Are you a successful fundraiser? Many of us believe we are. We have attended conferences and seminars over the years. We learned about the stages of getting a gift, best practices, and the latest marketing techniques.
Do these things make us successful? In Zen and the Art of Fundraising: 8 Pillars of Success, Alexandra Pia Brovey shows us that they go part way. She shows that to continue on the path to success, we must possess other traits or qualities, which she calls pillars. These 8 pillars can be honed and strengthened over time.
The 8 pillars include:
#1 Being in the Moment
#2 Listening
#3 Compassion
#4 Curiosity
#5 Humility
#6 Patience
#7 A Sense of Humor
#8 Being a Mentor
Zen and the Art of Fundraising guides us in exploring the pillars through a Zen filter. While most of us are expected to pursue more gifts and larger gifts over time, we need to take time to be in the moment - to appreciate each donor, each gift, and each interaction.
Being a good listener, having and showing compassion, being curious and humble, practicing patience, finding your sense of humor, and passing along your knowledge to others are all explored in this book in the context of fundraisers and fundraising.
The ultimate test is working with donors who make a gift, a larger gift, or a repeat gift. The pillars help fundraisers achieve success. They also make the journey an enjoyable and fulfilling one. Join Brovey and learn more about these 8 key pillars of success - in fundraising as well as life.
What Readers Are Saying
I could hardly put down this book. Through accessible descriptions of Buddhist principles, stories of donor meetings, and even interactions with her dog, Alex takes you, the layperson, planned giving officer, or general fundraiser, on a journey of both professional and personal enlightenment. -- Claudine A. Donikian, JD, MBA - President/CEO of Pentera, Inc.
Whether you are a beginner fundraiser or a seasoned practitioner, you're going to love this book. Packed with practical tips along with stories of how NOT to close a gift, it is the source of valuable wisdom from an exceptional gift planning veteran. -- Margaret M. Holman - President, Holman Consulting, Inc.
This book will inspire you to kick over a few conventions and achieve real fundraising mastery. -- Steven L. Meyers, PhD - Author of Personalized Philanthropy: Crash the Fundraising Matrix
In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind, there are few. That insight from Zen practice is a conundrum for gift planners, who are challenged to climb a mountain of technical detail that they can probably never summit. The most effective gift planners are deep experts AND perpetual beginners. They know that every encounter with a new person, or reunion with a familiar one, is full of possibility. Alex reminds us how to keep our beginner's minds open, while our expert minds are doing math and remembering rules and regulations. -- Barbara Yeager - Director of Operations, National Association of Charitable Gift Planners
