The Biggest Fundraising Mistakes

Here Are The Biggest Mistakes People Make In Fundraising:

Believing your organization will attract support simply because it's a worthy cause.

Failing to engage in fundraising strategic planning.

Failing to make the ask.

Asking way too soon---or way too late. Or for way too little. Or for way too much.

Only asking for money.

Ignoring the data.

Hiding your online donate button.

Failing to adequately research and evaluate prospects.

Believing that publicity alone will raise money.

Failing to recruit the right board members---ones who will give and get, who are affluential and influential, who are committed to your charity and to fundraising for it.

Not developing a strong enough case for giving.

Not cultivating donors enough.

Having board members not donate or fundraise.

Not using solicitation as the final step in the fundraising process, but instead as the first one.

Failure to research and evaluate prospects.

Believing that publicity alone will raise money.

Failure to recruit board members for fundraising.

Failing to have---or meet--- deadlines.

Thinking that others can or shall raise the money.

Falsely believing that just because people are affluent they will contribute to you.

Believing you can approach wealthy prospects at the last minute.

Talking when you should be listening.

Using board members as an excuse for you not to raise money.

Ignoring lapsed donors.

Taking board members for granted.

Assuming ‘no’ just means ‘no’ without digging deeper.

Spreading staff or volunteers or resources too thin.

Failing to explain exactly why you seek the funding, why your cause and project is compelling, who will benefit, and why the money is needed now in specific, people-oriented terms with a sense of urgency.

Failing to make donors feel they're investing in your cause and getting something in return.

Failing to first have those closest to the center of your organization donate.

Failing to start solicitations with your board.

Failing to have board members commit themselves to significant giving and getting.

Failing to cultivate donors & involve them in your organization.

Failing to realize that solicitation is the final step in the fundraising process, not the first one.

Failing to research and evaluate prospects.

Failing to ask.

Failing to train board members in fundraising.

Failing to hold board members accountable for their giving & fundraising.

Failing to have a strong rationale & case for giving.

Failing to set realistic goals & deadlines.

Failing to train fundraising solicitors adequately.

Failing to adequately & quickly recognize & thank your donors & volunteers.

Failing to focus on your top giving prospects first.

Failing to ask for specific gifts.

Failing to have a fundraising plan.

Failing to visit top prospects in person.

Failing to keep track of all critical fundraising statistics.

Failing to focus on the best sources and fundraising & communications methods.

Failing to seek diversity in funding.

Failing to find the right person to make each ask.

Failing to segment and personalize as much as possible.

Failing to provide annual board retreats with fundraising training and energizing activities.

Failing to have insiders give first.

Failing to research and evaluate prospects.

Failing to cultivate prospects/asking them too soon.

Failing to steward donors.

Failing to utilize technology.

Failing to have & meet deadlines.

Having a lack of planning and strategy.

Having a lack of support and participation from board members or organizational leaders.

Not friendraising before fundraising.

Not cultivating before soliciting.

Not allocating sufficient resources to fundraising.

Not having enough staff or volunteers.

Putting all of your eggs in one basket.

Not keeping adequate donor records.

Not actually asking for money often enough.

Not thanking donors adequately. 

Failing to start fundraising planning early.

Failing to conduct ample research ahead of time to make sure that you know precisely what to ask for from your potential donors — and what to offer them in return.

Failing to segment your database.

Failing to promptly thank your donors.

Failing to have a written fundraising plan for your fundraising efforts with clear goals, objectives and a timeline for each effort.

Failing to communicate a sense of urgency for the need that your organization meets.

Failing to keep the fun in fundraiser

Failing to have the board take ownership of the fundraising plan.

Failing to make fundraising goals realistic from the start.

Failing to have the organization tell its best story.

Failing to have CEO fundraising involvement.

Failing to make donors able to understand what it is the organization does and why it is important.

Failing to to convince the donor of the importance of the mission, or worse yet never even bothers to explain the mission at all.

Failing to communicate a sense of urgency for the need that the organization meets.

Failing to keep the fun in fundraisers.

Failing to  attract repeat donors.

Failing to  “make the ask.”

Failing to hire a fundraising consultant.

P.S. Anything Else That YOU Would Add?

The Author, Dr. John B. Charnay, CEO Of Charnay And Associates In Greater Los Angeles, Is A Top Nonprofit Fundraising Advisor Who Has Raised Over A Quarter Of A Billion Dollars During His Distinguished Career. He Has Been In Charge Of Numerous Major Fundraising Special Events. He Often Strategically Advises Board Chairs And Facilitates Board Fundraising Retreats And Has Trained Numerous Boards And Development Directors And Their Staffs In Fundraising. He Has Extensive Experience Teaching At The Graduate And Undergraduate Levels At Leading Universities Throughout The Greater Los Angeles Area, Including USC, UCLA, CSUN, FIDM, Woodbury And Pepperdine And Others. Additionally, He Is An Award-Winning Public Relations Professional. He Has Been A Strategic PR Advisor To Many Famous Celebrities And Fortune 1000 CEOs. Additionally, He Serves As A Trusted Strategic Philanthropic Advisor To Numerous High Net Worth Individuals & Families & Family Offices. To Meet Him And Ask For His Support, Invite Him To Be LinkedIn (Email In Profile) And Contact Him Today!