What Does the Future Hold?
Lately, I’ve been really into mantras. If you know me well, you’d know that this is a pretty foreign concept for me, but I’ve found it can be really helpful to keep repeating a word, a phrase, or even a sentence to yourself. Write it on a post-it and keep it on your computer. Put a note next to your bed, or on the fridge, wherever it will help to remind you. It can be very calming, yet also energizing.
One mantra that I use all the time is – keep going. Simple, to the point, and really helps. Whether it’s getting through writing a blog post, analyzing a budget, persevering after a donor declines to give, or reviewing insurance papers, sometimes you just need to keep going.
But recently, I did something for myself. It wasn’t something I had to do and it had no immediate benefit, but might in the future. I did it because I’m following another mantra – do all you can to help your future self.
I’ve been thinking about this idea a lot. What does the future hold? How can we prepare when we don’t know what it will include?
It has been two years since COVID changed our lives forever. Happily, life is starting to return to normal. I even took the bus recently and found it packed with people. They were still masked, but it felt like old times. While we never could have known or adequately prepared for the impact of COVID, I do think back and wonder - what could I have done to help my future self two years into the future? What steps would I have taken? Could I have started an online course? Could I have networked more? Could I have invested in other ways?
But let’s stop talking about could. Let’s start talking about can. How can you help your future self? What about your future fundraising efforts? What can you do now to help raise more money in the future? What can you do now to improve conditions for your mission in the years to come?
Is it starting a Donor Stewarding program? (Check out my blog posts from February and March for ideas).
Is it launching a Planned Giving program? (Check out my recent post on the Association of Consultants to Nonprofits’ website on this very subject).
Could it be introducing a Capital Campaign? Perhaps your organization is ready to launch a new project but doesn’t have the resources to fund it. Maybe you’ve been thinking about a feasibility study but don’t know where to start. Which donors to approach? How much to ask? Is the campaign achievable? (Check out this blog post for more)
Could it be initiating a Strategic Plan where you evaluate what’s working, what isn’t, and prepare for what’s to come in future years? What level of funding will you need? What about your staff? Who will execute the plan? (Check out this blog post for more)
How is your Donor Acquisition going since 2020? Perhaps you’re ready to investigate different digital engagement tools but aren’t sure what platform to go to, what metrics to utilize, or what kind of budget you need. (Check out this blog post for more)
In fundraising, we are so often focused on meeting our annual goals. Dedicated to achieving what is needed now. But fundamentally, fundraising is about building relationships, and that takes time. I encourage you to take some time to think about what your future needs will be or even might be. What can you do today to help those future needs, and do all you can now to help the future of your organization.
I’d love to hear what your organization will need in the future and how you’re preparing. Maybe I can help!