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Amateur versus Professional Fundraiser

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.