This is a wonderful explanation of the true heart of fundraising, thank you for sharing it, Cecilia. Years ago I was the executive director of a small nonprofit in the SF Bay Area, and had to learn how to raise funds. I was blessed to have the mentorship of a woman who had worked with Lynne Twist, author of The Soul of Money, so the approach I learned was very relational, not transactional. It made all the difference.
Thank you for this feedback, Maia! I really appreciate hearing it. Because sometimes, I feel like I'm committing the ultimate crime in the eyes of my colleagues to say such things. I agree with you. This is the heart of it. And the HEART of it... is THE most important part of it. None of the rest of it is really all that important.
PS: Twist does offer really important perspective! Glad it helped you....
Exactly! Yes, strategies and tactics are important, for sure, but if a fundraiser doesn't have this essential understanding of what it means to invite someone into a deeper relationship with a cause/mission, then all the rest is wasted. In my opinion.
This really resonated - especially the part about how quickly fundraising becomes natural when the relationship is clear and the stakes are human. What struck me reading this is how much of our “professionalization” of fundraising is really an attempt to manage discomfort - our own and others. And in doing so, we sometimes distance ourselves from the very thing that makes giving work: proximity to what matters. The Minneapolis example doesn’t just simplify fundraising, it exposes what we’ve layered on top of it.
Thank you for this thoughtful response, Tamara! This is what I love the most: when we explore back and forth, reflecting our own perspectives, and gradually coming to ever-deeper understanding together. This is why community is SO very valuable.
The way you said it is absolutely true. When there are not so many layers of expectations and “must-dos” and protocols to follow, etc…and the stakes are thus very human-to-human, still… we are VERY in touch with what matters. No fluff. No distance. No stiffness. Just responsive, human-to-human love and care.
What you say about “professionalization” being a means of managing discomfort is very interesting. What kind of discomfort, would you say?
From my experience, I’d say one of the big things is wanting to make everything as predictable as possible. Predictable, orderly, controllable. Orgs want that… but I say that anything involving human beings is ALWAYS going to be messy. Many people are just not comfortable with the chaos, mess, and unpredictability of genuine human relationships.
Yes, I think it’s often a way of managing discomfort with uncertainty, rejection, and the lack of control that comes with real relationships. We make fundraising more “professional” with scripts, process, and polished language because it helps people feel less exposed. But sometimes all of that structure is really just protecting us from the messy part - asking honestly, being vulnerable, and trusting that another person will care.
This is a wonderful explanation of the true heart of fundraising, thank you for sharing it, Cecilia. Years ago I was the executive director of a small nonprofit in the SF Bay Area, and had to learn how to raise funds. I was blessed to have the mentorship of a woman who had worked with Lynne Twist, author of The Soul of Money, so the approach I learned was very relational, not transactional. It made all the difference.
Thank you for this feedback, Maia! I really appreciate hearing it. Because sometimes, I feel like I'm committing the ultimate crime in the eyes of my colleagues to say such things. I agree with you. This is the heart of it. And the HEART of it... is THE most important part of it. None of the rest of it is really all that important.
PS: Twist does offer really important perspective! Glad it helped you....
Exactly! Yes, strategies and tactics are important, for sure, but if a fundraiser doesn't have this essential understanding of what it means to invite someone into a deeper relationship with a cause/mission, then all the rest is wasted. In my opinion.
In my opinion too! I do believe we need more SOUL in this work, in general.
Really great read Cecelia!
Aww it means so much to me to have you say that, Ruby! THANK YOU. 🙏🏻
This really resonated - especially the part about how quickly fundraising becomes natural when the relationship is clear and the stakes are human. What struck me reading this is how much of our “professionalization” of fundraising is really an attempt to manage discomfort - our own and others. And in doing so, we sometimes distance ourselves from the very thing that makes giving work: proximity to what matters. The Minneapolis example doesn’t just simplify fundraising, it exposes what we’ve layered on top of it.
Thank you for this thoughtful response, Tamara! This is what I love the most: when we explore back and forth, reflecting our own perspectives, and gradually coming to ever-deeper understanding together. This is why community is SO very valuable.
The way you said it is absolutely true. When there are not so many layers of expectations and “must-dos” and protocols to follow, etc…and the stakes are thus very human-to-human, still… we are VERY in touch with what matters. No fluff. No distance. No stiffness. Just responsive, human-to-human love and care.
What you say about “professionalization” being a means of managing discomfort is very interesting. What kind of discomfort, would you say?
From my experience, I’d say one of the big things is wanting to make everything as predictable as possible. Predictable, orderly, controllable. Orgs want that… but I say that anything involving human beings is ALWAYS going to be messy. Many people are just not comfortable with the chaos, mess, and unpredictability of genuine human relationships.
Yes, I think it’s often a way of managing discomfort with uncertainty, rejection, and the lack of control that comes with real relationships. We make fundraising more “professional” with scripts, process, and polished language because it helps people feel less exposed. But sometimes all of that structure is really just protecting us from the messy part - asking honestly, being vulnerable, and trusting that another person will care.
Yes! This! Amen. So affirming to see that you see that too....