First online fundraiser for Kingdom causes planned

Since the fall of 2022, David Kieffer, president of the FaithfulGive board, has been preparing for the organization's first online giving event to benefit organizations with a Christian mission that are active in Lancaster County. "We prayed and thought and designed and listened for a year," said Kieffer of FaithfulGive's five-member board and its organizational team. "Mostly we listened to what would serve various nonprofit leaders."

The result is a three-day online giving event, which will take place in October. More than 40 local organizations have signed on to take part in the fundraiser, which will open just after midnight on Sunday, Oct. 15, and close at the end of the day on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

To introduce the event, a breakfast will be held on Monday, Oct. 16, at Westminister Presbyterian Church, 2151 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, beginning at 7:30 a.m. In addition, a short celebration picnic will be held on Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. at Long's Park. "There will be worship, celebration, and announcing prizes," explained Kieffer. There is no cost to attend either event, but donations will be welcomed. Those wishing to attend either event may register at http://www.faithfulgive.org.

Awards given at the picnic will include prizes that participating organizations will compete for from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day of the event. Prize categories are the Engaged Donor prize to benefit smaller organizations; the Show Me the Money prize for the largest unique donation; a prize package from Masterpiece Marketing, which will be awarded based on a written submission; and the Just Keep Swimming award, which will be awarded by the board based on nominations by donors who submit a paragraph about why an organization has demonstrated wisdom, love, and persistent courage in challenging circumstances. Nominations for the Just Keep Swimming award are open at https://faithfulgive.org/prizes/.

Kieffer pointed out that the first day of the event will not be focused on giving, although the platform will be available. "It's really a day of prayer," he said, noting that prayer guides will be distributed to various churches that are helping FaithfulGive to spread the word. "(The guide) will enable people to learn about the organizations and pray for them," Kieffer said.

Kieffer said that the decision to start FaithfulGive was motivated by the many Kingdom-minded organizations located in the county. "This is really a movement of people who live locally who recognize that Lancaster has a rich heritage of biblically faithful nonprofit organizations founded to reflect and live out biblical convictions in every area of life," he said. "This was started by those who want to celebrate those organizations, nurture their vision, and guard it for the next generation."

Looking ahead, Kieffer noted that he would love to see the giving event raise $500,000 or more. "Our goal is to bless this community," he said. "This is really a labor of love," he noted, adding that neither he nor the other board members - who include vice president Lynette Morales, secretary Jim Adams, treasurer Steve Bucklen, and member at large Kurt Weaver - are salaried.

Readers who would like more information about the first FaithfulGive event may visit the aforementioned website.