Don't Be a Fundraising Dinosaur: 5 Big Ideas to Adopt Right Now

Here are more provocative nuggets from the recent AFP International Conference in Vancouver. I just couldn't resist sharing these "status-quo" challenges!

Here's my challenge: Take this list to your next board meeting. Ask your board members: "What are your impressions of these ideas?"

Big Idea No. 1: Stop talking about yourself.
I'm hearing this over and over. And I bet you are too. But are you really, really following this new rule of fundraising? Guess what: It's not about YOU or your organization. It's about the cause!

Martin Luther King Jr. never said "I have an organization." He said, of course, "I have a dream!" AFP speaker Fraser Green said that MLK never once, in all his speeches, ever talked about his organization! Maybe you just better lessen the emphasis on your fine, wonderful organization.

And, hold on — people are not particularly interested in what you DO either. A favorite tweet from the #afpmeet: "Nobody is interested in what you do, but you. Everybody is interested in what you achieve when you do it." — Simon Pidgeon #Afpmeet (@RoryJMGreen) April 3, 2012

And: Nobody cares when your organization was founded. Nobody. It's all about the CAUSE. The dream. Your organization's dream of a new and improved world. THAT's the conversation you need to be having!

Big Idea No. 2: Donor retention is more important than cash totals.
Whoa, what was that? Did I hear right? Peter Drury wowed us all with his presentation on "Beyond Cash Fundraising Metrics."

"If you focus exclusively on the cash you receive this year — then you are exposing your organization to great risk."

You and I know that this is really a sustainability issue. How are we setting ourselves up (not not) for future success? How are today's decisions (or not) going to impact next year's fundraising?

If you can only measure one thing in your fundraising program, then measure donor retention. You need to go all out to keep the donors you have — above all. Because we know that donors are abandoning nonprofits by the thousands. If you cut back your donor communications, then you'll probably see donor retention drop off the cliff. What happens in the future when today's best donors are no longer with you?

Big Idea No. 3
Either YOU do the metrics or the metrics get done to you. It's time to take charge of how your bosses measures your fundraising performance.

Peter Drury said, "Either YOU do the accounting, or accounting gets done to you."

Don't sit back and let your board (and CEO) define fundraising success: "If you give smart people inconsistent information that they don't understand, then you'll receive inconsistent decisions that YOU don't understand."

Work with your board and CEO to decide in advance:

• Why we count
• What we count
• How we count

Create a dashboard: a consistent set of indicators tracking what's really important.
You've GOT to check out this amazing tool: 'Beyond Cash' Fundraising Management Dashboard

Peter Drury's Beyond Cash Fundraising Management Dashboard shows you how to set up several different measures of fundraising results. So help your board know how to measure fundraising success. Give them what they need to make good decisions. Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear your board members say: "What are we going to do about retention!"

Big Idea No. 4: Put your donors on camera.
Let's face it. It's time to start using video in our communications. And what a wonderful idea: Start filming your donors on WHY they care. You'll be AMAZED at their powerful testimonials!

They will NAIL your case for support in a way you could never do. They will talk about the WHY — why your cause is so important, why it's so urgent. Let your DONORS be your best advocates!

Of course, putting your donors on camera does something else too: It cultivates them deeply.

• You are paying attention to your donors.
• You are asking them to get in touch with their personal passion for the cause.
• You are touching their hearts.
• You are pulling out a powerful marketing message that can give your fundraising program a real boost.

Ninety-five percent of donors say it feels good to give. Let them talk about it on camera.

Big Idea No. 5: Stop asking for money. Start asking for action.
This is where the political fundraisers have it over the nonprofits. The Sierra Club asks for ACTION in addition to giving. Take a look at all the political fundraising out there today. It seems that all PACS and other political causes are asking you to TAKE ACTION in addition to giving money.

I believe in giving donors something TO DO. It makes them happier. It involves them in the cause. It fans the flames of their passion. It makes their gift of time and money more meaningful to them. AND it sets them up for larger, sustained giving. What can you ask your donors to DO?

BOTTOM LINE:
Fundraising is changing. It's getting LOTS more sophisticated. Don't be a dinosaur. Throw out the status quo. Try new strategies and Big Ideas. You'll raise LOTS more money if you do! Which is YOUR favorite new BIG IDEA? Leave a comment and let me know!

Gail Perry, best-selling author of "Fired-Up Fundraising: Turn Board Passion into Action," is a consultant, speaker and author and also president of Gail Perry Associates. This post originally appeared on her Fired-Up Fundraising blog.