You Might Be the Roadblock if…
The first of the year is a time many fundraisers want to “get their shop in order.” While you’re reviewing your processes, staff and final results from last year, you might be wondering why you didn’t raise as much money last year as you hoped. You have a great organization with a great mission: why don’t people give more?
Before you start digging and analyzing, start with asking yourself: Am I doing all I can do to lead this organization to fundraising success?
You might be the roadblock to success if you do one or more of the following.
Defend the way you like to do things.
If you spend time talking about how you like something done – or if you use that phrase from time to time – you might be the roadblock. “Liking” something is not a reason to do it. To raise more money this year, use research, evidence, and strategy. If you don’t have a baseline for fundraising success, come up with one this year. At any given time, be able to answer why you are doing something a particular way. And don’t say because you like it.
Complain about lack of board (or other) engagement.
Start by understanding this truth: lack of fundraising success if not your board’s fault. They came to the table wanting to make a difference. What happened to that desire? Chances are, it’s still there – even if dormant. Wake up the fundraising leader in each member of your team, knowing that each person may have a different role to play.
Get angry that people don’t give.
People are giving to organizations all the time. The organizations that receive money are not necessarily those with the best mission or the ones that have the most money to spend on fundraising. By and large, the ones that raise the most spend more time earning their donors’ confidence and trust. Don’t get angry. Get busy.
This year, you will either move right into the roadblock time and time again, or you will remove it and get closer to your goal. Sometimes, the answer is right in front of your nose – if you look in a mirror. There, you may find the barrier – and the answer – to your fundraising success.
Karin Cox, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer (Wilmington, N.C.) kcox@kineticfundraising.com
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Join Us on the Growing Philanthropy Tour
Next stops on the road to achieving Kinetic’s mission of growing philanthropy by 25 percent in the next 20 years:
Scotland, U.K.
February 7-9, 2018
Alan Clayton Associates
Great Fundraising Masterclass
Adrian Sargeant
Minneapolis
February 28-March 3, 2018
ALDE IGNITE International Conference
Massive Fundraising
Adrian Sargeant
Nashville, Tenn.
March 21-23, 2018
NSFA National Conference
Exhibitor: Kinetic
Dallas
May 23-25, 2018
Boy Scouts of America Annual Meeting
Richmond, Va.
July 18-19, 2018
2018 Virginia Fund Raising Institute Conference
Lead Sponsor: Kinetic
London
July 2018
Iof Convention 2018
Adrian Sargeant
Jen Shang
Washington, D.C.
August 29-31, 2018
Boy Scouts of America Top Hands
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Strategies for Success explores smart ideas, connecting with thousands of fundraising professionals. We welcome your best practices contributions or comments. Send to Strategies for Success editor Karin Cox, kcox@kineticfundraising.com. If you’d like a free subscription to Strategies for Success or its monthly companion, Philanthropy Success, contact info@kineticfundraising.com.
