The Myth of "My Donors": A Cautionary Tale for Nonprofits Hiring Fundraisers

Over the years, I’ve assisted numerous nonprofits in hiring fundraisers, and one particular yellow flag always catches my attention. It’s when a candidate emphasizes their personal connections to donors and funders as a key selling point. Comments like:

• "I have connections at all the big local foundations."
• "My donors love me and have said they would follow me anywhere."
• "I brought all these donors to my last organization."

At first glance, these statements might seem like an incredible asset for a nonprofit looking to grow its funding base. And to be fair, they can be. But they also raise an important question: What happens when that fundraiser leaves?

People Give to People—But Should They Be "Your" People?

Relationship-building is at the heart of fundraising. We absolutely want team members who can build deep, meaningful relationships with donors and funders. But there’s a fine line between cultivating those relationships for the organization and treating them as personal assets that move with the fundraiser from job to job.

As a fundraiser, I was always mindful of the language I used. I made a conscious effort to avoid saying "my donors." Why? Because donors don’t belong to me—they belong to the mission, the organization, the impact we were creating together.

When I transitioned out of a role, I didn’t want donors to feel disconnected. Instead, I ensured they had strong ties to the organization itself—not just to me as their primary contact. That meant:

? Keeping detailed contact reports so the next fundraiser had a roadmap.

? Documenting where prospects were in the cultivation process.

? Encouraging multiple touchpoints within the organization so relationships weren’t dependent on just one person.

One of my greatest professional joys has been looking back and seeing donors I engaged years ago still actively supporting an organization—even after I had moved on. Some joined the board. Others made transformational gifts. That’s the mark of sustainable relationship-building.

The Risk of "Taking Donors With You"

Nonprofits need to think long-term. When hiring fundraisers, consider this: If someone markets themselves based on who they know rather than how they build relationships, what happens when they leave? Do they take donors with them? Does your organization lose hard-earned support?

This isn’t about distrusting fundraisers—it’s about setting up systems that prioritize the organization's longevity over any one individual’s network.

Let’s Discuss

Nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, board members—what are your thoughts? Have you experienced a situation where a departing fundraiser took donors with them? How do you ensure donor relationships stay with the organization? Let’s talk in the comments!