Fundraiser Education

Whether you're dog-paddling in your fundraising career, a gold-medal fundraiser or somewhere in between like this old dog, enjoy your work today. It truly does matter.

I’m about to reveal my Old MacDonald’s theory of the qualities of outstanding fundraisers (you know how they say “the farmer is *out standing* in his field”?). Ahem. Well … the outstanding farmer is surrounded by a chorus of E-I-E-I-Os. The outstanding fundraiser is similar in many ways. S/he sings a similar tune and also works in a nurturing, productive space that enables cultivation and growth.

And that’s why I developed my E-I-E-I-O paradigm. Forget about all the nasty business of “it’s a jungle out there.” No, you (the fundraiser) work on a farm.

Next time you hear one of these legends repeated by a wide-eyed fundraising colleague, you can nod sagely — secure that you know the truth (or lack thereof) behind the legend.

As I travel around the country and work with so many boards, fundraising staff and executive directors, I frequently see frustration, worry and disappointment about fundraising. Here are five clues that your fundraising program is going to disappoint you: 1. Revolving door in the development department. 2. Laying all the fundraising on one person. 3. Changing fundraising strategy too often. 4. Lacking an internal culture of philanthropy. 5. Not investing in fundraising infrastructure.

I am convinced that with experience, a "jack of all trades" can be a master of all. There is nothing wrong with being a generalist. Try it, and you may like it!  

The strange thing about mistakes is that you can always find new ones to make. I keep thinking that, at my advanced age, I have made all the mistakes I can and have used up my full lifetime allocation of actual and potential mistakes.

When you're approached to fundraise for your favorite cause or organization, there's no need to cringe and duck. The key is to shape the method and approach to attitudes that are built upon mutual benefit and personal investment. You'll even make some new friends.

Our commercial counterparts have largely embraced the concept of asking customers about their experience: Rent a car, fly on a plane, go to your bank, and you are likely to get a feedback survey. But what about the nonprofit space? Many of us appreciate how insight into our constituents’ interests and behaviors improves our ability to engage and build relationships that deliver superior results to our fundraising and related activities. But how well and how often do we simply ask our constituents how we are doing, or what we could be doing better?

Consider these five opportunities to enhance the impact you make over the next six months. A little reflection, evaluation and fine-tuning of your plans now can be a powerful tool in focusing (or refocusing) you and increasing your professional impact for the rest of 2013 and beyond!

I’ve always enjoyed clever, insightful quotes and turns of phrase because they can help us remember and apply principles that are important for success in our field and in our lives. Here are some of my favorites. I hope that a moment’s reflection on one or more of these will be valuable to you.