08 Oct Amateur versus Professional Fundraiser
Studying for my CFRE exam has forced me to reflect on the differences between amateur fundraisers, and professional fundraisers. There is a place for everyone – and we need both – but it’s worth enumerating the not-so-subtle differences between the two. This list will help many small to mid-size charities clarify fundraising motivations to the board. Many Board members consider themselves fundraisers. The question is: are they amateurs, or professionals?
| Amateur Fundraiser | Professional Fundraiser |
| Knows he/she needs money | Knows WHAT the organization needs money for in order to better serve its community |
| Is looking for money to “fill a box” on their excel budget for the year | Is looking for relationships with people who will help an organization fulfill its mission while generating a long term stream of income. |
| Sees handwritten thank you notes as a waste of time | Knows that anything he/she can do to personalize the relationship with donors is valuable and worth doing |
| Looks at fundraising as it relates to this budget year | Looks at fundraising as part of a bigger picture over multiple years |
| Looks to an Annual Appeal letter to raise money | Looks to an Annual Appeal letter to raise money, continue a conversation with a donor, and inform a donor about how the organization has invested their past donations (i.e. thank yous!) |
| Cares about the “cost” of an annual appeal. | Cares about how “cost-effective” an annual appeal is |
| Would consider building some relationships with potential new volunteers for his/her community, but never finds time to do so. | Allocates time for meeting with people and getting to know important members in the community with the long term strategic goal of bringing them closer to the organization |
| Cares only about how much money a special event raises | Cares about what a special event raises, alongside HOW this event can educate current/future donors about the organization, and bring people “closer’ to the organization |
| Will go rogue and raise money with (or without) the Board | Works with, and through the Board to reach out into the community to raise money for the organization’s programs |
| Knows that a donor has capacity to give before asking for a major gift | Knows a donor’s willingness, capacity, and philanthropic interests and passions in relation to your organization before asking for a major gift |
| Gets frustrated when programming people won’t give him the stories he/she wants | Makes time to get to know the impact of the organization’s programming first-hand so that they have their own stories to share. |
| Thinks planning is for people who like to push around paper | Knows that building a fundraising plan is the first step to success, and makes time to ask for – and obtain – “buy-in” for the fundraising plan from the whole team |
Fundraising Mastermind sessions start Nov 4th.