Fundraising Tip: Nonprofit Leaders

Too many examples of bad leadership. We need change.

A nonprofit executive director tells the head fundraiser to add $100,000 to the revenue budget to match what they want in the expense line. There is no discussion and no offer of ideas on how to do this.

Another head of a nonprofit has meetings with board members that are about the head of fundraising, but don’t include them.

These are just two examples of bad leadership.

If you have spent any amount of time in nonprofit fundraising, you may have experienced this.

I work with several nonprofit leaders, both leaders of organizations and leaders of fundraising teams.

There has to be a relationship between the ED/CEO and the head of fundraising. They have to be able to work together.

They have to communicate well, like on an epic level.

There has to be trust.

No kicking each other off the bus.

Constant transparency.

I have had this as a head of fundraising, and when you have, you can rock it.

Don’t accept poor leadership. And do your best not to express poor leadership.

—

Take a risk. Be of service. Support your friends and colleagues. Be kind.