179| You Have to Ask: A Giver’s Advice for Parish Leaders

Generosity in a parish starts with a simple but sometimes uncomfortable step: you have to ask. In this episode of the Rebuilt Parish Podcast, Melissa Wilkinson and Tom Corcoran sit down with David Gaines, a Catholic business leader, parishioner, and generous giver, for a candid conversation about generosity, stewardship, and what pastors and parish leaders should know about inviting people to give. David shares how his own faith shaped his approach to generosity and why he believes some people in your parish may simply be waiting to be asked. Together, they explore how pastors can make the ask with confidence, connect giving to a clear vision, build relationships with potential donors, and help people see the impact their generosity is making. This conversation offers an important reminder: inviting someone to generosity is not simply about raising money. It can be an invitation to grow deeper in discipleship and recognize everything we have as a gift from God. 📖 FREE RESOURCES FOR OUR NEW BOOK Explore resources for Jesus, the Rich Young Man, and the Meaning of Life by Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran, including the first chapter, reflection questions, parish resources, and more: https://download.rebuiltparish.com/richyoungman 🙌 JOIN US AT THE REBUILT CONFERENCE Go Forward with hundreds of Catholic pastors, parish staff, and ministry leaders at the Rebuilt Conference, May 3–4, 2027, at Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland. Discover actionable ideas, connect with other parish leaders, and explore topics that can help your parish grow stronger in mission. https://rebuiltconference.com IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 – Meet David Gaines 01:18 – David’s background, family, and career 03:24 – How David met his wife in an airport 06:03 – David’s faith story 10:14 – Becoming Catholic and finding Church of the Nativity 13:45 – How generosity became part of David’s faith 18:45 – The moment that changed his perspective 23:18 – Why pastors need to talk about giving 25:11 – “You have to ask” 28:21 – How giving can become part of discerning God’s will 30:04 – How David decides what organizations to support 32:14 – What parish leaders should know about approaching donors 34:21 – Connecting generosity to vision and growth 35:17 – The joy of seeing the impact of your giving 37:56 – Why donors should see the fruit of their generosity 41:08 – Advice for pastors who are hesitant to ask 43:06 – Tom’s biggest takeaway 43:52 – How generosity can loosen money’s hold on our lives 46:27 – Psalm 127 and trusting God with the mission KEY TAKEAWAYS: Do not assume people know your parish needs support. Sometimes you simply need to ask. • Help people understand the vision behind the ask and what their generosity will make possible. • Build relationships with the people in your parish and recognize the experience, gifts, and resources they can bring to the mission. • Follow up with donors so they can see the people, ministries, and lives their generosity is impacting. • Calling people to generosity can be part of helping them grow as disciples. • Remember that the mission ultimately belongs to God. As Psalm 127 reminds us, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” ABOUT REBUILT PARISH Rebuilt Parish comes alongside Catholic pastors and parish leaders to help them build thriving parish communities focused on making disciples. Through coaching, resources, workshops, and the Rebuilt Conference, we help parishes move forward with greater clarity, stronger leadership, and a renewed focus on mission. Rate, Review, & Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts!    “I love the Rebuilt Podcast! It’s helping my parish make strides in parish renewal!” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing our show! This helps us support more people just like you, take steps towards parish renewal and making disciples. Be sure to give us 5 stars, write a review and share what you loved most about the episode!  https://www.rebuiltparish.com/     facebook.com/rebuiltparish instagram.com/rebuiltparish  https://www.linkedin.com/company/rebuilt-parish/  https://www.youtube.com/@rebuiltparish