I was recently asked to sit on an interview panel as an
external representative. The distance I
had from the appointment afforded me the opportunity to consider what
attributes make a great fundraiser.
Top of the list: TENACITY. It takes a lot of time and effort
to get that meeting. Prospects and leads can be elusive but if a
fundraiser keeps trying, there is every chance they will get there eventually.
I’ve lost count of the number of first, or discovery, meetings that I have
finally managed to secure 5 or more years after my original contact by repeatedly
contacting said individual. Have they just suddenly found the time, or have
they just been worn down by my perseverance? You’d have to ask them.