How Do We Attract, Develop and Retain Good Fundraisers?

Try a 'risk' or 'new strategies' fund as part of your development budget
Wouldn't it be wonderful if you had a budget item for new technology or to try out new ideas? Remember, this small pool of money very likely will pay itself back before you know it!

I like fundraisers who say "give me $1 and I'll give you $4 back within two years." That's what a risk fund can help support. This way you won't have to deal with the perennial, "We don't have it in the budget."

If you have an innovative culture, your staff feels supported to try out new technologies. And you'll probably emerge on top in a few years too.

Could it be that the leaders of charities do not appreciate fundraising or talented fundraisers? Whoa! They don't appreciate fundraising? And/or they don't appreciate "internal fundraising competence"?

Could it be that there is something "fundamentally wrong with the internal culture of many organizations," in that fundraisers, and particularly talented young women fundraisers, are not respected, appropriately rewarded or listened to?

(I have to say, what else is new here?)

If you want to be successful, fundraising needs to be integrated into every aspect of your organization. Everyone needs to understand fundraising and his or her role in supporting donors and the overall fundraising effort. We can all do a better job creating a culture that inspires risk and change:

• Can you make employees feel important and valued?
• Can you set a good example of work-life balance?
• Can you create a culture that values the work fundraisers do?
• Can you make your employees feel safe and supported?

Do you want to keep your best young talent?
If we want to keep the best young talent, then we need to make sure we appreciate and recognize "the skills and insights of the next generation of leaders."