Fundraising is a craft. And like any craft, it gets sharper with practice, not perfection.
Want to get better at donor conversations? Practice. Want to write stronger appeals? Practice. Want to build genuine relationships instead of transactional ones? You guessed it: practice.
But too many fundraisers fall into the trap of performance. They agonize over every word, every ask, every donor meeting—believing they need to be perfect, or they’ll blow it. That’s not authenticity. That’s fear talking.
And Boards and Executive Directors? Too often, they feed that fear. They expect fundraisers to be flawless. To deliver a polished, magical pitch. To convince total strangers to give—regardless of whether there’s any real connection, interest, or even relevance.
That’s not strategy. That’s delusion.
Fundraising isn’t theater. It’s trust-building. It’s clarity, consistency, and connection over time. It’s showing up with preparation, not perfection.
So here’s what to do: Practice your asks, your stories, your follow-ups—out loud. With a colleague. In front of the mirror. On your phone’s voice recorder. Practice until it’s in your bones, not just in your notes.
And when you’re with a donor? Be human. Be honest. Be present.
Forget perfect. Be practiced. Be real.
That’s where trust is built. That’s where the money – and the meaning – is.
That’s the craft.