Guest blog: you’re wrong if you think fundraising is a “necessary evil”
This is a guest blog from Hannah Kowszun:
Do you think fundraising is a “necessary evil”? If so, you’re not alone. And you’re wrong.
Rogare – The Fundraising Think Tank and Marina Jones have put together a fascinating timeline of negative perceptions of fundraising over the centuries.
Here’s why it’s wrong to see fundraising through a negative lens:
1️⃣ The “market” for charities can’t afford our services. If they could, then we’d be businesses, not charities.
For those who could afford our services, there are fewer options to pay for what they need. Mainly because we can’t choose where our taxes are spent.
↪️ This means someone else needs to pay for what charities deliver. Not sales, but raising of funds.
2️⃣ Asking for money is always awkward and uncomfortable. Some people find it easier than others, but even they have their down days.
↪️ That doesn’t make fundraising “bad” or “evil”, it just makes it tough.
We should be open about our discomfort.
Sometimes it’s particularly awkward to ask for money because the “ask” is poor. The case for support is on weak foundations.
That’s not the fault of the fundraiser. If anything they should be empowered to feed this back to the Trustees and the charity as a whole take responsibility.
3️⃣ Increasingly forceful and widespread fundraising activity can evoke negative emotions. This is due to increasingly high targets that fundraisers are set.
↪️ This is not the fault of fundraising, it is the pressure of the system.
On the one hand, the needs being met by charities are increasing and targets increasing alongside. On the other hand the sector itself is reluctant to organise more collaboratively. Easier to simply say we need more money than put the effort into (re)considering our purpose and partnerships.
Fundraising is a convenient scapegoat for the perceived failings of charity. But it is the only way to ensure charities can operate.
Hannah has worked in charities for nearly 20 years and has experience with a wide variety of challenges, especially those unique to the social sector. You can find out more on her LinkedIn profile.
