Getting started

I have recently started a new job and there is a very real, and new excitement about what I do; fundraising. I have been doing it for a number of years and have really enjoyed it. Some of the people that I have had contact with are not on my Christmas list and there are many people who just simply do not know what are some of the basics.

The first thing that needs to be fully understood is that fundraising is possibly one of the ultimate careers where people are literally at the heart of what we do. Currently there is a fetish among people who are employing fundraisers to ask the question 'Can you do the Ask?' It is almost like asking the question 'Can you boil and egg?' or 'Can you make toffee?' So many people have a kindergarten view of what fundraising is all about and just simply miss out on the fact that it really is about developing relationships between the Organisation and the person who has the potential to support. A more intelligent question is 'Can you develop good relationships with people?' Then we are starting to begin the romance with the person who may, just may, become a supporter, donor call them what you like but they are the most important people in the fundraisers career.

In my new post I have a CEO who is so committed to fundraising that he has done a significant amount of study and been to courses and will soon have a diploma of Fundraising and he is very keen that this be an organisational success. I am going to update this blog every week so that I and the fundraising staff can begin to develop a team that can make our work a success for the work that our charity is involved in.

It is never about the money or the fundraising program it is all about the work that we do and the service that we provide. If we can absorb that into the fabric of our fundraising we will do well,

Watch this space.....