The Next Level of Fundraising—Taking the Long-Game Approach in Relational Fundraising
Too many people approach fundraising like they approach dieting.
Here’s what I mean:
You will not lose 50 lbs and move into a healthy lifestyle by:
🏋️ Exercising for 2 weeks
🗓️ Counting calories for one month
🎽 Running one 5K every year
🥗 Eating salads this week
👣 Walking 10,000 steps once a quarter
You will also not build a sustainable organization built on gen-ops dollars by:
📆 Adding another event to your calendar
🌴 Getting better auction items
⛳ Changing the location of your Golf Outing
🎤 Landing an interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show
✉️ Mailing appeal letters to major donors
All of these (both dieting and fundraising) items are short-sighted and rooted in a quick-fix mindset.
So, what is the long-game solution for relational fundraising with Individuals, Foundations and Corporations?
Well, I don’t see this often. We THINK we’re doing it. But, often there’s an entire next level of fundraising that your team needs to tap into…
Here’s what it should look like:
☀️Taking 12-, 18-, or 24-months to get to know a donor
☀️Having natural conversations with mission-aligned donors
☀️Reaching out when they don’t need anything
☀️Leading investment-level conversations & welcoming the numbers questions
☀️Confidently making the ask when it’s a win/win
☀️Securing every one of your donor’s best gifts, every year
Are you ready to tap into an entirely next level of fundraising? You can apply here.
Whenever you’re ready, here are THREE things you can do next:
👣 Follow me on LinkedIn where I share insider info daily — the same lessons I teach my clients about attracting larger gen-ops dollars and diversifying revenue.
🍎 Grab FREE Guides + White Papers — download robust resources you can use to push against the sector’s misconceptions, equip your board, and shift your team into High-ROI fundraising.
📈 Work with me to diversify revenue & secure the gen-ops gifts you need to grow. If you’re a business-minded nonprofit CEO with big growth plans but need to make charitable revenue from investment-level donors a bigger part of your budget, you can apply to work with me here.