Do you have a theology of fundraising?
This was a fascinating question that Michael Mitchell posited on the show recently, and it led to a great conversation about what’s really important in our craft.
Michael is Director of Development and Discipleship at Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO).
In our conversation, Michael talked a lot about mindset and the impact of our own thinking on our ability to be successful fundraisers. One of the things that caught my attention was his notion that, “Nobody wants to beg for money. It’s about a belief. The practice of fundraising isn’t going to change, but your mindset about fundraising needs to.”
By inviting someone to give, we ARE engaging in our mission. We’re not begging. In Michael’s work, he believes that ministering to donors is equally as important as “doing the work.” It’s not a distraction from the work — it’s part of the work.
Michael suggests that many of our challenges in fundraising are tied up in what we believe about money, abundance, scarcity, generosity, and other personal beliefs. And we have to deal with those beliefs before we can successfully fully embrace a fundraising mindset.
Some of the other key points from our conversation include:
- Tomorrow’s major donors are already giving to your organization today. Stop chasing after “new” donors until you fully invest in relationship with your existing partners.
- Generous people do what generous people do. They are looking for opportunities to solve problems and to give, even in chaotic times.
- The majority of your revenue will come from individual relationship building. Chasing big gifts from corporations, foundations, and churches isn’t a waste of time. But it almost is.
- Don’t expect special events to deliver major revenue — at least not in the short term. You need to look at the total impact over time of your events, not just receipts from the day of the event.