Prior to diving into the deep end of running my own voiceover business, I spent several years in the world of nonprofit fundraising. I got to further the missions of some pretty cool organizations and learned some great lessons that inform how I approach my work today. I’m excited to share a few of them with you here.
Our primary job is to connect. This is straight from Donna Walker-Kuhne’s foundational work Invitation to the Party. I’m a huge fan of hers and this book changed my mindset around this stuff. She writes, “Your mission is to make a connection with your audiences’ hearts by demonstrating the value of incorporating the arts into their lives. Once that connection is made, the idea of experiencing and supporting the arts and culture becomes organic, enabling the establishment of a long-term and loyal relationship.” The more we work to build bridges that invite people into our businesses and make an effort to meaningfully connect, the better we set ourselves up for mutually-beneficial partnerships.
Don’t forget to ask! This is the most important, and probably the most often forgotten, step of the fundraising process….actually asking for the donation! So many times, I’ve gotten wrapped up in the narrative, the materials, the outreach, that I forget to ask the critical question, “Do you need my business?” In school, we would practice this skill by soliciting major gifts in the style of a mock-interview. What was the number one thing people most often missed in those scenarios? You guessed it, asking for the donation. It seems simple, but it’s essential.
Maintain an abundance mindset…for all. In William Sturtevant’s The Artful Journey, he writes, “The effective fundraiser spends less time worrying about competition for the philanthropic dollar and more time considering how to communicate the unique case for support of the organization being served.” The best fundraisers don’t worry about not having enough to go around. They trust that philanthropy persists. People will give when compelled to do so by a cause they care about. If a potential donor’s interests lie elsewhere, great fundraisers enthusiastically recommend other organizations that more closely align with the donor’s goals and interests. Bottom line: Pitting ourselves against one another is time wasted.
I hope you enjoyed these tips! These are just a few of my favorites that I carry with me into my own business. I invite you to reflect on your own experiences and think about what lessons you’ve learned that inform how you work today. There are countless business books and classes out there and it’s true, there’s always more to learn. I also think there are so many treasures from our past that we can uncover and repurpose to serve us in our present.