When Ministry Becomes a Business
My first year working at a rescue mission was an eye-opening experience. Until then, I had been somewhat naïve about the business side of ministry. I assumed that charitable organizations operated purely out of a desire to serve, but I quickly learned that wasn’t always the case. There were entire industries built around profiting from what appeared to be acts of service.
Now, to be clear, I’m not saying that the mission I worked for engaged in anything unethical. But many organizations that claimed to help us raise money did. One particular experience during my early days at the mission made this reality painfully clear.
A Hard Lesson in Fundraising
Early in my time there, a local radio station partnered with us to host a radiothon—a fundraising event where DJs encouraged listeners to donate to support the homeless. It seemed like an incredible opportunity. I even volunteered to answer phones, taking pledges from kind-hearted people who gave what they could to support our mission.
At the end of the event, a group of us went out for lunch to celebrate. Someone shared the exciting news that we had raised $100,000. I was thrilled—imagine what that kind of money could do for the people we served! But then came the gut punch.
Someone else at the table casually mentioned that we would only receive about 25% of that amount. The rest—$75,000—was going to the marketing company that had organized the event.
I was speechless. Something about it felt deeply wrong.
I kept thinking about the people who had called in, giving sacrificially because they believed their money was helping the homeless. They hadn’t donated to a marketing firm; they had donated to a rescue mission. Would they have given so generously if they had known how little of their money would actually reach the people in need?
The Industry of Fundraising
As I spent more time in ministry, I realized this wasn’t an isolated incident. It was common. Every conference we attended had vendors pitching their latest marketing strategies for raising money. Many of these companies took significant portions of donations in exchange for their expertise in “helping” nonprofits bring in more funds.
Now, I’m not saying marketing firms have no place in ministry. There’s value in spreading awareness, in crafting a compelling message, and in leveraging media to reach more people. But when the scales tip too far—when a fundraising company profits more than the ministry they claim to support—it starts to feel eerily similar to what Jesus encountered in the temple.
A House of Prayer or a Den of Thieves?
This experience has stuck with me ever since, and it always brings to mind the story of Jesus cleansing the temple. In both cases, you have sincere believers bringing their offerings—whether it’s money, sacrifices, or acts of service—while others seize the moment as an opportunity to make a profit.
That’s why, to this day, I only give directly to ministries. I avoid giving through third-party campaigns unless I know exactly how the money is being distributed. And I ask questions. How much of my donation is actually reaching the people in need? How much is going to administrative costs or marketing firms?
Marketing and fundraising organizations can be useful tools for ministry. But when the business of charity overshadows the mission itself, maybe it’s time to flip a few tables.
