The Fundraising Ick
Written by Caitlin McBride
Hi Friend,
Here’s a confession: my first ever experience with fundraising was awkward AF. And I hated it.
It happened when I was a university student (please don’t ask me how long ago this was). My friend invited me to a lunch that her dad had bought tickets for but couldn’t attend. I was a student and it was an offer of free lunch, so of course I went.
But this wasn’t a lunch. It was a luncheon.
It turned out to be a fundraising event for an organization supporting young people in rural Uganda. It took place in a ballroom, where I was surrounded by high-net-worth people in eye-wateringly expensive suits. I had jeans on, and I was lugging my books around in my second-hand backpack after coming straight from my morning lit class.
Even though I was woefully underdressed and constantly being mistaken for a member of the catering crew, that wasn’t the most painful part. I remember listening to the speaker — an amazing woman who had just travelled back from months in their Uganda office. She told stories of the extreme poverty endured by the people she met. She shared the journey of one young man who had lost everything and was struggling to survive. As she spoke, I looked around the opulent ballroom and saw it sparkle with chandeliers and expensive watches. And I felt it.
The fundraising ick.
Even though that event probably brought in a good chunk of revenue and funded their incredible operations, it felt icky. It played to a (mostly white) savior complex in the room. It painted the people they supported as victims who needed the rich heroes to save them. It shared nothing of their power or their autonomy, only how the attendees could wave their magic wand (i.e. their chequebook) and all would be well. Other than this short speech, the event had zero alignment with their mission or reminders of the cause it was supporting.
As I’ve built and navigated a career as a fundraiser, I’ve felt the fundraising ick time and time again. I’ve felt it in donor meetings, at galas, and while writing grants.
Friend, it took me a long time in fundraising to realize what I’m about to tell you now. Fundraising doesn’t have to feel icky. If a fundraising activity fits your vibe and aligns with your mission, great! But if something doesn’t feel right, you don’t have to do it.
Fundraising is all about finding the right match for your organization. It’s about connecting with people and groups and companies who see your organization’s value and want to partner with you. Not everyone will be on board, and that’s okay. Those who are will stick around for the long term, not just a luncheon.
I’ve felt the fundraising ick, but more often than not I’ve felt the fundraising joy. It’s the joy when you create a meaningful partnership with someone who gets it, and you can feel how excited they are to be part of your work. It’s the joy when your fundraising campaign hits all the right notes, empowers your service users, and you smash through your revenue goals. It’s the joy when you send your program’s impact report, knowing the funder will be genuinely excited and moved to see the results.
If you want to have more joy and less ick in your fundraising, reach out to us at Further Together! We can help you develop fundraising strategies, messaging, and results that work for you and feel right. Set up a complimentary strategy call today.
