What do donors owe us?

 I was honored to be invited to give the opening keynote at Food for the Poor. I had the good fortune to work with Barbara Mari in the past and her new role at Food for the Poor is Senior Director Major & Regional Giving.

One of the questions that was asked afterwards was, "When we call donors who have been giving and they say they can't give or give less this year... I mean, what do we say to tell them to keep giving?"

One of the truths of our work is that, even if you've had a long-time supporter, donors don't "owe" our nonprofit anything, or any gift, year after year. 

That's why relationship fundraising is SO important. It isn't about an "annual transaction," but returning to the donor (hopefully before you're about to ask again) and sharing the impact their gift has made. It's about showing thanks for the gift they made. This is true at every giving level, but especially for major donors.

Donors don't owe nonprofits anything. Nonprofits need to understand that our work is as change-makers. The invitation is to join in that world-changing, life-altering, transformative work.

Instead of expecting donors to give, invite them to give. Instead of a transaction-oriented mentality, take a joy-oriented mentality.

Fundraising takes more work, invitation to partnership and less expectation.