Folly #87: A Perfect 10
Scoring big on the balance beam of fundraising.
Years ago, I worked as a major gift officer at a big nonprofit. (And I’m forever grateful – cultivating major donors is the absolute best part of fundraising. Don’t believe me? Let’s talk.)
They had a bazillion staff and bunches of fundraisers, and I was pretty far down the food chain. Nonetheless, I got to attend a meeting with some board members. One was a highly respected investment banker. And he said something I will never forget.
What do you do with all those names of potential donors that I give you?
I’ve shared contact information for friends and colleagues, but never hear what comes of it.
Oof, I thought. I hope no one ever says that to me. It was an important lesson.
As a fundraiser or executive director, you always have a mental short list of pie-in-the-sky donors who make really big donations to work like yours, but not yours. (Yet.) Some may be high-level connections from board members. Others may be philanthropists you read about in the news. And then there are the multi-million-dollar, multi-year, by-invitation-only foundation funders.
Put them on a list.
How can you help? Let me count 10 ways.
Get specific. Create a list of your Top 10 hard-to-reach donors. And then, when someone says…
I love the work you do. How can I help?
… you’ll have a list of real people you can ask if they know. They just might.
Maybe you don’t have 10 top donors. Instead, maybe you’d like to:
expand programs but need space.
reach more folks who care about [your] issue.
secure pro bono technical/legal/HR/PR expertise.
host a small event to increase awareness about your work.
meet [this person].
have XYZ Foundation invite you to submit a proposal.
With so much information online, there are lots of ways that we can “find” people. But fundraising is all about relationship building. Strategize how to tap someone you know well to reach someone they know, but you don’t. And then create a way to include them – as a guest of a small VIP gathering, house party or creative community event. Or ask your mutual connection to make an introduction, or invite you both to lunch.
Give a Perfect Score
As donors and funders, let’s not resist our role.
We are so fortunate to be in positions of giving. And what a gift to learn more about an issue that interests us – and an organization doing work that is making a difference!
Here are three easy ways to score a Perfect 10 by helping your favorite nonprofit do more good work:
Be generous in making introductions to nonprofits you know and admire. If they pass muster with you, then your friends may really appreciate the intel and affirmation (not to mention a chance to learn what you care about in our communities.)
Ask a nonprofit colleague, How can I help? What is most difficult in your work? It’s a question, not a commitment. And the answer – finding space, recruiting board members, creating metrics, strategic planning, IT – may be something that is surprisingly easy for you.
Think like a nonprofit – have a growth mindset. You’re smart. That’s why you’re in a position to give. But you’re likely not the expert on every community need. Nonprofits do difficult work that takes tremendous effort. Learn about all the glorious imperfection and iterative learning that is a nonprofit’s reality.
At a time of tremendous divides, this is a chance to connect and respect. It’s a way to understand the experience of others who’ve had a different life path.
And, if you’re lucky, it’s a chance to change lives.