Seven Reasons for Fundraisers to be Optimistic in 2009

By Gail Perry

Association of Fundraising Professionals, Feb. 2, 2009 — AFP member, experienced fundraiser, speaker and author, Gail Perry, CFRE, shares with eWire readers her thoughts on how to keep going productively in these bad economic times. She believes that without a positive outlook we cannot go forward to make the world a better place. Below is her "positive thinking" list for '09.

"We can't go forward if we are stuck in gloom and doom,” Perry says. “I’m keeping my sights on the horizon where the sun is coming up and donors are generously giving to their favorite causes. This is where I’m focusing!”

1. It may be tough right now, but even in the darkest times, there shines a light of opportunity. If you are familiar with the Chinese character for "chaos," you might know that within it rests the word "opportunity." Whenever there is confusion and doubt, there are always opportunities. It's up to you. You can choose to roll over like a dead bug or you can bravely look for the opportunities. Clearly things are changing. It is our challenge to be open to change, looking constantly for new strategies and ideas within a chaotic environment.

2. We have new national leadership in the U.S. with a set of fresh ideas for the future. Recent polls found that most of the American public is confident in our new president and willing to be patient with him. People and nations worldwide have shared their hope that the new U.S. leadership will have a positive impact on world peace. I predict that at some point this year, attitudes and consumer confidence will start to turn around. It may get worse, but it WILL eventually get better. People’s hearts and minds will begin to turn to a new future, focusing on new possibilities.

3. We are news now. Nonprofits have a better chance than ever of getting covered by the news media. I am seeing many more articles recently in our local paper about nonprofit organizations and how they are faring in the economy. Our sector is considered “news” right now and we need to take advantage of it. It’s not often that our sector is in the public eye as much as it is now.

4. Generosity is IN. Flaunting your wealth is OUT. Philanthropy is much more talked about; it's more visible and accepted. It seems that every major celebrity now has their favorite cause. Showing off your wealth has become inappropriate. Doing good is cool.

5. Public attitudes are changing. People are thinking less about themselves and more about helping others. I am seeing a strong shift away from “me” to more of a sense of “we.” This is showing up in magazine and newspaper articles, on TV and on the web. A new sense of kindness seems to be leaking out of the media stories that I follow.

6. There’s a world of new fundraising tools out there that just might revolutionize our industry. Barack Obama’s unprecedented web-based fundraising success proved that massive campaigns are possible based not on major gifts, but on small donations. This just may be the new face of fundraising. We have much to learn from the political sector on using the web to create social movements. Social movements, viral marketing, web sites like DonorsChoose that connect the donor directly to the grantee, harnessing the power of young people—all these portend the new face of fundraising.

7. Remember that no matter what happens, you are in a growth profession. Fundraising is one of the few occupations that U.S. News and World Report says offers "the highest rates of job satisfaction, the least difficult training necessary, the most prestige, and the highest pay. This career has staying power." When the rest of the world is worrying about job security, we can at least be glad that demand continues to grow for fundraisers.

Gail Perry, CFRE, is president of Gail Perry Associates in Raleigh, N.C. She is the author of Fired Up Fundraising: Turn Board Passion into Action, available in the AFP Bookstore.

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Gail Perry Author's page Gail believes in parties first, rabble-rousing second, and having fun while changing the world. Gail Perry CFRE is an international fundraising coach, speaker, trainer and thought-leader. She is a leader in a new breed of fundraisers who are on the cutting edge of fundraising today. Her Fired-Up Fundraising approach, developed over the past 25 years as a nonprofit philanthropy expert, has helped organizations raise hundreds of millions in gifts. Gail's practical and refreshing approach to raising money in today's world is based on the very latest innovative fundraising strategies. An inspirational and popular speaker, she leads energizing fundraising workshops and board retreats around the globe. She particularly enjoys working with nonprofit board members, introducing them to a new perspective on fundraising and ways they can be successful at it. Gail's book, Fired-Up Fundraising, has been called the "gold standard guide to building successful fundraising boards." Gail got her start in fundraising at Duke University, and then went on to lead fundraising at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. You can read Gail's weekly blogs at FiredUpFundraising.com, and also find her provocative articles at FundraisingSuccess, Guidestar, and Capital Campaign Magic.