...the most important lesson?
I have some ideas, but want to get a discussion going via the comment section below first. What are your thoughts?
citing/using info from this blog
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8 comments:
"You are not your donor" - gut feelings are important, but the only true test of anything is the data you compile to see what works and what doesn't. Just because you like something doesn't mean your donors do.
Great point, Jeff... as we said when I was at the University of Michigan "You are an 'n' of 1" meaning... no research can be done with a sample size of just one (aka You).
"you never know unless you ask" -- similar to what Jeff said, sometimes we get hung-up on our own feelings and fear asking someone for a gift because the amount sounds too big to us, personally. If you're done your research, you should be asking for a gift that is out of the question for your donor and you never know if s/he is willing to give you the gift unless you ask.
From the LinkedIn group On Fundraising, Hosted by AFP (http://linkd.in/9Dj2Ly):
Darryl Brown says: "Hmmm...Beyond a sense of the stages of fundraising so that the process is understood, I would underscore the need to LISTEN. So many fundraisers are so focused on their "pitch" that they fail to listen to nuances/clues given by the prospect."
Listen was the first thing that came to mind when I posted this question...
From the LinkedIn group On Fundraising, Hosted by AFP (http://linkd.in/9Dj2Ly):
John Olynick, of Not For Profit NOLA, says: "While the case for support is critical to the success of the campaign, connecting or finding the link between the case of support and the donor's interest is critical to actually getting the maximum level of financial support. There are a millon great causes out there---yours is just one --- find out why your donor/prospect may have an interest in yours."
From the LinkedIn group On Fundraising, Hosted by AFP (http://linkd.in/9Dj2Ly):
Olfa G. Tantawi, Communication Officer at The Danish Egyptian Dialogue Institute, says: "I would say that developing proposals for activities that have a tangible element to evaluate is one of the most important lessons to be learned. Donors often look for some measurable progress indicators to be reassured that there will be a way or a tool to assess some kind of return for their money in actual services to the community.
However,often especially when dealing with community development projects it is very difficult to provide them with clear concrete end results since progress in development simply takes time, long time."
From the CASE LinkedIn group, Council for Advancement and Support of Education (http://linkd.in/cxeCKy):
Mike Ziemski, Regional Vice President at FACTS/Nelnet Business Solutions, says:
The difference between "fundraising" and "development." Fundraising is "short-term, crisis-oriented, and 'safe' (because everyone non-profit does it);" Development is "long-term, relationship-oriented, and can be difficult - since it leads to substantial gifts, other NPOs can wonder why they're not getting their cut of pie, especially when different NPO's are related.
Case in point - an organization I work with is raffling a car - fundraising. A fund that my wife and I started to help the organization with a specific facet of its work is having a benefit event, inviting current contributors to the fund to bring friends in order to continue to invite others to become involved and grow the fund. We were asked to sell tickets for the car at the event. Um...that would be a "no." If participants are spending $$ at the event to benefit the fund, why would we allow attendees to purchase raffle tickets from which the fund receives no benefit? And no, we would not be allowed to keep a portion of the proceeds from the raffle...that's the whole point. Since ticket sales for the car are not as brisk as was expected, raffle organizers want to approach the new fund-engaged individuals so they can support the larger organization at a "development" event. It doesn't work that way.
From the CASE LinkedIn group, Council for Advancement and Support of Education (http://linkd.in/cxeCKy):
Richard H. Morley, Executive Director of the Mt. SAC Foundation at Mt. San Antonio College, says:
Bravo, Mike! Research shows a huge difference of the "ultimate gift" (defined as whatever the largest gift an individual/ couple might ever give) between event goers, casual donors, and loyal (at any $ level) donors. I am not in the fund raising business and while donor development is a component, my focus is to cultivate and nuture philanthropists.
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