Great Fundraising Masterclass Takeaways from a Fundraising Rookie

By Abbi Ross , Moore Marketing 

I’m a fundraising newbie. From the outside looking in, fundraising seems simple. An organization has a great mission and wants to help a worthy cause. No one can disagree about that, right? 

It turns out, like most things in life, it is a bit more complicated than that. Donor fatigue, conflicted messaging, resistance to change, and more are very real issues faced by organizations big and small every day. You probably already knew that, but I did not. It’s why I went to the The Great Fundraising Masterclass, a three-day online seminar that dives into what makes great fundraising and the cultural, behavioral, and leadership approaches needed to deliver transformational, sustainable, mission-driven income growth that meets the needs of donors. Here are the three Cs of what I learned about fundraising. 

Compassion 

Reconnecting with both your mission and your donors is a key part of being a great fundraiser. Without one the other simply does not translate as well. 

Say you’re running a new campaign that offers an opportunity for people to donate automatically. This is wonderful and convenient for some, but others want to come by in person, call someone and chat during their donation, or take the trip to the post office to drop off a check. In the pursuit of those donors who value that convenience, you don’t want to leave behind the donor of 25 years who likes her current process. 

How to better know your donors and accommodate them is a major part of the masterclass. It’s easy to get comfortable in how something operates and not notice all the ways there are to grow.  

Organizations must get into an emotional space for fundraising to grow. Which is scary. It's not easy to confront the unknown and it can be even harder to get everyone on the same page. 

Conflict 

Getting everyone to agree on what to have for dinner is hard; getting an entire team to agree on a new idea is even harder. 

The Great Fundraising Masterclass examines how the biggest block to great fundraising is internal conflict, which can often lead to consensus-seeking compromise. This might come in the form of an organization not seeing fundraising as a company-wide initiative, lack of time and commitment, or investment conflicts.  

One of the ways to get around this issue is to ensure your team is on the same page about your mission and how to make it a reality. This can be achieved through open lines of communication and taking the time to make sure everyone knows how fundraising is a company-wide endeavor. 

All these issues can be tackled efficiently and effectively with the right knowledge and mindset. The Masterclass not only tackles these issues but gives attendees a chance to workshop together and look at the issues their organization may be facing and gather new perspectives on how to handle them. 

Connection 

One of the biggest benefits of the masterclass, besides the incredible information, is the connections. The classes range in size, but you’re guaranteed to spend your time in the class with people representing powerhouse organizations and local leaders in addition to the guidance of two vetted professionals.  

My time in the Masterclass introduced me to people across the country from a variety of backgrounds. One of the moments that stood out to me the most was when we discussed how to handle internal issues. They were not afraid to talk about the problems their organizations were facing and listened intently to others. They came to the class to learn, and that is what they did. It really showed me how important it is to be honest about what your organization may be up against. Nothing and no one are ever perfect, it’s how you tackle problems that matters.  

That mix brings a new perspective and fresh ideas when thinking about your own organization and what it may be facing. 

At the end of the class, attendees become part of the Great Fundraising Masterclass network. That means someone to have an alumni coffee with or to turn to when looking for ways to brainstorm something. 

Those looking to take their organization to a whole new level can attend the next Great Fundraising Masterclass July 17-19.