A Blast From the Past: Fundraising From Yourself (July 2010)

FundRaising Success published its first issue in November 2003, which makes this our 10-year anniversary year. To celebrate, we'll be taking a look back at past issues throughout the year.

It's lurking. It's close. And it's deadly. It forces hundreds of nonprofit organizations out of business every year. It robs even more organizations of their resources and leaves them foundering, unable to fully accomplish their missions. It destroys the careers of hundreds of hardworking and idealistic people.

You may think I'm talking about some kind of toxin-slobbering gorgon, or at least a new postal regulation. Nope. The terrible thing I'm talking about is a common mental error made by people in nonprofits: fundraising from yourself. (Cue scary organ music.)

I hope I can persuade you to react to the idea of fundraising from yourself with the same cold-blooded adrenaline rush you feel when you notice a zombie staring at you through your kitchen window. Because the danger is similar: A zombie might eat your brain, but fundraising from yourself will leave you nearly as brainless.

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