summary The article discusses some of the issues surrounding sustainability in the provision of financial services by the Diocesan Development Services (DDS) in Nigeria. The article describes the history and growth of DDS within the turbulent social, economic and political conditions in Nigeria, and examines (i) to what extent financial sustainability is an achievable goal for DDS, and (ii) whether donors should play a pro‐active role in influencing local decisions. The article analyses the problems faced by DDS when a major donor tried to push it to attain rapidly financial sustainability.