Fundraise Scared

I learned how to fundraise scared. As a nascent nonprofit, we didn’t have brand recognition, or existing donors to steward and cultivate. We had to ASK. FOR. MONEY. As just four individuals who comprised the organization in the early days, our reputations — social, professional and political — could be lost along with the zoo. Our neighbors, colleagues, families and constituents knew who to blame if we didn’t pull it off.