In the business world, there is a non-profit sector known as the 'third sector', which lies between public institutions and the for-profit private sector. This sector plays a key role in social cohesion, the defence of rights, and caring for vulnerable people.

Non-profit organisations operating in this field usually need fundraising to ensure the diversification of private resources, from both individuals and legal entities, in order to finance their activities.

In response to this need, EverGrow was born: a consulting founded by the Christian entrepreneur Elisa Garrido, who stepped out of her 'comfort zone' by leaving a secure job to fulfil what she calls “her purpose”.

"It's part of my calling. These are entities that work for human rights, social justice and the dignity of people. All of that is in God's heart and is part of that Kingdom we long to see manifested in this world", she told Spanish news website Protestante Digital.

In less than a year, EverGrow is offering services to seven organisations that want to transform the world.

“It wasn't part of my plans”

Garrido is 32 years old, Mexican, and currently lives in Madrid with her husband and two children. She studied in the United States, where she gained experience in fundraising. She also worked in Mexico and Spain, doing administrative work for foundations.

With more than 12 years of experience in fundraising, she decided to start her own company. However, it was not an easy decision.

“I had a job offer from a large organisation with a good salary, stability, and good working conditions. It was a secular entity with a very nice and interesting project”, said Garrido.

Despite that offer, the young entrepreneur continued to reflect on her dream and, after studying the viability of the project and the flexibility of the hours to spend more time with her family and church, decided to become self-employed.

“God made it so clear to me, that I put it in His hands and said, If that’s what You want me to do, I’ll go for it, and that’s how EverGrow was born. A friend began to open my eyes to the spiritual side of my work, and to the fact that the Bible talks a lot about the importance of financial resources in fulfilling God’s work”, she recalled.

[photo_footer]Although the decision was not easy, Elisa Garrido embarked on entrepreneurship. / Photo: Courtesy of the author [/photo_footer]

A different perspective

“It's not just a matter of obtaining the financial resources to operate in the present; but also about ensuring support that will allow the organisation to be sustainable in the medium and long term”, stressed Garrido.

Furthermore, “NGOs should not depend solely on public funding, which is why it is important to diversify sources of support by collaborating with individuals, companies and other social actors, whether through financial, human, technical or in-kind resources”.

“Fundraising is anything but asking for money; it's finding people who believe in a cause and knowing how to invite them to collaborate in a meaningful way”, she added.

For Garrido, it is extremely important to build a trusting relationship with donors, so that they understand the value of their collaboration. When donors feel included, they provide not only financial support, but also positive affirmations and motivation.

“It's about nurturing relationships, creating bonds in society, raising awareness of the world around us, being transparent and accountable, and building a support network around projects that truly transform lives. For me, doing this is a concrete way of loving my neighbour and committing myself to the hope of a more just world, pointed out Garrido.

A flexible and values-based model

EverGrow offers five main services aimed at diagnosing, supporting and strengthening non-profit organisations in key areas of fundraising, such as strategy, private fundraising, training, organisational culture and communication.

“Not everything is so standardised. First, I listen and analyse, and then, after the diagnosis, I design a proposal tailored to the reality of each entity. You can't apply a strategy if it's going to burn out the team. You have to take care of the processes”, explained Garrido.

Although she does not work exclusively with religious entities, she only collaborates with organisations that share values of social justice, human dignity and solidarity: “I need to be excited about the project. It has to be something that I would support with my own resources because otherwise it doesn't make sense”.

[photo_footer] Elisa Garrido. / Photo: Courtesy of the author [/photo_footer]

Fear of God and  wisdom

According to Garrido, to be an entrepreneur, it is important to understand that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

“Jesus spoke so much about money and material possessions for a reason. They can undoubtedly distract us, corrupt us, and make us lose sight of what is truly important. It is crucial to know that God is the One who provides and sees what we do. Everything belongs to Him, and that is why we must manage what He has entrusted to us with responsibility and be transparent in our accountability”, she underlined.

The entrepreneur believes that "if we are aware of this responsibility and work with wisdom and intelligence, the Lord will bless our work. It is a matter of perseverance and patience. I advise any professional to frequently review Colossians 3:22-25, which, at least for me, is useful to keep in mind that I work for the Lord and not for men; I want to please Him and fulfil His purposes, not mine”.

“I think we should all support at least a couple of the causes that God has put on our hearts. I always remember those women who would undoubtedly have wanted to accompany Jesus on his ministry, but, unable to travel with the disciples, decided to support him by providing resources. They also made it possible for Jesus to travel to so many towns, preach and touch the lives of so many people. These stories continue to transform us, and those women are a part of them (Luke 8:1-3)”, concluded Garrido.

This article was produced for the Líderes Empresariales section of Protestante Digital, an initiative of the Gospel, Economy and Business (Tres-E) group in Spain.

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[title]Join us to make EF sustainable[/title]

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[text]At Evangelical Focus, we have a sustainability challenge ahead. We invite you to join those across Europe and beyond who are committed with our mission. Together, we will ensure the continuity of Evangelical Focus and our Spanish partner Protestante Digital in 2025.

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