Strategic Fund Development: Building Profitable Relationships That Last, Third Edition

How Technical Fundraisers Affect the Bottom Line

I’ll say it again: Being a technician is not enough. It never has been. And if we ever needed a wake-up call, the global economic crisis that emerged in 2008–2009 sure should be that call, loud and clear. Whereas fundraising technicians can and often do succeed, staying at this technician level leaves you and your organization vulnerable. For instance:

• Your organization can be blindsided by events happening externally and even internally. Sooner or later these events will affect your fundraising activities and your donors.
• Your organization’s mission may be out-of-date and your programs may no longer be important to the community. Eventually your constituents will notice and leave. Your donors will stop giving.
• Your donors may not feel close enough to your organization. Small gifts will not become larger ones and donors may not renew their gifts.

None of these situations is new. They were true yesterday and will be true tomorrow. The only difference may be in the quickness and frequency with which they occur, the time and effort it takes to recover, and the increasing frustration experienced by clients, donors, volunteers, and staff.

In all of these instances, an organizational development specialist would be a pivotal player. This accomplished fundraiser monitors activities and projects trends inside and outside the organization. She stays in touch with community needs and priorities to keep the organization relevant. She builds ...