The Fundraiser's Daily Grind

As human beings, we only have the capability to handle so much in our daily lives. We continually pile on the work until we get all of it done, which we never do, get sick, or decide enough is enough and take a cruise. Before you make the decision on next steps, I suggest you sit down at a Starbucks and do what I did last week before a meeting. I mentally called it preparing for the daily grind.

I was sitting at a Starbucks at 7 a.m. waiting for my 7:30 a.m. meeting, rewriting my to-do list and creating meeting notes as I took inventory of the paper in my briefcase. I had coffee and was ready for the meeting. I was happy knowing that I had a three-day weekend ahead of me.

A typical day for me includes a variety of internal and external meetings, telephone calls, countless emails, and bracing for the unexpected. I have to prepare a PowerPoint presentation plus design a daylong leadership session. I have 15 days to generate $76,000 in order to make a Christmas goal. I am attempting to figure out a way to obtain this goal. A meeting with a donor that was held yesterday will provide a tremendous boost toward this goal, and he knows it. I await his final response on the ask.

I must plan for statewide trips to various locations as part of an intensive fundraising audit process. I am now scheduling training sessions with several advisory boards in various locations. I am working with my boss and organizational leadership group on developing a significant planning study. I am doing research on potential capital campaigns. I just created a meeting with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy on a learning matter. I am prioritizing many other items related to management of my staff at work.