| There's an organization I'm familiar with that has done | | | | fundraising and building relationships with donors. They |
| a great job of chasing dollars. And it's NOT a good | | | | should be working on programs that further their |
| thing. | | | | mission. Instead, they're grabbing money where they |
| You see, they started with a mission that was | | | | can. |
| focused in one direction. Then, as they found grants, | | | | Fundraising is about raising money to support what |
| they would start programs so they could qualify for | | | | you are already doing, not getting money to start |
| the money. They built their organization around | | | | something new just so you can keep paying staff. |
| grants, not around the mission of the organization. | | | | Eventually, it will become problematic and the |
| After doing this several times, their organization has | | | | organization could wither and die. Donors will see |
| become quite disjointed programmatically. They have | | | | through this strategy and will either question the |
| programs that don't fit in their mission, and financially | | | | motives of the leadership or they will go find another |
| they are nearly completely dependent on grants. If | | | | nonprofit to support who seems to have their act |
| those grants ever go away, they're going to be dead | | | | together better. |
| in the water. | | | | I understand that when you're inadequately funded, |
| From an outsider's viewpoint, it looks like a lack of | | | | every grant opportunity can be very attractive. But |
| passion for their original mission, because they don't | | | | in the best interest of your organization and the |
| seem to be interested in staying true to it. They're | | | | people you serve, it's best to only go after the |
| just chasing dollars. They should be focusing on | | | | funding that fits the work you are already doing. |