Fundraisers are a lot of things: Passionate. Listeners. Facilitators. Relationship Builders.
But what fundraisers aren’t are magicians.
This thought has been on my mind for the last few weeks as I’ve connected with clients who feel the pressure of fundraising in a challenging time. Anxiety is high about meeting goals and being successful in this time of upheaval and economic uncertainty. These are fair concerns—but they only make matters worse when they paralyze.
Our industry has faced real challenges, from the aftermath of September 11 to the 2008 market crash, COVID and more. We’ve faced budget cuts, hiring freezes and the evergreen instruction to “Do less with more.” And, we’ve continued to prevail. Because the human instinct to be generous — to connect with community and causes — does not disappear in the face of economic or political turmoil.
So what is our job as fundraisers now? As leaders? It’s not to ignore what’s real, or to magically feel no consequences from it. It is, however, to look forward with a reality grounded in the knowledge that we’ve found success through countless past challenges and will continue to do the same.
If you’re a leader, how can you ward off pessimism and deflated motivation?
- Tell your team about past challenges faced by your institution, highlighting that these times are not permanent.
- Share success stories that came from these times, demonstrating the good that remains possible.
- Discuss the growing importance of philanthropy. For many institutions, philanthropy is becoming an even more important revenue source as federal grants and other resources are cut. Advancement teams have never been more valuable than they are now.
- Lean into celebrating wins. Don’t just hold out for big gifts to celebrate—instead honor the value of a great internal meeting that brings faculty on board, a month with a high volume of donor visits, or any of the other countless activities that build a foundation for philanthropic success. Doing so will reinforce commitment to doing the work and maintaining a foundation of philanthropic engagement that will help your institution weather the storm.
- Use language that uplifts. Donors still give to vision, not need. And advancement teams help an institution thrive, not just survive.
By re-focusing ourselves and our teams on both the value and the sustainability of our work, we can better manage anxieties. We can help ourselves and others not be overcome with doubt or uncertainty. Because we’re not magicians and we can’t see the future, but we sure can do a lot of good every day with people who care about our mission. Thank you. You and your work are appreciated!
