Difficult Donors (It's Not Your Fault!)
This month, in Fundraisers' Monthly, we're getting really real.
We're talking about difficult donors. (booooo!)
Our awesome member, Alex, said:
"Every fundraising training/book/etc. seems to operate on the assumption that all donors are warm, trusting, altruistic teddy bears that are full of love and sunshine."
It's true. There is a lot of sunshine, roses and sickeningly sweet talk in fundraising.
Nancy and I are guilty of this, too. We like to say - when you're generous, you can't be mean - when you're giving, you can't be angry. But that's just not always true.
Sometimes, people - even generous people who are giving away their hard-earned money for a damn good cause - are just plain rude.
And fundraising is 1000% percent a people business, so, here it is, the really real truth about fundraising:
You will absolutely meet and have to deal with a few jerks. (I'm sorry for this and I'm sending you an e-hug right now.)
More than a few people will hang up on you (ah, the joys of cold...