logo
  • Nonprofit News
  • Management
    • Boards and Governance
    • Communication
      • Framing & Narratives
    • Ethics
    • Financial Management
    • Grassroots Fundraising Journal
    • Leadership
    • Technology
  • Philanthropy
    • Corporate Social Responsibility
    • Donor-Advised Funds
    • Foundations
    • Impact Investing
    • Research
    • Workplace Giving
  • Policy
    • Education
    • Healthcare
    • Housing
    • Government
    • Taxes
  • Economic Justice
    • About
    • Economy Remix
    • Economy Webinars
    • Community Benefits
    • Economic Democracy
    • Environmental Justice
    • Fair Finance
    • Housing Rights
    • Land Justice
    • Poor People’s Rights
    • Tax Fairness
  • Racial Equity
  • Social Movements
    • Community Development
    • Community Organizing
    • Culture Change
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Gender Equality
    • Immigrant Rights
    • Indigenous Rights
    • Labor
    • LGBTQ+
    • Racial Justice
    • Youth Activism
  • About Us
  • Log in
  • CONTENT TYPES
  • Featured Articles
  • Webinars
    • Free Webinars
    • Premium On-Demand Webinars
  • Tiny Spark Podcast
  • Magazine
    • Magazine
    • Leading Edge Membership
Donate
Financial Management, Fund Development, Philanthropy

What’s the Role of the Fundraiser?

Simone Joyaux
April 12, 2012
Share
Email
Tweet
Share

Let me tell you a secret: I don’t care if the donor gives a gift to my organization or to another organization. It’s all philanthropy. And philanthropy is about the donor. Philanthropy is bigger than any single organization.

I believe “a rising tide raises all boats.” I believe that relationships are an end in and of themselves, not merely a strategy to secure gifts of time, advice and money. So here’s a wild suggestion. How about this threefold role for a fundraiser:

Role #1

First, nurture philanthropy as a community-building process, in John Gardner’s sense of place and mission; for a better understanding of what this entails, do read John Gardner’s wonderful monograph, “Building Community.” In this first role, I think the fundraiser’s job is to increase social capital and promote civic engagement, and also to build civil society and civic capacity.

Role #2

Second, nurture relationships to foster philanthropy and strengthen community. In this role, the fundraiser helps the community build partnerships. The fundraiser helps her own organization become relevant, strong, and donor-centered.

Role #3

And third, increase and diversify philanthropy for one’s employing organization. Here, the fundraiser turns his attention to his own organization. Specifically, the fundraiser acts as an organizational development specialist, assuring an effective organization. The fundraiser operates a donor-centered fund development program that nurtures relationships and effectively communicates. This is the way to build donor loyalty—and surely that is a (the?) principal role of the fundraiser.

As you might expect, I don’t think that the third role happens well without the first two. Furthermore, I think that excessive focus on the third role can harm the first two, which is a danger for all organizations and all communities.

Philanthropy and fund development are not about getting your organization’s fair share. Philanthropy and fund development are about finding those who might be interested and then nurturing relationships and loyalty. And not just for money!

Share
Email
Tweet
Share

About The Author
Simone Joyaux

Simone P. Joyaux, ACFRE is recognized internationally as an expert in fund development, board and organizational development, strategic planning, and management. She is the founder and director of Joyaux Associates.

Related
Cash Flow in the Nonprofit Business Model: A Question of Whats and Whens
By Hilda H. Polanco and John Summers
December 10, 2020
Cash Flow in the Nonprofit Business Model: A Question of Whats and Whens
By Hilda H. Polanco and John Summers
December 10, 2020
Financial Commons Launch
By Nonprofit Quarterly
December 1, 2020
Is Your Nonprofit Ready for Extended Uncertainty?
By Deidre Fraser and Ruth McCambridge
July 23, 2020
3 Nonprofit Types under COVID-19—and What They Must Come to Terms With
By Ruth McCambridge
April 3, 2020
Sustainability to Survivability: 5 Nonprofit Finance Must-Do’s in the Time of COVID
By Steve Zimmerman
March 19, 2020

Upcoming Webinars

Group Created with Sketch.
January 21, 2 pm ET

Remaking the Economy

Health, Racial Disparities, and Economic Justice

other posts by The Author
Measuring Fundraising Performance vs. Fundraiser...
By Simone Joyaux
June 29, 2018
After the Donation: A Research-Based Workshop on Retaining...
By Simone Joyaux and Ruth McCambridge
December 19, 2017
Channeling Real Human Beings in Multichannel Fundraising
By Simone Joyaux
December 2, 2016
CYNDI SUAREZ
The Nonprofit Racial Leadership Gap: Flipping the Lens
Powerful Interests Seek to Make Puerto Rico the Hong Kong of the...
Moving Beyond the Privilege of White Tears
logo
Donate
  • About
  • Contact
  • Newsletters
  • Write for NPQ
  • Advertise
  • Writers
  • Funders
  • Copyright Policy
  • Privacy Policy
Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 20-4080038

Subscribe to View Webinars