Swiss Army Fundraising

Last week, I heard about a nonprofit hiring their first full-time fundraiser. They wanted someone to build a program, start donor outreach, and focus on individual giving.

They also wanted $1 million in their first year (from $0 the prior year).

Oh, and the fundraiser would also be responsible for entering gifts in the CRM and managing that system.

This organization was having some trouble finding someone to fill this role (as you might imagine).

This headache-inducing job description can probably launch a dozen social media think pieces, but what stayed with me was the idea of fundraising as a specific skill set.

Asking a fundraiser to enter gifts into a CRM isn't a fatal flaw, but it's a limiting approach. I feel the same for fundraisers who have been asked to write newsletters, organize event logistics, or manage volunteers.

Anything that could get between a fundraiser and direct donor outreach is a problem in the long run. Because fundraising - especially when launching a program - takes persistence and patience. It takes consistent work in calling donors, connecting with prospects, and sharing impact stories.

When this work is interrupted (to run a CRM report or proofread a newsletter), it costs time, energy, and momentum to get back to it.

In other words, if you want to succeed at fundraising, hire a fundraiser. And give them a job description that focuses on fundraising.

In other other words: a Swiss Army Knife can do a lot of different things. But when you want to get serious about home improvement, you'll need to get a full sized screwdriver.

But here's the good news: fundraising expertise comes from practice and support. The current job description or team structure you have can be changed - and you can set your fundraising team member(s) up for success.

So if you are ready to raise more for your mission, I'm ready to give your team members the coaching and strategy they need to build their expertise. Reply to this post and let's get started!

PPS - Washington folks, I'll be talking about board fundraising at the Nonprofit Leaders Conference in Ocean Shores on April 16 & 17. Hope to see you there! https://www.nonprofitleaders.info/

I'll also be presenting as part of the Washington State Nonprofit Conference on May 7. Register today: https://nonprofitwa.org/washington-state-nonprofit-conference/