Have you ever heard the saying, “When you’re not paying for the product, then you definitely are the product”? This knowledge applies completely to fundraising companies that sound too good to be true.

Sure, billions of {dollars} stream by philanthropy yearly. A whole lot of billions, in actual fact. However that cash isn’t sitting in a holding account, ready to be launched like water from a dam. It’s within the arms of donors and foundations who have to be cultivated, engaged, and requested correctly. You may’t simply ship an bill and count on folks to pay.

So when a service or platform tells you it’s “tremendous straightforward” to lift cash with their product—and also you don’t even need to pay—it’s time to ask questions. What’s their income mannequin? Do they cost donors by disguising charges as “topping up” donations? Or do they barrage your supporters with slash-and-burn fundraising that may ship short-term presents however destroys long-term relationships?

Be Cautious When Hiring Too

This similar warning applies when hiring fundraisers who declare extraordinary success in earlier positions. They might certainly have spectacular numbers, however dig deeper. How does their earlier group really feel about their efforts now?

Some nonprofits wrestle with operational money stream as a result of a former fundraising staffer secured a lot of restricted, multi-year pledges. The cash sounds nice till that particular person leaves and the group can’t pay operational payments regardless of donors faithfully fulfilling their pledges.

Put Your self in Their Sneakers

P.Y.I.T.S. (Put Your self In Their Sneakers) is a precept I typically share with shoppers. How would you are feeling being bombarded with aggressive fundraising techniques? Or discovering that the platform you donated by took a considerable lower with out clear disclosure?

Many nonprofits genuinely wrestle with asking for cash successfully. Working with skilled fundraising professionals can produce large outcomes. However be cautious of these promising the moon with out explaining the journey.

Actual fundraising takes constant, intentional work—typically boringly so. As a result of long-term fundraising success isn’t about fast wins; it’s about constructing sustainable relationships with donors who consider in your mission as a lot as you do.

And relationships value investing in all the time take time.