I hear from a lot of EDs that fundraising is the number one stressor in their day. They know they need the funds to pay their staff and continue the mission. But, the general attitude tends toward, “Bleh, gag me with a spoon if I have to ask another rich person to open their pocketbook.”
Okay, I get it. You’re in the nonprofit sector because you find more value in seeing a humanitarian vision come to fruition than growing an empire.
But when I say fundraising is your ticket to the utopian society you dream of, I really mean it.
As the executive director of your NPO, whatever attitude you have toward fundraising is going to trickle down to your board, your staff, and your supporters.
If you don’t convey the value of fundraising, they won’t get it either.
So what is an appropriate attitude to have toward fundraising?
Well, for starters, we have to flip the switch in our brains and recognize that “nonprofit” is a misnomer.
Really, you’re running a [Trigger warning: I’m going to say the B word]…
BUSINESS.
It’s a mission-focused business that allows you to give back to your community in tangible and meaningful ways. But, it IS a business.
–And the funds you raise are the lifeblood of your organization.
–And the profits you make (GASP! Yes, profits 😊) allow you to sustain and grow your organization so you can be effective for the longterm.
As a former ED myself, I discovered that “building” something doesn’t come naturally to me.
I’m a natural visionary. I’m a starter. But when it came to building my NPO, I had to decide how badly I wanted to be the person to see the mission through.
Spoiler alert: I wanted it pretty badly, so I put skin in the game. I changed my mindset, put tools in my toolbox, and got out of my comfort zone and into fundraising because the mission really was worth changing myself.
And, surprise, surprise, the whole organization changed and upleveled right along with me.
So, the question is, are you willing to uplevel your mindset and your skills to serve the mission in the best way possible?
Because, if you’re not, it may be time to pass that baton on to someone who will. 😬
But, don’t worry, FIRSTNAME! I think you’re ready for the challenge! And I’m here to help.
(See the P.S. below to find out how you can get started today.)
🎤🎤🎤
Speaking of rekindling your love for fundraising… Recently I had Robert Fukui on the podcast to talk about The Business of an NPO, and I think you’re going to jive with what he had to say.
Robert is the founder of Power Couples by Design and co-author of the book Tandem: The Married Entrepreneurs’ Guide For Greater Work-Life Balance.
As a former Fortune 500 exec helping nonprofits grow and thrive (and keep romance alive!), Robert brings the real talk about how and why healthy nonprofits make a PROFIT (legally and ethically). 💰
We also talk about:
💥Why you should focus on being productive vs. busy
💥Time and money – managing your most precious resources
💥Growing your organization the right way
💥Who should be fundraising (hint – it’s you!)
💥Surrounding yourself with the right board
Robert Fukui helps purpose-driven leaders build thriving organizations while finding balance. Whether you lead a fledgling startup or established nonprofit, his business principles are gold!
There’s so much more BIZ strategy packed into this episode. Let Robert school ya on sustainable nonprofit success. 🎓
