The Human Element:
The amount of non-profit groups that approach me for assistance in fundraising seems to increase every year, to me this is overall a positive sign. This is the sign of groups becoming aware of the importance of being proactive as the playing field has only gotten more and more competitive. Large organizations have had to become more agile and able to react quickly to newer flexible organizations. It has come to my attention that a great many of these organizations, despite their best intentions and absolute belief in their causes, do not have the knowledge of the realities of this sector. Namely, they forget the importance of building and maintaining relationships.
All too often I am witness to non-profits that frequently only communicate with their donors or sponsors when they need funding. They neglect the fundamental part of humanity in doing so as they are neglecting; the human need for a relationship for true interaction. Interaction that does not have an agenda attached. In my opinion, the greatest resource any non-profit can have are strong personal relationships with their supporters. These are people who share the same passions and causes as the organizations they support; they absolutely want to hear about what you are doing.
In our busy lives we forget that relationships require work and open dialogue. Even the strongest of bonds can be broken by too much time apart or too little interest. The people that know how I operate know that I believe in the cultivation of long lasting relationships that are built upon a foundation of mutual respect and caring. It is important to me that my colleagues know that I care, not just about the issues but about their lives and their needs as people.
To me this is not a matter of work, it is important to nurture relationships for us as people. We are not solitary creatures and were never meant to be so. Causes do not exist in a vacuum and it is important to remember the fundamental element of non-profit work, the human element. As the field gets more and more competitive it is only natural that we find ourselves behaving like the corporate world. Too often this leads to self-serving behaviors rather than charitable community focused ones. In my view, it is just as important to know how the people who are supporting my causes are feeling and doing as it is to reach out to them for more support.
