Strategically Building Relationships With Communities of Color

8. Earn trust by demonstrating your commitment to learning by becoming engaged in cultures other than your own. Similarly, if you are a member of community of color, reach out and invite someone to join you at a cultural or educational event.

9. Understand cultural differences, but don't make collective assumptions. Even with communities of similar heritage there is wide diversity.

10. Remember that regardless of the ethnicity of the person with whom you're speaking, your success will be based on an ability to establish a personal relationship with individuals based on that particular person's stature, interests and motivations.

The fact is that this discussion extends well beyond building relationships with communities of color. There are myriad changes within the realm of fundraising, and the sooner we accept that the status quo to which we've become accustomed is behind us, not only will we be more successful in our fundraising endeavors, but we'll be more enriched in our personal lives as well.

Reine Shiffman is owner of the nonprofit consultancy Shiffman & Associates and can be reached at 651.686.7509.