What We Talk About When We Talk About Fundraising

By: Robin Harpak, Director of University and Nonprofit Partnerships

Sometimes it seems hard to put the “fun” in fundraising. People who don’t fundraise for a living may get the impression that it’s all about money, which, at the end of the day, is not always the most exciting thing to think about — especially if one is in the position of trying to get it. There are a few things I wish people knew about fundraising, though — and why it’s fun for me.

Relationship Building

Fundraising is much more emotional than it sounds. For me it’s all about the relationship. When I connect a donor with his/her passion it’s a feeling unlike anything else. They feel so fulfilled giving to a cause which means so much to them, the beneficiaries of the support are grateful beyond words, and I am on cloud nine knowing I made a difference to both parties. Sometimes fundraising events can foster those relationships so I’d probably choose events as a close second. For some time I organized an annual golf tournament fundraiser and to this day I am still in touch with some of “my” golfers because the relationship we built from the moment they registered through the day of golf itself allowed for a lot of meaningful and fun interactions. Many times people can forget that fundraising, like all things, is actually about people, the passions that connect us, and the relationships we build together.

Thriving Under Pressure

Don’t get me wrong — fundraising isn’t just about hitting up parties and making new friends. A lot of an organization’s success rides on the person in charge of raising the capital. Each time I am working with a university or nonprofit partner for Ideas United, I feel a sense of urgency just like I did when I was a fundraiser in their shoes. I know that if we don’t get it right, it isn’t just the dollars they invested in us which are lost, but a ripple effect. I end up taking on that stress and trying to impart the sense of urgency and need to achieve onto our team. It doesn’t take much — our team is super driven by projects with our university and nonprofit partners because they understand the big picture of it all. But it’s totally manageable. Mostly, I dig deep for patience, I empathize, and I work hard to make magic happen. Our partners and their causes deserve that.?

"It’s absolutely essential to honor both the donor’s intentions and the organization’s mission, and if the two don’t align, it’s not worth it for either party to compromise on their values."

Saying No

Yes, sometimes you do have to say no to a funding opportunity. Sometimes you get to the point where you’ve solicited a donor and their intentions don’t line up with the organization’s needs, and it’s counterproductive to change the organization’s strategy to fit the funding opportunity. There are also times when the donor wants to allocate funds with parameters so narrow that they couldn’t then be used, or what they want to fund doesn’t exist in the organization. It’s absolutely essential to honor both the donor’s intentions and the organization’s mission, and if the two don’t align, it’s not worth it for either party to compromise on their values.

At the End of the Day, Appreciate

I woke up every day as a fundraiser knowing that what I was doing made a difference. I meant it when I said that every dollar counts. I understood the organization’s needs and believed in them. I loved working with people who were working towards similar goals, and I loved seeing the impact of the dollars I helped bring in. Fundraising is one of the most rewarding jobs out there simply because it makes so much good work possible. So if you’re thinking about becoming a fundraiser or if you’re a fundraiser who’s feeling burned out, take stock: it’s an incredibly fun job that makes a real difference in the world. It can make a difference in your life, too.