Fundraiser Education

FundRaising Success published its first issue in November 2003, which makes this our 10-year anniversary year. To celebrate, we’ll be taking a look back at past issues throughout the year. Following are some words of wisdom culled from the October 2005 issue.

As Nancy Schwartz relays in her latest column in our February issue, "8 Must-Do Fundraising Changes to Make Now," continued success depends on staying on top of what's working and what's not in the fundraising sector. Nancy, president of Nancy Schwartz & Co. and author of the Getting Attention! blog, will lead the roundtable on Keys to Integrated Fundraising Success at Engage.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everybody in your organization agreed on what it takes for successful fundraising? Everybody in your organization — all the staff, board members, leaders of all types — needs to understand and agree on certain fundamentals about fundraising. You need to have a “culture of philanthropy” that everybody agrees upon and buys into. Right? What are the “pre-conditions” for fundraising success? Here are 10 basic fundamentals on how fundraising really works — and how it doesn’t work — today.

More Than Wheels and Ways to Work, a much larger car-loan group with headquarters in Milwaukee, successfully mined each other’s data and observations for ideas, and then turned those ideas into substantive changes in their own operations. Their experience, they say, is a testament to the value of taking the unusual step of openly sharing information, something most charities avoid because of concerns about competition.

It’s not the job of the development staffer to convince program staff of the importance of fundraising. It is our job to appreciate the work of program staff, communicate regularly with them, observe them “in the trenches,” and share that knowledge with funders. By sharing drafts of development writing with program staff and soliciting their feedback, I’ve gained valuable insights — and opened their eyes to the work of a fundraiser. Respect isn’t a given. It’s earned — and it begins by showing it to others.

A fundraiser is anyone who, either as a volunteer or paid, works to raise the money, commitment and enthusiasm that’s needed to fuel good works. Full stop. A hands-on fundraiser is any fundraiser who doesn’t just talk about it, but actually does it. Data-planners, copywriters, input clerks, creative strategy-formulators, major donor solicitors, fundraising directors, marketers, team leaders, envelope-stuffers, thankers and bankers, agency account executives and telephone and doorstep askers are all hands-on fundraisers. To name but a few.

In a fundraising climate where oversaturation, more competition for funds and new technologies make attracting and retaining donors that much more difficult, innovation is vital for nonprofit organizations looking to survive and thrive not only today, but in the future.

Ted Hart speaks with Certified Fundraising Executive Claudia A. Looney about fundraising career success on his Nonprofit Coach radio show.

Three years ago, I didn’t even know fundraising was a profession. But when I arrived, I threw myself into the deep end and have consequently learned a great deal in a short time. Most of all, I’ve learned that no amount of study can replace years of experience. So while I wait for the time to fill me with wisdom, I’ve learned to improve my fundraising in more immediate ways. Here are seven ways I’ve discovered.

Fundraising success isn’t a question of have's and have-not’s. Sure, larger organizations may raise more money, but that’s because they have more staff, resources, etc. But smaller organizations can be just as successful with the resources they have. Fundraising success is a question of belief. Believe in fundraising, embrace it and invest in it long-term and you are bound to find success. Ignore it, or pay it lip service, and you’ll likely find a revolving door at your development director position.