Creating a Culture of Fundraising

Fundraising is critical to the sustainability of every organization, non-profit and for-profit alike. While the method of fundraising may differ for different types of organizations, the intent is the same: to give your company the best opportunity to accomplish its mission (and be profitable for for profit organizations). Our focus here is on nonprofit fundraising culture. And for that type of organization, creating a culture of fundraising is essential for YOUR organization.

So, what does it mean to operate within a fundraising culture? It means that key organizational stakeholders understand the role that fundraising plays in the success if your organization. They understand that every employee, volunteer, board member, and invested party has a role in fundraising and those roles are all critical to achieve your mission, goals and objectives. Therefore, establishing this dynamic culture can make your organization stand out to the funding community.

Create a fundraising culture in 3 steps

1. First, Educate your key stakeholders of the importance of fundraising. Ensure that you have buy-in of every segment of your organization. Be sure to share your overall fundraising plan so that every party knows their role and has the opportunity to gain clarification if needed.
2. Next, Assesses the current culture of your organization. If there are certain segments who do not accept their roles and responsibilities, consider alternate roles, replacements, or further education. It is important to identify and fill gaps in your culture exposing potential weaknesses and threats.
3. Finally, Encourage a fundraising culture. Whenever possible, praises successes, recognize exceptional contributions (perhaps in your newsletter or monthly meetings), and promote transparency with donors and contributors.

These steps will help you move your organization as a who towards sustainable, purposeful, and growing operations.

Want to learn more? Read this article. Need help or have more questions? Feel free to contact us at any time.

Happy Fundraising!