Fund Raising: 5 Key Truths for Fundraising Success – #2

In all my years of fund raising, both doing it and teaching it, every successful experience comes down to understanding 5 fundamental truths or axioms.  They are:

1. People only give to people.
2. People give to your future.
3. People give to success.
4. People get something from giving.
5. People don’t give unless they’re asked.

Here’s what #2 means:

 

People give to your future.  Many nonprofit organizations and charities are steeped in a rich history, which bodes well for establishing credibility.  But history is not what excites donors.  They are interested in giving to your future, not to your past – much like an investor is interested in what their money will “buy” or “earn” going forward.  This is why strategic planning is inextricably tied to successful fund raising.

Tags: Fund Raising Ideas, Fundraising, Nonprofit management