Great Fundraisers Need Grit

This is the first in a three-part series on why fundraisers need grit, grace, and gratitude.

I keep a small poster framed in my office: Grit, Grace & Gratitude. It has stayed with me over the years because it captures something true about this work.

The term “grit” isn’t new, but it gained wider attention when Angela Duckworth introduced it more broadly. She defines grit as passion and perseverance for long-term goals.

But in my experience, passion and perseverance are what sustain meaningful fundraising over time. Here’s why: As fundraisers, our work is magical and fulfilling. But – spoiler alert! – it can be very challenging. And this era is one especially challenging us all.

Yes, talent, luck and even serendipity play roles in fundraising success. But passion and perseverance goals are key to engaging supporters in our work. When passion is missing — whether for the mission, for philanthropy, or for the people we serve — fundraising starts to feel transactional. And donors can feel that.

Passion in fundraising isn't about intensity or performance. It's not about being the loudest voice in the room. It's a quieter thing. A steady enthusiasm. A genuine belief in the work. A sense of joy in connecting people to something meaningful.

Perseverance, in fundraising, is not about pushing harder. It's about staying present in the relationship. Donors are living full, complex lives. Their timing is not always our timing. Their readiness is not always aligned with our deadlines.

Grit allows us to stay in the work— to continue showing up, listening, following up and building trust over time, even when things don't move quickly. Strong fundraisers learn to move in rhythm with a donor’s timing, not just the organization’s urgency.

Great fundraisers don’t just ask for support. They invite donors into partnership. This is where the work shifts — from transaction to relationship, from giving to shared purpose.

Creating meaningful change takes time. And it takes people who are willing to stay in the work long enough to see it through.

If you’re ready to bring this kind of clarity and connection into your fundraising, I coach major gift fundraisers and nonprofit leaders who want clearer donor strategy, more meaningful relationships, and better results. Schedule a Connection Call and let’s talk about what you’re building.