“We are all fundraisers now”: How Bible League is envisioning local fundraising in Kenya

Something sacred has been stirring in Kenya.

Over the past few months, the ministry team at Bible League Kenya began sensing a fresh vision: Could raising funds locally become part of who we are, not just something we do?

In May, I had the privilege of joining our team in Nairobi for two days of prayer, Scripture reflection, and deep conversation.

Our goal was to explore what it might look like to embed local resource mobilization into the DNA of our ministry in Kenya.

How this vision was born

For most of Bible League’s 87-year history, our work across 50+ countries has been funded by donors in the Global North, mainly the U.S., Canada, and a few other places. Thousands of faithful supporters and churches have helped our partners around the world share God’s Word in their native language and make disciples.

But we’ve seen some cracks in this fundraising model.

Depending heavily on outside funding can create unhealthy dynamics. It makes ministries vulnerable to economic downturns abroad. And perhaps most importantly, it unintentionally sidelines one of the core expressions of discipleship: giving.

When we look at international partners who’ve built strong local fundraising programmes, in the Philippines or parts of Latin America, we see that they are our most resilient, fastest-growing teams. They’re bold, creative, and eager to lead.

That’s why Kenya felt like the right place to pilot something new to grow local giving.

Day one: Storytelling, Scripture, and surprise

We began our time in Nairobi the way every good conversation should begin—with stories.

Each person on the team shared about their life, family, and journey into ministry. I was struck by how many had backgrounds in marketing or sales. These are the skills that, as it turns out, translate beautifully into fundraising. The local team members were much more than passionate ministry workers; they were natural connectors.

Then we opened our Bibles.

We dug deep into the stories of how God’s people have funded His work throughout Scripture. We looked at Moses and the tabernacle, Nehemiah and the king, the widow’s mite, Lydia the businesswoman, and Paul’s collection for the Jerusalem church.

Each story we focused on unearthed different insights. Giving as an act of worship. The overflowing joy of being generous. The power of prayer. The need for clarity. The role of leadership in fundraising. And the central truth: fundraising is spiritual work.

Day two: Context, culture, and courage

The next day, we turned our focus to the Kenyan context.

Using a brilliant tool from the Ministry Fundraising Network called “Questions About Giving & Fundraising in Different Cultures,” we explored everything, from relationship-building norms to generational shifts, and from the role of the local church in raising funds to the use of contemporary digital tools and technologies for unlocking the generosity of Kenyan believers.

• What taboos or cultural hesitations hinder asking for money in Kenya?
• How do trust and credibility get built or lost?
• What role could peer-to-peer fundraising play in a culture rich in community spirit?

We also examined what other ministries in Kenya were doing. Some were thriving. Others, not so much. But all offered valuable lessons.

Bit by bit, a new picture began to emerge.

The team identified several local churches in Nairobi that might want to support our Bible outreach to harder-to-reach regions. We discussed how to run fundraising events without overloading the team. And we saw how peer fundraising, people asking on behalf of others, might just be the right cultural fit.

By the end of our two days, something had shifted. One team member summed it up perfectly: “We are all fundraisers now.”

What’s next?

We closed in prayer and song, sensing the Holy Spirit had planted something new in our hearts. A spark of belief. A shared vision. A willingness to try.

This isn’t about replacing Western donors with local ones. It’s about adding new strength to the body. It’s about discipleship, dignity, and shared ownership of God’s mission.

And it’s just the beginning.

A final thought

We often say that mission belongs to the whole church. Shouldn’t the same be true for funding it?

The journey with our Bible League team in Kenya is reminding us that when local believers are invited to give, they’re also invited to belong. And in that act of belonging, something powerful happens; discipleship deepens, ownership of mission ventures grows, and God’s mission moves forward.

If you’re exploring what local fundraising might look like in your ministry, I hope this story encourages you. After all, maybe you’re a fundraiser too and you didn’t know it yet.

Written by Rob Bullock, EVP for Advancement, Bible League International