Characteristics of a Healthy Fundraising According to Kim Klein „Fundraising for the Long Haul“

HEALTHY FUNDRAISER  You believe that fundraising should be mission driven, and that fundraising should and can be integrated into the program work of the organization. See the mission as the benchmark for any decisions made Everything comes from the goals of the organization – not from efficiency, popularity, or convenience.

 You will not compromise the mission of organization in order to get money.  You have a job description.  You are able to finish your work in 50 hours a week, and you are willing to take some time off when you work more than 50 hours.

 You take a vacation every year and take few days off from time to time.  You stay in one job at least three years and not more than ten. It takes a full year to understand the organization and how best present it to the donors, what strategies work best, and so on… It takes a year for the board and executive director to place full confidence in your ability and trust your judgment. Fundraising strategies often take more than one year to reach their stride. Many people leave the job just when it was about to get easier and it was about to get easier because of the work they had put in to that point.

 You volunteer for other organization, either as a board member or in some other capacity. The success of many fundraising efforts is contingent on having reliable, dedicated volunteers. There is no better way to keep the situation of volunteer in mind than to be one yourself. It allows you to express other parts of yourself. It allows you to network with others in community.

 You like and respect the executive director and feel liked and respected by that person. Cooperation Communication style Mutual trust Honesty  You are able to motivate board, staff and volunteers to do fundraising and are happy to give credit when they succeed.

 You don‘t take personally rejection or failure.  You attend workshops, read books and periodicals and participate in professional associations in order to improve your skills and learn new ideas.  You make a plan and implement the plan.

 You are willing to take risks and occasionally fail, and you can admit failure when necessary.  You make a financial gift to the organization every year.

HEALTHY FUNDRAISING PROGRAM PHILOSOPHICAL REASONS TO BE SUPPORTED BY A BROAD BASE OF DONORS PRACTICAL REASONS TO BE SUPPORTED BY A BROAD BASE OF DONORS

PHILOSOPHICAL REASONS  We wish to be mission-driven. We want to do what needs to be done and say what needs to be said to those who need to be told, without fearing financial repercussions.  We wish to belong to the community we serve.  We believe that financial support from wide variety of people is one test of the validity of our work.  We believe that financial support from a broad base of donors is the most responsible way to finance our organization.  We believe that maintaining a broad base of donors furthers our educational, organizing and advocacy goals.

PRACTICAL REASONS  The vast majority of money given away in every country where giving has been studied comes from individuals.  Financial stability depends on diversity – both in the sources of money and in the number and types of people raising this money.  Many of the strategies money apply only or mainly to raising money from individuals – canvassing, direct mail, special events, planned giving.  If you want to engage in any kind of electoral politics or want to influence the outcome of legislation, you will have to raise most of your money from individuals.

EXCEPTIONS – When an individual donor program will not be the most prudent way to raise money?  Groups that are built around one person.  Groups that are set up to solve a specific problem or address a specific issue which, ones solved, will mean the group will dissolve.  Groups that go from large project to large project.  Groups that are able to make most of their money from fees for services or government entitlements.

HEALTHY FUNDRAISING PROGRAM  You know your history.  You have annual fundraising goal and plan to meet it.  You have three- to five-year fundraising projections  You have a database of prospects and supporters that is easy to use and that provides you with the types of information needed.

HEALTHY FUNDRAISING PROGRAM  You know who thinks of your group as their favorite, and you work with this set of people regularly.  You have an ongoing program to acquire, retain and upgrade donors.  Each board member gives money and most of board members help raise money.  Organizational culture allows and encourages staff and volunteers to distinguish between what work is urgent and what work is important, and to focus on what is important as much as possible.

HEALTHY FUNDRAISING PROGRAM  You have a budget that allows staff, volunteers and board members to attend seminars and trainings.  The organization is willing to spend money to solve problems.  Every year the same number of people working the same amount of time raise more money.  No one in the organization lies awake worrying about money more than once or twice a year.