In the last years of her life, my maternal grandmother forgot things like the names of her grandchildren (I mean, there are 18 of us) but she never forgot about her money. She was like the old Chinese lady Rainman (for you millennials, look that one up). You could name any year at random and she could tell you exactly how much money she had in her bank account, who owed her money and how much to the penny.
1971? 1963? 2001? No problem.
So, I guess you could say that I came by my interest in money honestly.
In my work in fundraising and training leaders how to fundraise, here’s the biggest secret: it’s not about the money.
Fundraising is not about the money. (Is your mind blown yet?)
Fundraising is about the relationship and the money is trust in a handy format.
The money comes when your partners so deeply trust in you and want to be part of an exciting vision that they exchange value (money) for your value (positive change).
When you stop focusing on the transaction of fundraising and focus instead on creating value: value for your clients, value for your donors, value for your board and communicating that value, then fundraising is a joy.
As a frontline fundraiser, you are the Chief Inspiration Officer. Your job is to communicate your added value with such enthusiasm, energy and conviction that your donors would be foolish to not want to be a part of it.
If we approach fundraising as if this is what will give people meaning, joy and purpose in their lives and they just don’t know it yet, how might our energy and actions be different?
Fundraising for your organization is (metaphorically) an awesome party, and your job is to find the people who want to come to that party and to let them know what to bring.
PS: Want more juicy tidbits like this? Apply for the Fundraising Accelerator today.
