Fundraiser Education

As pink takes over the landscape in honor of breast cancer awareness, it's a reminder of the important place P2P fundraising can have in your overall strategy.

Ultimate learning exists when one can take basic information, process the information and use higher thinking skills to blend ideas together.

Whether your organization is small or large, well-heeled or struggling from day to day, you'll benefit immeasurably from taking a good, hard look at whether your organization spends more of its time in the fundraising emergency room or makes planned visits to the wellness clinic. You'll learn what sends you to the emergency room and how not to go there — anymore than you absolutely must.

No one is going to be named “Fundraiser of the Year” for leaving behind great documentation. But I guarantee you that you will be remembered — in a very unkind light — if you fail at this most basic of tasks.

Whether your organization is small or large, well-heeled or struggling from day to day, you'll benefit immeasurably from taking a good, hard look at whether your organization spends more of its time in the fundraising emergency room or makes planned visits to the wellness clinic. You'll learn what sends you to the emergency room and how not to go there — anymore than you absolutely must.

I’m not sure the fundraising sector was tossing around the term peer-to-peer in 1991. But it seems that the first time one person handed another person a pink ribbon, P2P took root. It has since grown into a huge and very purposeful part of the fundraising landscape. And it’s becoming more so, as donors want to be increasingly involved in the organizations they support — beyond simply writing a check.

Major-gifts and planned-gifts officers constantly seek ways to engage with prospects and donors. Every technique is used on a daily basis to identify, rate and screen prospects.

I have been blessed by generous people who provided learnings and suggestions as I traveled my (so far) 35-year journey in fundraising. And I have tried to say "thank you" by sharing information with others

Do donors believe that we are there, to help them, no matter what? And are we?

If your organization does P2P fundraising — or if you wish it would — I hope you'll join us in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 21.