Do you LOVE fundraising?

Do you LOVE fundraising?
​It’s Valentine’s Day! In the spirit of the holiday that’s brought us candy hearts, sappy hallmark cards and over-priced dinner ‘specials’ at our favorite restaurants - we actually have a question for YOU this month!
 
Our question is…do you LOVE fundraising?
 
Okay, so we know that no one loves their job every single day. Heck, sometimes it may feel like weeks or even months at a time where our work seems overwhelming or challenging. First of all, please know – you don’t feel overwhelmed or challenged at work because you are doing something WRONG. Fundraising IS IN FACT overwhelming and difficult at times. However, as you know, this work can also be incredibly fulfilling and an amazing way we can contribute to making the world a better place.
 
So, on this Valentine’s Day, we wanted to share 3-quick-pick-me-ups you can try TODAY to remind yourself that you actually do LOVE fundraising. 

1. Start your day by calling 3 donors JUST to say thank you. It can be any donor you’d like at any giving level you’d like. Though, finding someone who has been giving say $5 a month or $50-$100 annually over a long period of time are kind of the sweet spot for this. These are the folks who often fall through the cracks of even the most strategic cultivation strategy. So getting a call from you just to say thank you will fill their heart with all the feels – and in turn, fill YOUR heart with all the feels. Doing this first thing in the morning, before you start your to-do list, will help get your day off on the right ‘feel-good’ foot.

 

1. Watch your organizations funding videos. You spend so much time, effort and emotional energy on these videos, right? You show them at an event or share them in an email and then they live in perpetuity on our shared drive or website. Binge watch these videos! These videos give us the opportunity to watch the people we serve talk about all the things they love about our orgs, and the impact it’s had on their lives – with emotional music and heartfelt overtones to boot! You might try to do this before you leave the office or towards the end of the day. It’s a great way to give your heart the jolt it needs when you just spent the entire day writing an appeal letter while also re-inventing (ugh) your annual fundraising event.

 

1. Connect with your favorite fellow fundraisers. I think this one is my favorite! There is no one better suited to pull you out of a rut than someone who has been in the trenches with you. Send them a quick text, telling them about your latest cranky donor or challenging co-worker. You can rest assured their response will be exactly what you need to hear! Or send them a shared memory over email, BUT be sure to pick that one memory that will make you laugh out loud alone in your office before you even hit send. Remember, it’s these people in our lives who are especially qualified at helping us round out the sharp edges of our day - so don’t forget to connect with them when you need a boost!

 
Do you have any little pick-me-ups that help you remember the things you love? Be sure to share them with us – we’d love to hear them!
 
Happy Valentines Day! xoxox