From the Passionate Giving blog, Why Fundraising is a Mystical Experience. The point:
When donors decide to hand you a check for your organization ... they are handing you their hard-earned labor in exchange for the opportunity to make the world a better place.... donors are handing over a part of themselves and trusting that you will steward it for good.I really believe that at that moment there is something mystical happening in the transaction.
This is so important. We measure our fundraising results in the only way we can -- in dollars. But something a lot bigger than an exchange of money is happening.
"Mystical" is a good term for the exchange that happens when donors give, because we don't fully understand it, and we sure can't measure it. You may even think it's just superstition.
We still have to be as smart as possible when we raise funds. We still have to pay complete attention to the facts. And we absolutely must measure the dollar impact of what we do.
But if you remember now and then the mystical, powerful, transforming truth about fundraising, you'll do a better job:
- You won't torpedo your fundraising because you're afraid to ask.
- You'll treat your donors with more respect.
- Your messages will be more relevant, because you're in the donors' world.
- You'll be a lot less tempted to be sloppy, lazy, or unethical.
- You'll be more joyful and fulfilled in your work.
