Monthly Archives: May 2009

Funny Thing Happened In LA

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I was in LA facilitating a training recently. The attendees represented about 25 different nonprofit organizations. The organizations were for the most part small. The majority of the groups had annual budgets of less than $1,000,000 dollars.

The two day session targeted issues about assembling a dynamic board to move the organization forward and how to position the organization for fundraising. At the start of day two we asked the group about how the current economic climate was imapcting their organization.

An amazing thing happened. Not one organization reported a negative response. Not one. In fact many organizations were positive about the economy.

I was puzzled. Over and over we have been told how bad things are. What were these organizations thinking?

Well as I thought it became obvious. These groups were relatively young organizations almost all having no frame of reference. No real idea what fundraising is like when the economy is struggling…no true benchmark. And it was REFRESHING!

What if we just decided that things were better? Just moved on with our work as if normal was, well normal again? The weight would lift, the clouds would part and we could concentrate on our work.

This new lens is refreshing…I have decided to look at things through their lens…it is time to get back to work!

Belief in Mission Still the Key

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Yep. Giving is down. I suspect that when Giving USA is released this June it will confirm my notion. In fact, this is not a belief that is unique to me.

So when a client approached us to begin to look at a possible campaign for a new building it was time to dust off the ole fundraising truisms…donors give to worthy causes and donors find a way to support things that are important to them.

Not entirely certain if this would still ring true during a tough economy we still forged ahead.  We began the process of talking with potential donors. We worked hard on a clear and compeling message. We crafted an iron clad sense or reasoning for support.

Guess what? We heard it. Investments are down. Business is off. There are other campaigns ending in town. However, this is important to us. We need to make this happen.

Did you hear that? It is important and we need to make this happen.

Okay, so maybe the timetable will need to be a bit longer and pledges adjusted, but donors did not shy away. Rather they embraced the ideas we shared. This is indeed a worthy cause.

Refreshing to know that what has made our sector so incredibly resiliant is, well, still resiliant. Here’s to your hard work, helping others and knowing deep down that mission will trump a bad economy every time!