How to Foster Communication in Your Fundraising

Before starting my own business, I spent more than 20 years as a fundraiser.

When I was asked the question at cocktail parties, “What do you do?” I’d tell them that I’m a fundraiser. The most common and immediate response was, “I could never ask people for money. “

I’d smile and say, “That is not what I do.”

I invite people to make a difference for an organization or a cause that is deeply meaningful or inspiring to them.

For the most part, these are individuals who have self-identified as wanting to make a difference by making increasingly significant gifts over time. Their gifts are focused on creating economic opportunities for others by creating scholarships or funding research on Parkinson’s disease or breast cancer.