MOLI VIEW™

Gayle Roberts started raising money in her home state of Minnesota at age six, hosting a backyard carnival for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (remember those?). Now she's a certified fundraiser and fundraising counselor in San Francisco with more than 20 years of experience — and she's got a lot more than pin-the-tail on the donkey and water balloon toss to offer. Here she shares with Do-Gooder some insights on what it takes to turn a novice fundraiser into a master.

What makes a person a master nonprofit fundraiser?

Fundraising is a skill that can be learned. The inspired fundraiser understands that in order to succeed she must be united in both head and heart. It is a field that requires strong planning and analytical skills, as well as intuitive and subjective abilities.

Resource development is fundamentally the process of cultivating relationships between individuals and institutions based on common values. Therefore, strong interpersonal skills and an ethical nature are critical. The successful fundraiser is a leader who has the ability to inspire and align others to reach a common goal.

Though certainly not required, the field often attracts college graduates with a liberal arts background. Many mid-career professionals enter the field with experience in marketing, sales and communications. Their managerial skills are put to good use.

Successful fundraisers must be passionate about their organization's mission. In fact, they must be the first to make a donation. They are comfortable with asking family or friends for support, and do not take it personally when people say no. Ultimately, they must believe in the essential goodness of all people or they will quickly become jaded.

Previous Page  1  2  3  4  Next Page