Contact: Matt Baxter, 503-639-7364

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore., Nov. 5 /Christian Newswire/ -- Most US ministries receive more than half of their annual donations during the holiday season every year. However, one charitable foundation is questioning whether this annual holiday giving windfall actually comes at a tremendous cost.

Eric Foley, Vice President of Giving and Training for Mission Increase Foundation, explains, "At year's end, many ministries send out 'crisis' letters---'we're behind on budget, our resources are stretched, we desperately need your help to end the year in the black.'"

Such letters may generate donations, says Foley, but they send a potentially dangerous message. "They communicate that God has not provided for this ministry and therefore others need to now, at the eleventh hour, or all will be lost," says Foley.

Instead, Foley stresses that ministries' year-end efforts should thankfully proclaim how God's abundance of resources and grace has blessed the ministry through the year. "Then they need to invite individuals to play a much larger part in the cause, one that includes, but goes beyond, financial support."

Is such an approach capable of generating donations? Foley contends that not only is this alternative approach theologically sound, it is the only one which from a fund raising standpoint will work in the future.

"Inviting people to participate with you in a cause eventually makes them more engaged. As a result, they can begin to feel greater ownership and will think about how they can champion the cause year around, not just on December 31st."

To help ministries shift from a scarcity approach to one that views donors and co-labors in the ministry, Mission Increase Foundation provides free fundraising training to ministries throughout the country, and will be providing a free year-end appeal letter workshop to Christian ministries looking to implement these transformational giving principles in their own outreach efforts.

"Imagine how much of an impact on our society ministries could have if, instead of regularly reminding supporters of the organization's need, they regularly reminded people of God's faithfulness, and they invited others to participate with them in His work!"

That is Foley's wish for this holiday season.

To sign up for Mission Increase Foundation's free year-end appeal letter workshops in Washington, Oregon, California and Colorado, go to www.missionincrease.org.