Fundraising & Strategy
Caramel Analogy:
- Ingredients are simple, but cooking is tricky—it requires precision, timing, and practice.
- Many assume fundraising works the same way, with one “perfect recipe.”
Fundraising Reality:
- Unlike caramel, there is no single correct recipe for fundraising.
- Countless ways to ask: different amounts, one-time vs. monthly, specific programs, matching gifts, etc.
- The challenge: choosing the right approach for each situation.
Key Advice:
- Become strategists, not recipe-followers.
- Understand why donors give and what motivates them.
- Develop relational, customised plans for different donor types (e.g., individuals, foundations, corporations).
- Stop searching for a universal fundraising formula—create your own strategies that fit your context.
Practical Steps:
- Experiment with approaches—some will work, some won’t.
- Be willing to fail, learn, and adapt.
- Over time, you’ll become skilled at designing effective, personalised fundraising strategies.
Takeaway:
Fundraising is about strategy, relationships, and adaptability—not a one-size-fits-all formula.