At a recent workshop, fundraising was introduced as “the job no one wants to do.” The term is often associated with anxiety and loathing while the task itself is commonly misperceived as begging. No one wants to be a professional beggar ridden with the anxiety of breaking even. I found the concept interesting as here at Maximizing Excellence, one of our defining words for 2015 is perspective.
In the spirit of perspective, consider these:
The ask – You are not begging or asking for money, you are asking for an investment; an investment in an organization’s mission. You are inviting an individual to be a part of a solution and giving them an opportunity to positively impact lives.
The donor – An ideal donor has some degree of financial capacity to give but also has personal convictions that motivate his/her giving. When capacity and convictions are integrated to create a holistic view, the donor becomes a change agent versus a source of dollars.
The fundraiser – A good fundraiser does more than raise money, he or she leads the effort behind securing resources needed to support an organization’s mission and operation. An exceptional fundraiser creates and articulates meaning behind those resources for both the organization and the donor. They empower those with resources to contribute to the betterment of society through causes that they care about the most.
Consider this perspective: Fundraising is not the end result, it is a means to the end, which is all about meeting needs and changing lives.