If your donors are deeply rooted in their faith, your fundraising shouldn’t feel like a transaction; it should feel like a shared spiritual journey.
That’s one of the takeaways from the Faithful Giving Project, which revealed a powerful link between prayer and donor value. Donors who pray about their giving are more generous.
In short, when you engage donors spiritually, you deepen their commitment.
Prayer Builds Connection and Commitment
Among the thousands of donors surveyed, those who regularly prayed about their giving reported greater lifetime value. Here’s what else we discovered:
- 50% of donors surveyed said they frequently pray about their giving
- Donors who pray about their giving were more likely to give a larger percentage of their income
- Those influenced by pastors or spiritual leaders were also significantly more generous over time
These are indicators of a donor’s heart that represent a huge opportunity for nonprofit organizations to build deeper, more meaningful connections.
Moving Beyond the Ask
To truly engage your spiritually motivated donors, you have to do more than make a compelling case for support; you need to invite them into a faith-aligned partnership.
Here are some ways to start:
Pre-Proposal Prayer Invitations
Before making a major ask, send a note inviting donors to pray about the opportunity. Framing the moment in spiritual terms shows your organization’s alignment in value and activates a deeper connection.
Monthly Prayer Requests or Devotionals
Send a monthly email or text message with prayer requests from your team or ministry field. These small, consistent touchpoints build relationships.
Virtual Prayer Gatherings or Chapel Replays
Hosting short online prayer events or sharing video updates from team devotionals can make donors feel like part of the inner circle.
Faith-Filled Impact Stories
Share stories that spotlight spiritual transformation, not just programmatic success. Donors want to know that their gifts are doing more than meeting physical needs. They want to see hearts and lives changed.
Prayer-centered engagement helps shift the donor relationship from “giving to” a cause to belonging to one.
And when donors feel that spiritual connection, they stay longer, give more, and advocate louder.
Want to learn more about how prayer and faith drive donor loyalty?
Download the Faithful Giving Project paper to learn more.
