On today’s podcast, David Love, seasoned fundraiser also known as the Godfather of Good, shares with us his take on the role of fundraisers in achieving change in the world. When we centre our work around the mission and the journey that we are on as an organization and how that aligns with the journey our donors are making, we can impact meaningful and lasting change in the world.
Myths that David wants us to walk away from
- The nature of a fundraiser’s work is to raise money. What fundraisers actually do is create value and make connections by connecting donors to the causes that matter deeply to them.
- Less people are donating nowadays. Donors are stepping up again and again for different causes. Less people are donating just for a charitable receipt, but more people are giving to causes they are deeply passionate of regardless of the tax receipt. This is why we don’t yet have a great metric on the current state of philanthropy.
David’s tips on working with donors
- Recognize that the donor’s journey already started and you’re here to support them on their journey. No hard sell is needed. There is a reason that a potential donor is interested in the organization’s mission and vision. You’re just here to support them on a path that they’re already on, guided by their own values, interest, and passion.
- Help them to find and support initiatives that speak to their values and the changes they want to see in the world. Ask questions that guide the donors to hone in what is it that will make them feel the spark or the connection with the impact that matters to them.
- Show passion and authenticity in your communication with your donors. Do away with aloof and formal language and focus on showing that you too deeply care about the mission and vision that your donors are invested in.
Favourite quotes from this episode
Post your favourite quote on social to share with us!
“It’s a fallacy to think that fundraisers raise money. What fundraisers spend their lives doing is creating value. Fundraisers make dreams come true. Small organizations with difficult causes need to find ways to make the values that are at the heart of what they do come alive in a donor’s soul.”
“Donors are already on a journey. We as fundraisers didn’t actually start that journey. They come to us because they’re on a journey and they’re actually trying to find out whether the road that we’re showing them is one we want to go down or not.”
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Resources from this Episode
Connect with David on Linkedin
David’s new book: Green Green: Reflections on 51 Years of Raising Money for Nature
