First Words

As a practicing fundraiser for more than 30 years, I have met the kindest, most generous individuals who want to help build a better world, whether through their time, talent or legal tender. 

It takes a lot of practice.  As many a professional fundraiser will tell you, fundraising is both art and science.  Countless articles from numerous studies have been written delving into the psyche of donors, the timing and wording of “the ask”, the number of times a fundraiser should ask, who should ask, when they should ask, where should they ask, how much they should ask, etc. The art is taking all this information, using your instincts for each particular donor, and painting a picture that will bring out the emotion and joy to inspire a donor to give.

Asking is a delicate balance of this art and science.  There are millions of donors, and each is very different, giving for very different reasons. Each donor needs something different.  It’s up to the fundraiser who is helping them to discover what will motivate them to make the gift that will help build a better world.  It may be one thing needed one day, such as the need to memorialize a loved one, and another thing needed the next, such as the need to give back to an organization that saved their life.  Or, it may be several things are needed at once.  

 A fundraiser, of all things, must be adaptable, flexible and a bit of a mind reader. Yes, it takes a lot to be a practicing fundraiser.

From New York City...to Los Angeles...to Vancouver, British Columbia, and now from Victoria, BC: I have traveled from east to west, and now up north practicing fundraising, raising millions of dollars for the organizations for which I’ve worked.  I’ve even been down south, working on projects in Central America for Rotary International.  It’s safe to say, I’ve gotten around.

People often ask, "How is fundraising different in Canada versus the States?"  The answer is simple:  It isn't.  Donors are generous, caring people across our great continent.  They want to be inspired.  They want to be courted.  They want to invest in something that is going to make a difference.  And they want to be thanked, thanked some more...and thanked again.

So the purpose of this blog will be to share some of my practices, pose a few questions and share some of my musings.  Hopefully, these will help some people new to the profession learn skills they can use, and help those more seasoned fundraisers refresh and renew the talents they already possess.