How to Know If Your Church or Nonprofit Can Maximize Outside Fundraising Help

Most pastors and nonprofit leaders I meet are running at full speed with no pit crew.
You’re chasing donations, prepping for Sunday, putting out fires, and—somewhere in the middle—trying to keep your programs alive. So when someone asks, “Have you thought about bringing in a fundraising pro?” your first reaction is probably, “We can’t afford that.”
But here’s the bigger question: Can you afford not to, when your team is already maxed out and you’re leaving money on the table?

The Real Cost of Doing It All Yourself

I’ve been on both sides of this. Years ago, I worked with a church that had big dreams—new youth programs, a food pantry, scholarships for kids. But every time we talked about getting outside help, folks said, “Let’s just try one more fundraising letter. Maybe another car wash. We’ll figure it out.”

A year later, they were burnt out, still scrambling, and had missed out on $100K in grants and donor gifts. Why? Because nobody had time to research, apply, or build the relationships.
The truth is, the biggest cost isn’t hiring help—it’s trying to do it all yourself and coming up short.

The Step-By-Step Checklist: Is It Time to Bring In a Pro?

Here’s how to know if your church or nonprofit is ready—and how to make the investment count.

1. Your Team Is Maxed Out (And You Know It)

• Warning Signs:
  
  • The same two or three people do everything.
    
  • You’re missing grant deadlines, donor follow-ups, or event details.
    
  • Volunteers are burning out or dropping out.
    
  • You’re working nights and weekends just to stay afloat.
    
• If this is you:
  It’s time to get outside help—before something breaks.
  

2. You’ve Hit a Plateau (Or Are Falling Behind)

• Warning Signs:
  
  • Giving is flat or shrinking, no matter how hard you work.
    
  • Your programs are stuck at the same size, year after year.
    
  • Donors are saying “no” more often, or not responding at all.
    
  • You’re recycling the same old fundraising tactics with no new results.
    
• If this is you:
  An expert can show you strategies you’ve never tried, and open doors you can’t reach on your own.
  

3. You Don’t Know What’s Working (Or Not)

• Warning Signs:
  
  • Donor info is scattered across spreadsheets, sticky notes, or someone’s inbox.
    
  • You’re not sure which events, campaigns, or letters actually raised money.
    
  • Thank-yous and updates go out late—or not at all.
    
• If this is you:
  A pro brings systems and structure, so you don’t leave money (or relationships) on the table.
  

4. You Want More—But Need a Real Plan

• Warning Signs:
  
  • You dream of bigger programs, staff, or outreach—but have no roadmap to get there.
    
  • You know what you should do, but not how to pull it off.
    
  • Every “big ask” feels like a gamble instead of a strategy.
    
• If this is you:
  You’re ready for a fundraising plan that fits your vision and your community.
  

What Happens When You’re Ready?

Let me tell you, the churches and nonprofits who invest in outside help before they hit a breaking point see the biggest growth.
We helped a ministry last year go from barely keeping the lights on to raising $250,000 for new programs—just by shifting the workload, setting up better systems, and letting the leaders do what only they can do. That’s what happens when you get the right help at the right time.

Ready to Find Out If You’re Really Ready?

Don’t guess. I put together a simple ROI Reality Check Framework—an easy checklist that will show you, step by step, if your church or nonprofit is ready to make the leap, and how to get the most out of outside fundraising support.

Grab the checklist right here: https://mailchi.mp/wearenfm/6q66afxtx6 

Let’s stop leaving money, energy, and opportunity on the table.
Let’s build ministries and programs that last.