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Enjoying the work of fundraising—the actual doing of it, not only the idea of it—is essential for the long-term flourishing of a fundraiser. As with any job, fundraising has its challenges, and most fundraisers will find at least one task in the job that they don’t enjoy, but the overall responsibilities should lead to delight.
If you feel a simple delight in the daily tasks of fundraising—whether the fervor of writing, the care in organizing and planning, the glow of speaking, the power in moving the hearts of donors—take that as confirmation that you’re well-fitted for the role. The more thoroughly you enjoy each piece, the better you will do the entire job.
It’s not hard for people in nonprofit and ministry settings to point to why they do what they do. Their answers typically come back to the mission and impact. For example, a fundraiser for a medical mission group will explain how important it is to heal people’s physical bodies. A fundraiser for a pregnancy center will point to the sanctity of life and value of caring for mothers and fathers. A fundraiser for a missions agency will talk about offering the good news of the gospel to the world. But what if you asked about their daily tasks?
Mission/impact-oriented answers relate to the lofty joys and fulfillment found in the big picture, but the best fundraisers have always been those who are conscious of another pleasure—that of doing the very work itself. Would the fundraisers mentioned above be able to say that they enjoy making phone calls each day, planning donor visits, reading through strategic plans, or sitting in budget meetings? No, these tasks may not seem all that glamorous, but finding delight in daily work done well is something to thank God for.
So, how do you reach the point of finding delight in daily work? By loving the people you meet with because they bring life to our day-to-day routines. This happens by seeing them often enough, talking to them enough, and praying about them enough that your heart naturally begins to care about them. They become your friends.
Focus on the joy of telling them about what they gave to and the impact they’ve had on your mission, but also enjoy the process of learning about what makes them tick. Be curious about their businesses, families, hobbies, and lives. Look for the thread connecting their heart to various missions.
Put your creativity to use by looking for ways that your donors can motivate each other to become more generous. Connect your donors more deeply to your organization by introducing them to staff outside of the development team.
Remember that each person you meet with is a unique expression of God’s image, and what a joy it is to curiously uncover more of our Creator through His creation.
As fundraisers ourselves, we at CG&A know how wonderful it feels to finally see a large gift come in after months or years of talking with a potential donor, but we also know that the daily grind of mundane details can bring joy. We know that focusing on donors as individuals—caring more about their hearts than their pocketbooks—moves us forward in all parts of the job.
When the tasks before us are rightly ordered with the goal of building God’s kingdom rather than our own, they do bring fulfillment. This is what gives a fundraiser sticking power through tough seasons.
Want to know more about the tasks involved in fundraising? Do you need help growing in your enjoyment of fundraising? We’d love to work with you so you can become a fundraiser with sticking power. Contact us today to start the conversation.