Don’t Leave Money on the Table This Year End

By Orlando Barros, Chief Development Officer, CCMA

As the semester winds down, it’s easy to shift into survival mode: finals, closing retreats, Advent services, and the thousand details that come before Christmas break.
But while everyone else is wrapping up, this may be one of the most fruitful times for your ministry.

Every December, millions of people are looking for ways to give. Many of them want to support meaningful, Christ-centered work… but they can only give where they’ve been invited.

The truth is, most Catholic ministries don’t miss funding because donors stop caring.
They miss it because they never get asked.

So before this year ends, here are three faith-filled and practical ways to make sure you don’t leave grace (or generosity) on the table.

I.             Reach Out Personally Before It’s Too Late

This isn’t about sending another mass email or posting another social media reminder.
It’s about taking a few minutes to reach out personally to five or ten people who have supported you in the past, or who you think might, if they only knew the impact of your work.

Send a short note, make a call, or drop a text that says something like:

“I just wanted to thank you for believing in our ministry. God has been doing beautiful things on campus, and I wanted to invite you to help us finish the year strong.”

That’s it. No complicated appeal. Just sincerity and invitation.
As I often remind my clients, Beliefs + Relationships = Funds.
Generosity flows where relationships are real.

And remember, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.”
— Galatians 6:9 (NABRE)

II.         Make the Opportunity Clear

Many donors are willing to give… they just need to know how.
Make your opportunity simple, specific, and visible:

  • Include your giving link in your Advent newsletter or email blast.

  • Share a one-minute video or short story of impact from your campus.

  • Tell them what their gift accomplishes:

    • $50 provides materials for student leaders.

    • $250 helps fund a retreat or mission trip.

    • $1,000 supports formation for a new student leader.

Don’t assume people know what you need.
Be transparent, clear, and confident in your invitation.
As Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
— Matthew 7:7 (NABRE)

III.      Pray and Trust God’s Multiplication

The goal of fundraising is never the dollar… it’s the discipleship behind it.
When you invite someone to give, you’re inviting them to participate in God’s work on campus.

Pray for your donors by name.
Thank God for those who have already given.
Ask Him to bless those who haven’t yet, and to provide for your ministry in ways you could never orchestrate yourself.

Like the boy who offered his loaves and fishes, you may not have much to start with, but when you bring it to Jesus, He multiplies it beyond measure.

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them… as much as they wanted.
— John 6:9–11 (NABRE)

The Bottom Line

Don’t overthink it.
Don’t let fear or fatigue keep you from inviting generosity.
And don’t forget that God is already writing this story.

When you reach out in faith (clearly, personally, and prayerfully) you give people a chance to join the mission and to share in the grace that flows from it.

And that’s what this season is about: gratitude, trust, and the joy of knowing that God will finish the work He’s begun.

If you’d like a 45-minute strategy conversation to help you shape your own year-end plan, I’d be happy to connect. You can schedule a time here: Meeting with Orlando

Let’s make sure no generosity goes unanswered this Advent!

Rosie Chinea Shawver