Rising to the Challenge

Welcome! And please join me in launching this new forum for SW Florida fundraising professionals – a place to exchange ideas, voice concerns, vent a little and praise a lot, I hope.

Could there be a better time to share what’s working, here and now? You know the challenges we’re facing…

• Grants are cut in half, or worse,
• Events and appeals are “sucking wind,” in the memorable phrase of one development chairman I know,
• Boards are worried,
• Donors are scared,
• Needs are greater than ever.

How to respond? Consultant James Gelatt, writing earlier this year in Contributions Magazine, has a message that resonates with all of us: this is the time for us to focus LESS on TACTICS to survive today and MORE on STRATEGIES to succeed in the future.* We can’t just cut programs and staff, lower expectations and hunker down, hoping to get through this. We need to keep our donors excited about the incredibly important work we are doing, take a few risks, build new business models, and get ready to come out of the gate strong as the economy turns around.

What does that mean to you? Here’s what I’ve noticed about our most successful colleagues:
• They are fundraising not because it’s a job, but because they truly believe they are making their world a better place.
• They are ready to retire “same-old, same-old” practices and get creative.
• They are focusing like a laser beam on bang for the buck: maximizing the return of their organization’s investment in fundraising.
• They know how to help their top managers lead and their boards raise money.
• They don’t solicit donors. Donors love to give. They help donors give.
• They are the most optimistic people I’ve ever met.
Does that describe you? If not, you might be a lot happier in another line of work. On the other hand, doesn’t that describe our friend and colleague Susan Terry perfectly? Rest in peace.


Laura Breeze, CFRE
Advancement Director
Education Foundation of Sarasota County