by guest blogger George Crankovic
Being a fundraiser can be tough. Dealing with numbers, budgets, strategies, and target audiences. Not to mention financial pressures, the corner office, the economy, and the ups and downs of the donor confidence index.
It might be tough, but it should never be just a job. Fundraising is a calling. So if you just haven't been feeling it lately, here are a few tips to jump-start your mojo and remember why you fell in love with this noble work in the first place.
- Read the Sermon on the Mount. It doesn't matter what your faith is or if you have none at all. The Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew 5-7) is about living a good life and loving people unconditionally, especially the marginalized and disenfranchised. Good viewpoints for fundraising. It starts with the Beatitudes, one of the most beautiful expressions of compassion ever written in human history. It goes on to gently reveal what it means to live right, including helping the poor. Well worth the time to savor each word.
- Review your successes. Remember the appeal that kicked butt in results? The capital campaign that went through the roof? The strategy that soared? Take the time to bask in what went right over the past year. It's a great balm if your professional ego got a bit bruised in the rough and tumble, and it'll reinforce your confidence for the coming year.
- Learn something. Fundraising is anything but static. Because it's always changing, there's always something new to learn, no matter how many years of experience you have. So explore social media. Sign up for a conference. Get a book about fundraising or marketing. Read a blog. Take in a free webinar. It'll be fun.
- Start something. Even though you're busy, take it upon yourself to spearhead a strategy, project, or plan that's needed but isn't getting done. Be an evangelist for it. Promote it. Move it forward. Taking the initiative is invigorating. It'll re-ignite that fire in the belly and open up greater possibilities. Try it and see.
