Every time I hear this it makes my skin crawl. "lets just go after some big major donors" OK...fine. Yes, I am all for a major donor strategy (in fact I make my living off helping people do this well!). But what have you done to earn the right to "go after some big major donors"? Organizations who are faithful to the small things earn the right to be faithful in the big. The inverse is true--not faithful in the small things means you have not earned the right to go after the big. Here is something that does not make my skin crawl: Lets steward our donors well and invite them into a journey with us to do big things together.
Jon DeLange 🤝
8mo
This is especially true when it gets to be September/October and nonprofits realize they didn't build relationships with their supporters in February/March.
Carly Alacahan
8mo
This is my language. Thank you for this message! So so so true. 100%
I'm Here to Help! Donor Engagement Enthusiast, Innovative Fundraising Strategist, Informative and Persuasive Writer, Oh! And I'm also a Licensed Realtor®
8moSo agree! I've been talking about this lately as well. In the stress to secure funding that IS critical to accomplishing the mission, it feels like the real purpose is being forgotten - the actual work/cause. Just getting a major donor is completely in the wrong spirit of the work. Nonprofit organizations can not be sustained without a community committed to the cause and passionate about being active participants. Energy needs to be focused on building, nurturing, and strengthening relationships with those sustaining community members.