When I entered the nonprofit sector nearly ten years ago, I had just accepted a position as a development associate at a small organization. I was thrilled to work for a mission I believed in and it seemed like fundraising had a good career trajectory.
That was until I told my grandma about my new job. When I told her I would be fundraising for a nonprofit, she hung her head and said, “I can’t believe you’re going to beg for a living!”
While her reaction shocked me at the time, I’ve come to realize that many other fundraisers have also been on the receiving end of this sentiment. For many of us, the idea of asking for money is awkward and uncomfortable. In fact, we’ve been taught our whole lives not to talk about money!
But as I’ve navigated various fundraising jobs, I’ve learned that fundraising isn’t begging—it’s offering an opportunity for people to live out their values and create the world each of us seek to be part of.
In healing my relationship with fundraising and addressing my fears when it comes to asking for money, here are a few lessons I’ve learned:
1) Fundraising is about community.
While the act of donating in itself feels like a solo activity, fundraising and philanthropy are far from being independent actions. In order to fundraise, we must create connections and relationships, craft stories that inspire, and help donors see how they fit into the work of our organizations.
When we connect with one another to build brighter futures and communities that are just, we are able to truly see one another and recognize that our organizations’ missions, our lives, and our wellbeing are interdependent. Good fundraising requires us to build authentic and meaningful relationships which help us build values-aligned communities.
2) It’s a privilege to be needed.
How does it feel when someone asks you for your help or expertise? For me, it feels like an honor! It means that the other person sees me as part of their trusted network and recognizes my skills or knowledge.
The same goes for nonprofits. Instead of seeing donors’ worth based on the amount they can give, we can view it through a lens of asking our trusted network to live out their values and join us in our mission work. Asking means you view your donors as an important part of your work and you recognize the values that drive them to take action. That’s a compliment!
3) If not me, then who?
I haven’t met a single fundraiser who says it’s always been their life goal to become a fundraiser. Most of us wanted to be teachers, actors, doctors, writers…every occupation except fundraiser!
So how did we end up becoming fundraisers? It’s because the sector needs people like us–people who can tell stories, make connections, and help others envision the way the world could be if we all came together. Your passion and connection to the mission—not credentials or experience—make you the best fundraiser for the job!
I won’t say that fundraising is always easy. Like any profession, there are challenges. But the challenges that fundraisers face are ones worth undertaking. When we become fundraisers, we rise to the challenge of cutting through the noise to help people see the power of their resources and help them find ways to move money for good. We build relationships that help people feel more connected and values-aligned. We create long-lasting change.
Since my first fundraising job, my grandma has come to understand that fundraising isn’t begging. An avid donor to various causes, she understands the power and privilege in being needed and I now understand how to help her, and thousands of others, see fundraising a little differently.
Courtney Backen (장정미) is GiveMN's director of community and capacity development.