Am I grateful for my ministry’s supporters?

In a recent online training session, I shared the photo above with my audience and asked participants to reflect on it… Some thought it odd or irrelevant.

But I beg to differ because: great fundraising does not begin with a sophisticated strategy but with a grateful heart (*your heart) knelt before God.

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart.” — Psalm 9:1 (The Bible, NIV)

You see, gratitude is not a tone you adopt.
You can’t manufacture it.
You can’t put it on like a smile for a selfie.
If you’re not truly grateful for your supporters, it shows.

Gratitude is what happens when we remember that every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17), and that includes the gift of the supporter who, out of love and obedience to God, releases their money for the sake of someone else’s future, healing, hope, or home.

If I am not grateful for those who give to the mission or the cause I am part of, no email template is going to save me.

No stewardship journey will hide the fact that my heart is dry. Because real gratitude cannot be faked.

An ungrateful fundraiser is like a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1). They are noisy, inefficient, and forgettable.

But when I am grateful, truly grateful, I act differently.

I write like I’ve been entrusted with holy stories.
I speak like the donor is a co-worker in God’s vineyard.
I say thank you not to close a transaction, but to honour the fellowship of giving and receiving (Philippians 4:15).

Jesus once looked at ten men who were healed and wondered aloud, “Where are the other nine?” (Luke 17:17). Only one returned to say thank you.

I don’t want to be like the other nine, quick to receive, slow to return with praise.

So I begin each day with this question: Am I truly grateful for the people who give, who pray, who open their hands in generosity?

If I am, they will feel it. If I’m not, no amount of polished praises or AI-generated content will make up for what is missing.

Written by Redina Kolaneci, Christian Fundraising Consultancy, UK