There is an urgent need to listen to fundraisers
Good charity leaders listen to the experts they have employed because they trust their judgement.
Bad charity leaders think of themselves as the experts in fundraising and lack trust and confidence in their fundraisers’ experience, knowledge and insight.
One simple question:
Who best understands supporters, their giving motivations and “what works” to get them onboard, keep them and steward them to sustain and grow their support and leave a legacy?
Second question:
How many trustees/board members understand the current donor marketplace (stagnant) versus the legacy marketplace (growing globally)
Third question:
How many leaders understand the importance of “trust and confidence” for good giving? And how many understand the need for transparency (and the guts to be honest and open).
Honesty = telling the truth in answer to a question
Being open = telling the truth before the question is asked.
Stupid question:
Which of the above is best?
One thing is certain (sadly) this argument or ”internal case for investment support” will last well beyond my lifetime and will continue to produce short term problems in fulfilling long term charitable objectives.
Share this if you dare.