Trends. Tactics or Truths – Focus on Truths
Some things never change. And that is good.
An inbox overflowing with trends, tactics and what to watch out for now is overwhelming…and a bit scary.
Focus on what you know to be true.
(For me – a fun truth is that a few days by the ocean is so rejuvenating.)
After 4 decades of successfully inspiring major and mega giving as a front- line fundraiser, team manager, and coach/consultant I promise you there are some unchanging truths that bring personal and major giving success.
The external environment will impact your givers, colleagues, and family, but they will overcome those influences for the key relationships and things they value in their lives.
When costs go up, turbulence abounds, or challenges emerge, we find a way to still be with family, attend places of worship, and support causes that are meaningful to us. Key to the decisions we make are a few lasting truths.
Truths you can count on in fundraising and life!
TRUTH #1 Fostering genuine relationships is number one. ALWAYS. Transactions well executed can be part of overall relationships, but manipulation is always felt – even if not realized.
TRUTH #2 Trust STILL must be earned, and it is highly valued. Be trustworthy. This is your most important asset.
TRUTH #3 BIG visions unite and inspire. That doesn’t necessarily mean high-cost, or broad sweeping. It means clear, and targeted on how you accomplish your purpose better and better. Big donors want big, bold visions but remember that can be fixing a former barrier to service, adapting to new ways to do what you do based on new knowledge as well as expanding your reach to serve more.
TRUTH #4 Your words reflect your beliefs. Your words are containers of power. How you talk about your givers and colleagues reflects how you FEEL about your givers and colleagues. This is really quite easy to implement. Always speak as if the person you are talking about is sitting beside you. Will you really say TO a donor, “We’re trying to get you to open your wallet!”
TRUTH #5 Use data Artfully. Tracking data helps us KNOW our donors and they want us to know them – what they gave last, what is important to them, how they want their relationship to be handled. But even with annual fund – help your data-driven colleagues see how these people are more than a number or statistic. And we, as major gift fundraisers, need to be open to data that informs us how to more effectively and efficiently connect with, and serve, our donors.
TRUTH #6 Recognition does not equal appreciation. For all time – how others value what we do and share that with us is key to our feeling appreciated and every person in our lives is different. And there are some ways that feel key for many. Care needs to be taken to not get caught up in the latest TREND for sharing appreciation – ask your giver, your spouse, your kids – what is meaningful to you!
A quick story – when the founder of one of my client’s organizations retired, the search yielded a horrific replacement, the board failed to act and most of the staff left – including the long-time fundraiser. Giving plummeted. A full 18 months later, the Board found new leadership, took charge, hired a new CEO, and recruited the former fundraiser back late in the year. Just hearing she was back – and on the strength of her relationships, giving poured in during December even without a year-end letter or emails or time for many visits!
For as much as we all want to hop on the latest trends – and I am a forever learner – evaluate each from forever truths. The sunrise and sunset. When you are true to you – when you sincerely value and respect others, when you push down the negative and snarky talk and focus on the gift you want to be in the world –LIFE IS GOOD!
Invest in JOY®
