by Amy Karjala, Senior Consultant

We all grew up hearing things that sounded true but weren’t.

Carrots don’t actually improve your eyesight. Cold weather doesn’t really cause a cold. And your eyes won’t get stuck just because you rolled them one too many times.

Harmless misunderstandings.

But over the decades in my work with Christian nonprofits, I have encountered unhelpful scripts that aren’t harmless at all. These scripts shape how leaders think, how teams operate, and how ministries limit themselves. They sound familiar. Sometimes, even reasonable. But they don’t have to define how we work or limit the impact we can have.

Here are the five I see most often:

1. “We can’t attract top talent.” (related: “People should work for less because it’s ministry.”)

This script keeps ministries small. The truth? Christian nonprofits do attract exceptional leaders when they value staff, invest in growth, and pay fairly. Talent follows honor and healthy culture, not scarcity.

2. “Burnout is just part of the job.”

Yes, ministry can be heavy work. But burnout isn’t holy. Caring for emotional, mental, and spiritual health isn’t optional. It is mission-critical. Healthy leaders make healthy ministries.

3. “Christian nonprofits move slowly and don’t innovate.”

Not even close. Ministries often serve where the need is urgent and the gaps are wide. We work with many ministries that demonstrate agility, creativity, and bold solutions. Innovation is thriving in Kingdom work.

4. “Good stewardship means keeping overhead low.”

This script has stalled ministries for decades. Real stewardship means investing wisely in people, systems, technology, and training. Sometimes the most faithful move is spending more to strengthen impact.

5. “If we land the right grants, we won’t need to fundraise.”

Grants help, but they rarely fund the long-term work that keeps ministry going. Christian nonprofits need consistent, relational giving—a durable revenue engine rather than one-time boosts. No shortcuts, just a proven path.

These aren’t the only unhelpful scripts out there, but they’re among the most persistent. At The FOCUS Group, we have the privilege of seeing firsthand how God is moving through ministries that refuse to let these narratives hold them back. Which of these scripts hits closest to home for you? And how might you begin to rewire how you think about this area?

 

We’ve been privileged to help many organizations be more effective in their fundraising by learning and implementing relational fundraising principles in their work with donors. Want to talk?