I'm afraid I was more sounding board than counsel to Clair during our call. Changing entrenched mind-sets such as those she described is very, very difficult. Frankly, I wonder if it's possible to right this ship without a leadership change. Clair senses this.
We ended our call with an agreement to circle back in a month. My prediction? Clair will be seeking another job.
There you have it. A real-life example of a qualified development professional stymied to the point of moving on.
And yet, if she does leave, Clair's departure will not motivate the organization's leadership to look inward. It'll continue to cry poor.
What a loss — for the organization and would-be donors. But most of all for those whose lives won't be changed for the better.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to Clair for reaching out.
Let me hear from you. Please share your situation and the challenges you face in developing sustainable revenue streams. Email me (info@TheEightPrinciples.com), and I'll arrange a brief consult providing you with practical guidance. I'll choose some of these thorny obstacles to share, along with my insights, in upcoming columns.
Success is waiting. Go out and achieve it!
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Larry believes in the power of relationships and the power of philanthropy to create a better place and transform lives.
Larry is the founder of The Eight Principles. His mission is to give nonprofits and philanthropists alike the opportunity to achieve their shared visions. With more than 25 years of experience in charitable fundraising and philanthropy, Larry knows that financial sustainability and scalability is possible for any nonprofit organization or charitable cause and is dependent on neither size nor resources but instead with the commitment to create a shared vision.
Larry is the author of the award-wining book, "The Eight Principles of Sustainable Fundraising." He is the Association of Fundraising Professionals' 2010 Outstanding Development Executive and has ranked in the Top 15 Fundraising Consultants in the United States by the Wall Street Business Network.
Larry is the creator of the revolutionary online fundraising training platform, The Oracle League.
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