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@NipunShakya, it feels good to know you have come to terms with the knowledge of the myth now.
Well the fourth myth got me surprised because I always thought that a donor would always like to know in what he or she is investing his or her money and letting him or her know about everything was to me the best way of doing so. But while listening to de Mr. Tom I realized how right he was about some people loving to talk about themselves. It is in fact an effective way to get the donor familiarizing with the cause and getting interest. I am enjoying this course so far. very exiting to learn new things!!
Hello, I understand what you say but as said by Mr. Tom, the donors are most likely to receive intangible gifts . What I mean is that, most of the time the reward is simply and purely the satisfaction of taking part to something great. I also think that donating to a particular cause could help someone have some new friends who have the same field of interest.
You are most welcome to acquire a lot more knowledge from the course @Dydy.
@Dydy, your response is on point. Thanks for making it clearer for us all.
For long I believed in the myth that in fundraising, one person gives and another receives. I am more enlightened now, thanks
You are most welcome @Gadarthur05.
Honestly, I'm surprised to see that number one is a myth...
I've always thought that fundraising is only about cash.
Now I know better
You are not alone on this ooo
I've also had the same belief.
I'm glad I know the truth now.
I am glad you know better as of now @NKECHIEJIMOFOR.
I was surprised to learn that stories can be more important than statistics in catching a donors attention.
Well I think that the internet FRx offers more windows for networking that in-person FRx. With the increasing popularity of the Social Media I strongly believe that a FRer can easily and quickly reach out to many well-wisher (donors, supporters, funders) that can support his/her cause.
By this course I understand why the platform of Give.asia Vietnam is popular and get much fund? as the operation team tell the story of patients suffering their illness due to lack of money. Currently many media companies support small non-profit organization to fundraising by posting their stories' beneficiaries on website or social media.
I was surprised on myth 3 as I always focused on what the beneficiaries obtained from the fund granted by donors, and thought that to make donors be happy after donating. However the fact that donors not only receive respect but also good reputation in community.
Realizing you didn’t need to know rich people before you could raise funds for your Non profit. Help me a lot. It’s true the concentric circles thing, I wonder why I had not thought about it earlier
I have been extremely amazed when I learnt myth number 5. Because I was thinking that donors were interested to know statistics and facts or figures.
@Cody_Ochoa, yeah that is so right. It is also because humans are moved to act by emotions.
@elm, you aren't wrong in your assertion. Thanks for joining the discussion.
@NhaChauHeThanh, the reason being that emotionally stories have the capacity to move people to act towards a cause.
Thanks for the shared view on myth 3 @NhaChauHeThanh.
@deinsebobotamuno, you aren't the only one in that surprised state. It is a general observation which surprises everyone who had no knowledge of the myth prior to taking the course.
Well, there you go @BestTraining. Donors are more interested in beneficiary stories than statistics.
Wao looks great
I always have a myth that fundraising is about finding organization for fundraising however it can be done via random people though I am assessing how can be this done for an organization working in human rights area.
I was surprised on myth 3 as I always focused on what the beneficiaries obtained from the fund granted by donors, and thought that to make donors be happy after donating. However the fact that donors not only receive respect but also good reputation in community.
@Yoofiquansah said in Module 1 Discussion: The 7 Myths of Fundraising:
@NhaChauHeThanh, the reason being that emotionally stories have the capacity to move people to act towards a cause.
Thanks for your summary.
@Emmanuel_Shafquat, as explained by the myth you can start fundraising with the people closest to you first even before you look beyond that.
About Myth 2, I agree about not only rich people donate, but should a differentiated strategy be established for small donors and large donors?
Hi Eileen, I completely agree! I have been operating under the idea that its important the donor sees as much information and transparency with our project/mission as possible. Personally, I always want to see all the information to help me decide a project is vetted/ effective, so I did not consider it from an outside perspective. While info and transparency are important, it is incredibly true that people are most engaged in a topic of conversation when it is centered around their interests. Sometimes it feels like a bit of a challenge to me to approach donors to learn about their interests and then weave our organizations missions into those things, especially if they are different subjects! But it is a lesson in the art of communication, and as Tom Wolf stated, making the donor feel special.
myth #4, talking about the donors interests and letting the donor speak more rather than us talking about our goals and initiates may do the trick.
it is exiting to learn fundraising. i thought a donor is interested in what i do but i have learned new ideas here.
I had a little bit of knowledge so I was not surprised
I came into the course with the business mindset of numbers and statistics. so, it came as a pleasant surprise when I learnt that stories are a much more compelling fundraiser truth than stats.
I have learnt 7 myths associted with fundraising. After each point was explained I have gained a clearer picture about fundraising. Have appreciated the point that in fundraising they is a two tranaction both sides receives something and in is important to ask yourself what are giving for the support you are receiving. And fundraising needs you to build a network of supporters and compelling stories are equally important besides statistics and facts when it comes to winning donors.
So stories of beneficiaries are critical.
