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“If our security is totally in God, then we are free to ask for money. Only when we are free from money can we ask freely for others to give it.”
- Henri Nouwen
“Fundraising is, first and foremost, a form of ministry. It is a way of announcing our vision and inviting other people into our mission.”
- Henri Nouwen
"Our life’s work is to accept the call to be deeply, deeply connected with Unconditional Love, with [our] own fragile humanity, and with brothers and sisters everywhere.”
- Henri Nouwen
“You are sent into this world to believe in yourself as God’s chosen one and then to help your brothers and sisters know that they also are beloved sons and daughters of God who belong together.”
- Henri Nouwen
“Prayer is the radical starting point of fundraising because in prayer we slowly experience a reorientation of all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves and others.”
- Henri Nouwen
“What is important is how well we love. God will make our love fruitful, whether we see that fruitfulness or not.”
- Henri Nouwen
“Whether we are asking for money or giving money we are drawn together by God, who is about to do a new thing through our collaboration.”
- Henri Nouwen
“Indeed, if we raise funds for the creation of a community of love, we are helping God build the kingdom. We are doing exactly what we are supposed to do as Christians. Paul is clear about this: ‘Make love your aim’ (1 Cor. 14:1).”
- Henri Nouwen
“The mystery of ministry is that we have been chosen to make our own limited and very conditional love the gateway for the unlimited and unconditional love of God. Therefore, true ministry must be mutual.”
- Henri Nouwen
“Fundraising is also always a call to conversion. And this call comes to both those who seek funds and those who have funds. . . . To be converted means to experience a deep shift in how we see and think and act.”
- Henri Nouwen
“The question is not how to get money. Rather, the question is about our relationship with money. We will never be able to ask for money if we do not know how we ourselves relate to money.”
- Henri Nouwen
“Fundraising is as spiritual as giving a sermon, entering a time of prayer, visiting the sick, or feeding the hungry!”
- Henri Nouwen
“Fundraising is proclaiming what we believe in such a way that we offer other people an opportunity to participate with us in our vision and mission.”
- Henri Nouwen
“Prayer is the spiritual discipline through which our mind and heart are converted from hostility or suspicion to hospitality toward people who have money.”
- Henri Nouwen
“What God wants us to know is that before we think or do or accomplish anything, before we have much money or little money, the deepest truth of our human identity is this: ‘You are my beloved son. You are my beloved daughter. With you I am well pleased.’”
- Henri Nouwen

Sometimes Major Gift Fundraising Can Feel Impossible

As a major gift fundraiser you’re often thrust into the role by a board of directors or executive director that recognized your charisma, but didn’t prepare you for the responsibilities that come with the role. It’s easy to feel like you’re in over your head when you don’t have the experience or knowledge you need to solve the problems that come up, or at least know where to find the answers.

When your job is asking you to do things you don't know how to do, it can feel pretty scary. You may feel like it’s only a matter of time before someone realizes you don’t know what you’re doing and gives you the axe. But if you start thinking major gift fundraising isn’t for you and call it quits, you might be throwing away a beautiful ministry before it starts.

J.Paul will draw on nearly 30 years of experience to provide you with actionable steps that help make major gift fundraising productive, enjoyable, and sustainable. By the end of your time together, you’ll have a clear idea of what you need to do and the confidence to know that you can do it.

Book a Free Consultation

Unlock Your Fundraising Potential

Much like the guitar, major gift fundraising is easy to learn and difficult to master. With the guitar, you don’t need to be an accomplished musician to enjoy playing hundreds of songs in a relatively short time. Major gift fundraising is similar. If you possess a natural talent and appreciation of networking, you can learn how to excel in major gift fundraising efforts.

Gain Clarity

Prioritize your overwhelming to-do list, experience the satisfaction of knowing exactly what needs to be done.

Multiply Results

Discover how to help givers invest in your cause. Speak to their heart and mind. Strengthen your networking skills.

Save Time & Money

Receive expert advice on strategic tools and resources that best fit your needs.

AgrosParish CollectiveReact ServicesRestoration ProjectRefugee Highway Partnership

Courses & Consultations

I’ve created ways for you to learn how to consistently secure large donations so that your favorite cause is thriving missionally. Let’s blow up the black-box-of-dread together with fresh clarity! We will multiply results (and have fun doing it) with systems, sanity, and sacredness.

Course

Catalyst

For those new to major gift fundraising (major gift officer, executive director, or board member).

$500
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Course

High-Performance

For experienced major gift fundraisers who are ready to take their productivity to the next level.

$500
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Consultation

Ad-Hoc

Live 90-minute phone, video, or in-person consultations. For multiple sessions, checkout the Flywheel Package.

$400 /90 minutes
Learn More

Your Cause Is Worth It

Our goal is for every client to experience an exponential return on investment.

"I love the Catalyst Course. Pedagogically (I am a teacher by training) it's been beautifully put together. The course includes reading (text book), watching (video - so high quality, I started to watch the first one and could not stop, so appealing and touching!), reflecting and journaling (writing), sessions with J.Paul (speaking). It takes into consideration different learning styles. At the completion of the course the student will have learned and been transformed in his/her thinking, philosophy, theology of generosity...and ultimately fundraising strategy and practice. Regarding the relevance to us in the Finnish context, it is very relevant indeed. I don't think anybody offers anything like this here. I am happy to recommend J.Paul's course and services."

Taneli Skyttä
Refugee Ministry Specialist, Finland

"When I go through the fundamentals part of the Catalyst Course from the VIA document to systems to impact stories, it is a very well-organized set of learning systems that I learned for this endeavor. The videos with J.Paul's face appearance are like a real-life interaction in a class room setting. His teaching method speaks of rich experience. He is generous."

Anteneh Tula
CEO, True Riches Foundation, Ethiopia

"If you don't know much about fundraising, particularly with high net worth donors, this course will launch you into a whole new world. If you know a little bit about the process and have struggled with it, you will walk away from this course not just with a better process and better strategies, but your whole attitude and perspective will undergo a fundamental shift. Fundraising will shift from a 'have to' to a 'want to.'"

Henry Klopp
President, International Graduate School of Ministry

"The Catalyst Course has been life-changing for our organization. The interface is so easy to navigate and can be accessed well on my laptop, iPad, and iPhone. Our team has been applying every single tool. The course is extremely practical and give us a lot to work on as an organization, which has been super helpful. Because of the course we were able to raise an extra $126K from new donors and give solid reports to our existent donors. Thank you so much for the opening the course to us. I cannot recommend it enough."

Roman Khripunov
Executive Director, Revival Sport Inc.

"J.Paul did a short consult on fund-raising at my request. He was able to communicate complex principles and ideas in ways that were practical and achievable. He is able to work with large and small non-profits, local and global. I was able to meet my fund-raising goals using J. Paul's recommendations."

Jose De Dios
Veteran Non-Profit Executive

"Having worked with J. Paul in various capacities over the years, I have always been impressed with his ability to relate to diverse people and situations. I highly recommend him to any organization (US-based or international) looking for major donor gift growth and acquisition."

Brian O'Connell
Founder/CEO, REACT Services

"J. Paul is one of the most savvy, intuitive, clear-thinking consultants I've been privileged to work with. Any time spent, (literally), with J. Paul is money well spent! Highly recommend him if you're in need of Development expertise, whether a start up or seasoned non-profit, he'll steer you clear and results will soon follow!"

David Carlson
Major Gift Officer, Medical Teams International and Agros International
Mission

J.Paul helps major gift fundraisers multiply results (and have fun doing it) with systems, psychology, sanity, and sacredness.