Fundraising Friday: Spooky Halloween Edition

I’ve never met a fundraiser who wasn’t afraid of something:

Failing to meet budget.

Over asking.

Under asking.

Asking at all.

Speaking in public.

Coming across as begging.

Not having enough.

Offending someone.

Handling live snakes (this usually falls under "Other duties as assigned" in a job description)

Did you know givers have fears too?

What are they afraid of?

1. Being treated like an ATM.

Do people only hear from you when you want something or are you developing a partnership and an ongoing relationship?

Do you care about them as people or do you only care about what you can get FROM them?

Are you inviting them to contribute in ways that go beyond giving?

Do you see them, their growth and their legacy as ends you can help contribute to, or are they simply a means to your end?

2. Being lied to.

This seems obvious, but if you say you’re going to use a gift in one way, don’t use it for something else.

If people give to help launch a new program, and the program fails… or if some hard situation is impacting the work in a negative way, tell them.

If the cost to serve one person increased from $192 last year to $250 this year, don’t use last year’s number — update your giving page and use the most current number.

Don’t ever fudge your impact numbers. If you’re reporting on two programs that serve the same 50 people, you didn’t impact 100 people. You impacted 50 people twice.

3. Not making a difference.

This is a near universal fear among all people and is not unique to givers.

When people give to something, they want to know their gift mattered — that it helped someone or accomplished something.

It’s our job as fundraising professionals to help translate $’s given into impact achieved. Skip this step, and people will speculate and assume the worst.

Behind every gift is a person hoping to make a difference. Show them how they made a difference, and they will stick with you long-term.

4. Not being seen, known, or remembered.

Did anyone notice that I gave?

Do they know anything about me?

Do I matter to them?

Do they realize how long I’ve been giving?

Do they know what I care about?

Do they know the difference I’m hoping to make? Or am I just some invisible name on a spreadsheet somewhere?

These are the questions givers are asking about their relationship with the organizations they support.

Your job? Don't be a spooky fundraiser.

Make sure the people who give to your cause can answer those questions with a LOUD, "Yes!"

Sometimes, making a gift can be just as scary as asking for one.

Tomorrow or next week or later this year, someone will trust you with their treasure. Their hopes. Their desire to make a difference.

Don't be the spooky fundraiser who makes them regret it.

Every day, in a million little ways, you have the opportunity to help take the fear out of the process.

You can help make giving a fun, meaningful, satisfying experience or you can help make it terrifying.

What will you choose?

Happy Friday Friends!

-Michael