Today, I’d like to discuss a topic that’s both compelling and transformative: Servant leadership and its incredible potential for fundraising.
Many moons ago when I initially took the reins as an Executive Director, I found myself treading water in the vast sea of fundraising. The call of duty was loud, but the path to execution? Extremely vague. Without the right guidance, I found myself investing a fortune on multiple courses, coaching sessions, and materials, tirelessly attempting to educate myself on effective fundraising.
Unfortunately, this lack of preparedness is more than just an initiation rite of an Executive Director. It directly affects our non-profit’s bottom line, laying out an unstable foundation for revenue and its growth. Furthermore, it casts a shadow of doubt on the team’s morale.
If we as leaders feel untrained and uncertain, imagine the message it sends to our prospective donors and our teams.
As the winds of wisdom swept me towards a better understanding of fundraising (which really meant changing myself and the way I thought about fundraising and money in general), I had an ‘Aha!’ moment:
The essence of raising funds isn’t just about money; it’s about having a healthy relationship with yourself, your donors, your board, and your money.
And who better to shed light on this than Evan Wildstein, our latest podcast guest, and the intelligent mind behind the new book: The Nonprofiteers Fundraising Field Guide.
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In this episode of the podcast, we dive deep into the concept of servant leadership, emphasizing the need for fundraisers to receive proper, adequate training for effective fundraising.
Evan argues against the scarcity mindset and presents an alternative: building relationships with donors, listening on a deeper level, and forming a dedicated community through shared ideals.
But as Evan points out, for this approach to be sustainable, fundraisers must be well-equipped and motivated, taking utmost care of their well-being even as they take to serving their donors.
Here are some of my key takeaways:
💡 We need to readdress the pressure to raise funds by ensuring fundraisers are well-trained and have the resources they need to do their jobs well without the risk of burnout.
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💡 As fundraisers, we have to overcome the scarcity mindset and recognize our own value in the fundraising equation.
💡 It is high time to reshape our thinking regarding fundraising and leadership. By doing so, we stand to create a positive and lasting impact on both our organizations and our mission.
Everything we face today is an opportunity for growth, an invitation to challenge the status quo and lift each other higher.
Listen to the full podcast here and reconnect with practical and creative strategies to nurture and develop the organizations that we love. Listen here 🎧: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/261-servant-leadership-fundraising-with-evan-wildstein/id1436858854?i=1000633842824
Until next time, keep leading with love and self-awareness,
Rhea
