining relationships. Andy highlights the curriculum, closing with the church’s role in God’s mission.

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In this recap episode, Heather Winchell and Andy Brennan revisit their conversation with veteran fundraiser Ekren Miller. Discover why fundraising is an invitation—not begging—and how to cultivate donors through his “Four Pillars” framework: Qualification, Cultivation, Solicitation, and Stewardship. Hear creative cultivation ideas (from yard work to babysitting!), learn how to handle “no” with resilience, and uncover why fundraising shapes who you become. Tune in and walk away with concrete strategies to build lasting donor relationships.

Key Takeaways

• Fundraising Is Invitation: Embrace generosity as relationship, not transaction. ​
• Four‑Pillar Framework: Qualify → Cultivate → Solicit → Steward. ​
• Creative Cultivation: Offer your time & talents to deepen donor trust. ​
• “Go Until No”: Persist until you hear an explicit refusal. ​
• Mindset Shift: View “no” as circumstance, and lean on discipline over emotion.

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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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Fundraising can be exhausting—but what if it’s more than just a tough season? What if the way your brain works actually impacts how you navigate support raising? In this episode, we sit down with certified neurodiverse coach and veteran cross-cultural worker Jenilee Goodwin to talk about how conditions like ADHD, autism, and sensory processing differences shape the fundraising experience.

From communication overload to executive function challenges to unexpected strengths, Jenilee helps us see how neurodivergent individuals can thrive in ministry—with the right support. Whether you’re neurodivergent yourself, support someone who is, or are shaping organizational policies, this conversation is packed with grace, insight, and practical ideas for a more inclusive approach to support-based ministry.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• We explore how ADHD, autism, and other brain-based differences can impact the entire fundraising process—from social cues to email overwhelm.
• We learn that burnout is common when individuals feel like they’re “failing,” but coaching and reframing can unlock their strengths.
• We’re reminded that fewer donors might actually be a better fit for neurodivergent workers—and it’s okay to do things differently.
• We challenge the archetype of a missionary and celebrate creative, customized paths to the field.
• We discover that good support starts with awareness, acceptance, and a willingness to jostle traditional models.

🔗 Resources

• Jenilee’s site: jenileerachel.com
• Global Trellis Neurodiversity Week (for orgs/team leaders)

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In this episode of It’s Not About the Money, we’re joined by Bernie Anderson—missions leader, podcast host, business consultant, and certified Growability coach. Bernie helps us reframe our ideas around sales and fundraising, showing how sales, when done with integrity and generosity, can become a transformative experience for both the giver and the receiver.

We talk about why fundraising isn’t a transaction but a transformation, why great fundraisers are great listeners, and how donor alignment is better than manipulation. Bernie shares wisdom on identifying donor personalities, avoiding burnout through authenticity, and how storytelling—done honestly—can drive partnership fruit.

If you've ever felt awkward "making the ask" or have been burned by manipulative sales tactics, this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air. Bernie reminds us that fundraising is discipleship, that rejection isn’t failure, and that there’s no such thing as “sacred vs. secular” when you're doing Kingdom work.

📚 Books + Articles

1. To Sell Is Human by Daniel H. Pink
   – A modern, research-driven take on how everyone is in sales, whether they realize it or not.
2. The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen
   – A short but powerful read framing fundraising as spiritual formation and invitation.

🎧 Podcasts

1. The Psychology of Fundraising: Part 1 and Part 2 (Counselor Panel)
   
   
2. NATM Episode 29.5 with Bernie Anderson
   
   
3. Global Trellis Podcast
   – Co-hosted by Bernie Anderson and Amy Young; supports cross-cultural workers in soul care and sustainability.
4. Growability Podcast
   – Focused on leadership, business development, and nonprofit growth; co-hosted by Bernie.

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“I was probably the wealthiest person in my family when I chose to go into ministry—then I had to go back and ask my family for money.”

“If God did it in my life, He can do it in yours.”

“If you’re not willing to be faithful, I can’t do much with you. But if you are—I got you.”

In this powerful episode, Tony Dentman of Funding Tribe joins hosts Heather and Andy to reframe the soundtrack of “This is impossible.” Tony shares his journey from inner-city St. Louis to full-time ministry, despite having no wealthy or Christian background. He explains how his organization empowers minority leaders to get fully funded and mobilized for mission. The conversation dives deep into character formation, faith-building, and the systemic lie that fundraising success is tied to privilege. A must-listen for anyone who has ever doubted their calling or resources.

🎯 Key Takeaways

• Fundraising = Formation: It’s not just about hitting goals; it’s about who you become in the journey.
• Reframe Obstacles: Swap “This is impossible because…” for “How can I overcome this?,” and watch your confidence skyrocket.
• Built for the Underconnected: Funding Tribe’s system assumes you lack a Rolodex—and that’s exactly why it works.
• Diversity Is Your Strength: Minority and women leaders bring unique insights for reaching every nation.
• Faithfulness Over Finals: Success is measured by commitment to the process; character wins whether or not you hit your funding target.

🔗 Show Notes & Resources: fundingtribe.org

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In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Mandy returns to share her ongoing journey in ministry and fundraising. The conversation explores how ministry fundraising transcends mere numbers—it's about personal formation, genuine partnerships, and living out one’s calling. Dr. Mandy recounts her early introduction to support-based ministry, her refreshing re-engagement with longtime partners (including a memorable 5000-mile road trip), and the lessons learned from her leadership challenges. Interwoven with rich Scripture readings (notably from Second Corinthians and other Biblical passages), the discussion offers spiritual encouragement and practical insights on overcoming doubt, resisting the temptation to “fix” everything, and staying true to God’s word. Listeners are encouraged to lean into community, continuously study Scripture, and trust that every step—even the hard ones—is part of a greater divine plan.

Recommended Resources Mentioned:

• Perspectives courses (visit perspectives.org)
• Books: Mountain Rain by Eileen Fraser Crossman and The Prayer of Faith by James O. Fraser
• Scripture study tools: Logos, NAVS, Precept.org

Other Scripture for Reference:

• Revelation 15:3
• 1 Chronicles 29:11-13
• 1 Chronicles 16:31
• Psalm 9:7-10
• Psalm 103:19-22
• Psalm 96
• Psalm 93:1-5
• 1 Timothy 1:17
• 1 Timothy 6:15-16
• Isaiah 44:6-9
• Psalm 145:8-13
• 1 Corinthians 15:20-28
• Zechariah 9:9
• John 18:36-37
• Hebrews 1:3-4
• Hebrews 1:8-12

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