An Exercise in Transformation

(Tandon talks more about the concept of fundraisers as a bridge between donors and beneficiaries, among other topics, in his story, “Is Change an Uphill Battle?” from the July issue of FundRaising Success.)

It’s about relationships
There simply is no underplaying the role of relationships in fundraising — with donors, naturally, and within development departments themselves. But it took Tandon a few years to realize that there was more relationship building that needed to be done to complete the circle he was trying to create at World Vision U.S. While things were all lemonade and sunshine among the donor-engagement folks, and while those folks were busy building the bridge between donors and beneficiaries, there was a distrust of the development division simmering under the surface in the projects division — the people who actually put the programs into play and have hands-on contact with the children and communities World Vision U.S. serves.