It doesn't take long for a fundraiser to learn that it costs money to raise money. Even a post on Facebook takes a few minutes to write — and time really is money. But fundraisers often find themselves having to defend their expense budgets and fight to keep the income budget from being inflated without any plan (or budget) for raising that extra income.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said, "Hope is not a strategy." Yet, board members and some executives at nonprofit organizations sometimes seem convinced that money will come in, even without investment in fundraising — a strategy of hope if there ever was one.
We all have learned that wishing doesn't make fundraising success a reality. Nor does a single ask usually result in a gift. It takes time to identify people with an interest in your mission, build a relationship, establish trust, make a case for your solution to a problem — and eventually receive the donation.
There is no easy solution to this battle. And yes, it is a battle, because fundraisers know that the mission will not be accomplished if there isn't enough money to fund program. I've never met a committed fundraiser who wanted to just spend money on fundraising; rather, fundraisers constantly are looking for where they can invest money to raise even more money.
If you're facing the challenge of convincing a board or leadership team that investing in fundraising is essential for the organization's future, there are a few ways you can help make your case. It won't be easy, but the payoff could be a growing, healthy nonprofit, accomplishing more and more every year.
Make sure the numbers mean something
It's easy to produce a report from the donor management system or Excel. It's much harder to guide the recipients to a point where they understand what that report is saying about the future.
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- Acquisition
- Executive Issues
Pamela consults with nonprofits, helping them develop their fundraising strategy and writing copy to achieve their goals. Additionally, she teaches fundraising at two universities, hoping to inspire the next generation of fundraisers to be passionate about the profession. Previously, Pamela led the fundraising programs for nonprofit organizations. Pamela is a member of the Advisory Panel for Rogare, the fundraising think tank at Plymouth University’s Hartsook Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy, a CFRE, a graduate of Wheaton College (IL) and Dominican University, and holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from California Southern University. Contact Pamela at pamela@pjbardeninc.com or follow her on Twitter at @pjbarden.