ProFile: Hans Wolters

Fundraisers across the globe are facing challenges. No matter where your organization is headquartered or where its work takes hold, the issues generally are the same: acquiring, retaining and engaging donors in an ever-changing societal landscape.

With that in mind, FundRaising Success reached out to international fundraiser Hans Wolters, CEO of U.K.-based The Resource Alliance, an organization missioned to build the fundraising capabilities of the nonprofit sector worldwide. Wolters has an extensive background as a fundraiser, having held positions at Greenpeace Europe, WWF International and the European Council for Foreign Relations (ECFR), and as an independent consultant.

FundRaising Success spoke with Wolters about fundraising, the increasing control of the donor and the great things that efficient, effective nonprofit organizations can achieve.

FundRaising Success: What drew you to fundraising?
Hans Wolters: NGOs perform an incredible and hugely important role across the world. Indeed, they are essential for a well-functioning democratic society and — on a daily basis — are solving so many of the world's problems that politicians and others simply have not been able or willing to solve.

But, what services can they deliver if NGOs themselves are not sustainable? Fundraising and creating steady flows of income are absolutely essential if organizations are to meet their objectives and if they want to plan for what lies ahead. Since the very first time I tried my hand at fundraising, when selling Christmas cards in aid of UNICEF in a small city called Assen in the Netherlands in 1960, I felt inspired by doing something very concrete and tangible in support of a great cause.

The Resource Alliance has been doing this in various guises for 30 years now on a global platform, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead the organization in its mission to help NGOs build capacity and raise the funds ?they need, and ensure ?sustainability.