Here's a revealing post at Medium about the beliefs many people carry into the fundraising profession: Five Things They Didn't Tell You When You Signed Up to Fundraise. Have you ever confronted any of these?
- No one has to give you money.
- It's none of your business what other people do with their money.
- What's important to you might not be to others.
- People are not heartless or ignorant or selfish if they don't give.
- Never assume the value is obvious.
A lot of bad fundraising comes from fundraisers who have not learned these truths:
- They think they are entitled to people's donations because their cause is so important. The truth: There are a lot of important and deserving causes. Not everyone knows or cares about yours.
- They think people spend too much money frivolously and/or donate to undeserving cause -- so people are obligated to give to their organization. The truth: That's not our call.
- They think their cause is self-evidently and obviously the best possible cause. The truth: You have to win people over. On their terms. Even then, some people won't value what you do.
- They think everyone who doesn't give (or who doesn't give enough is morally flawed. The truth: Really not our call.
- They think you have to be evil to say no to them. The truth: It's reasonable to say "no" to your fundraising for many valid reasons.
A realistic view of donors and how they connect with your organization and your cause will make you a very much better fundraiser.
Thanks to Marc Pitman for the tip.
from Future Fundraising Now http://ift.tt/1KLOK3Z
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