Welcome to the last month of the year or what I like to call the Superbowl of Fundraising.
Did you know that over 75% of donations come in the last two months of the year?
But in this last month, you should be reaping what you sowed over the last eleven months. You can’t plant and harvest at the same time.
But, gentle reader, if you’re stressing about getting those last minute donations in, I want to offer what I hope will be comforting to you.
I’ve been reading Byron Katie recently and she said that there are only three kinds of business: my business, your business and God’s business. My business is what I can control, your business is what you control and God’s business is what nobody can control.
Issues arise when we spend all of our time in other people’s business trying to control what they do, think, act, and feel. (“He should do this, she should do that.”)
Get out of other people’s business and focus on your own business.
Your business is to inspire, to ask and to create value for your donors and the recipients of your services. If people do not donate to you, that is their business. You can’t make anybody do anything they’re not going to do. All you can do is to make compelling offers, invite as many people as you can and be a passionate advocate for your cause.
And remember it takes twenty times for people to remember something so that one solicitation will probably not do the trick.
Good luck out there!
Rhea
