FUNDRAISERS: 5 TIPS TO KICK IT IN YOUR FIRST 100 DAYS!
- Steve Wasserleben
- Jul 10, 2017
- 2 min read
It’s your first day on the BIG new job. Perhaps this is your first position as a Development Director? Or, maybe you left your former position due to a variety of issues; unrealistic fundraising goals even Mother Theresa couldn’t achieve, an Executive Director who hides from fund development, or board members who are involved with everything but fundraising.
The truth is so many of the challenges we experienced in past positions turn up in the next phase of our fundraising careers. If we’re smart, we glean the wisdom learned from these experiences and use our knowledge to forge new paths and make different choices in our next position.
The time to make your mark for success is at the starting line. The first 100 days in your new position is just like the President’s first 100 days in office. So much of what you do (or don’t do) during this time sets the tone and predicts future performance. This is the time to prioritize and get the key components of your development plan moving forward quickly with a rhythmic pulse for success.
Top Five “To Do’s” in Your First One Hundred Days!
1. Get out there and meet your top donors ASAP! These folks are your important VIPS—they’re the 10% providing 90% of your funding. You’re not asking donors for anything, just their time to get acquainted.
2. Get to know your staff and learn their job functions. You have a big job and big goals to meet—you can’t go it alone. You need staff pulling their weight; if they’re not, give them a reasonable chance to step up. If they don’t—show them to the door!
3. Donate yourself to test your gift processing system—it gives you the donor-centric experience of giving to your new employer and uncovers any system glitches that need to be fixed ASAP.
4. If your predecessor left a development plan, review and adjust it with a reasonable timeline. No development plans? Meet with your Executive Director and your development committee and draft one with the goal to finalize and implement at the end of your first 100 days. This is critical—you need a roadmap to navigate your way to success.
5. If you have a Communications Director or Manager, work with them to link their plan with your development plan. No communications staff? Hire a consultant or punt with a basic plan that includes newsletters, press releases, Twitter etc. Yes, more work, but if your nonprofit is under the radar, people won’t support you—even if you’re feeding hungry kids in Syria!
These initial steps drive success when you’re “coming out of the blocks.” When you quickly achieve goals and bring in the MONEY (and it’s always about the $$$$$), people notice, and most importantly, your leadership notices!
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