I was surprised to realise that there are myths about fundraising and I would also call them misunderstandings about fundraising. That once you have done training in fundraising then you then have the facts which clear up any misunderstandings
I am Charles: To large extent I believed that fundraising is all about knowing rich people but this course has changed my thinking and inspired me to identified very many potential donors to approach in future.
Hello I am Fabricio from Honduras most of the myths actually blow my mind to be honest I always picture fundraisng so different now I see it very different and more acessible
I was on the same spot with you now I see it so differently
Nothing really stood out.
Myth n. 5 surprised me since my previous experiences taught me that facts and numbers are crucial and that KPIs are the most important aspect to share with potential donors and stakeholders. This lesson taught me that empathy and emotional stories can create a stronger connection and they can also change the mission’s approach. I personally loved myth n. 3, the fact that you can contribute also with your time, your friendship, your personal skills. I really appreaciate the human side of the fundraising.
@csala, feeling this great about the course as a student gives us the best of feeling as a school. Thank you for the complement.
@nloli, please note that regardless of the strategy adopted the principles of the myths still stand. Hence you should have them in mind at all times when dealing with a potential donor/an existing donor.
Well done @CMN.
Not at all @nloli.
@aconroe, thanks so much for the awesome response you submitted.
@Israelgoodlife, I am glad you know better as of now.
@Duku77, such a summarized response to the collective myths. Thanks for joining the discussion.
Yes! @Duku77, stories of beneficiaries are very crucial to winning a donor.
Exactly the point @garveyharris. Once studied, the myths can transform anybody into knowing the truth.
I was most surprised at myth 4, because it seemed appropriate that you would tell the donor as much as possible about your organization and its cause.
In myth # 4, it is interesting to see Tom's response. In my previous meetings with donors or other potential influencers (I call donors as influencer), I used to elaborate everything to gain his/her confidence. But, this point gave me new thought. I apply the learned skill for sure.
I was surprised when I learned that donation is not only money but even time
I think it is a great module for us to learn .
I think it is a great module for us to learn .
@thihakaungset Great that you like this module. Which myth surprised you most then?
@OtienoOmondi Are you planning to ask for in-kind donation or volunteerism from your donors from now on?
@csala Great that you used the term "human side of fundraising". Hope that you have applied some human skills in your fundraising effort since the course. Meanwhile, feel free to take this related course you might find it useful: https://courses.philanthropyu.org/courses/course-v1:PhilanthropyU+Fundraising_201+13_2.4_20191223_ondemand/about
I was also, surprised to hear about myth Nr4, however I then realised how people are not eager to listen to the others. The course was really enlightening.
On a rational level, if I look at all 7 statements which represent the 7 myths, I know that they are incorrect. But subconsciously, I still feel some of them, especially number 2 and number 6. Number 2 I think it will clear by itself once I learn from experience that the truth is otherwise (I am currently at beginning of my fundraising journey, with no real-life experience). Number 6 is because we are a very small team, and everybody else is super busy with their own tasks and I am the only one assigned for fundraising. So currently, yeah, I am the "superstar", but the important thing is that now I know that this must change, so once I learn more I will find ways to involve others from my organization and from outside.
Thanks! I really enjoyed this module!
@mphanna68, thanks for sharing your response with us.
@Taimoor_Basharat, please do well to apply all the skills acquired from the course, and you would be glad you did.
@KaterinaM, thanks for the complement. I hope you appreciate the myths as of now.
You are most welcome @Lucian_C.
You're welcome.
The myth number 2 surprised. I was believing that to fundraise I needed to know rich people. So with this course the reality has changed my vision of fundraising. Thank you, Mr Tom!
You are most welcome @baruahadi.
Well, it's well understood that you done have to know rich people and organization before risen funds.
Certainly, it was a fascinating for me.
@Sharris, I am glad you have come to terms with the myths.
I was surprised about the essential elements of the effective donation letter should include the mission of the organization and about the specific needs .
The fundraising ideas such as to engage with family, friends
The seven myths of fundraising are quiet enriching and some of them serves to reinforce my previous beliefs. One point that stood out to me and which came as a real surprise is that of extending our fundraising solicitations even to those closer to us. All along i held the mistaken belief that its only the big names who far away from us to be approached.
I was most surprised to learn that myth 3 was not true because I thought people had a responsibility as humans to help others but one question I have about myth 3 is, what if you have nothing or you think you have nothing to offer them?
Myth 1 really did catch me of guard, I mean when ever hear about a fundraising campaign I immediately go to the conclusion that cash/money is the only thing that is being sought after. But this module really demystified and provided me with valuable knowledge regarding fundraising.
In this introduction about the multiple myths related to fundraising, I learned that it is not necessary to tell much about our organization as much as the importance of the stories that we always face through our work to provide assistance to the most vulnerable people and refugees and they affect us a lot, so what about these donors ,they are a human beings and they are affected just like us or more. Because they do not deal with them like us.
I have been most surprised by myth 4. "You should always try to tell a donor as much about your organization or project as possible". We indeed tend to think that to develop relationships with potential donors, we should value our own institution's qualities and assets, while as Tom says, the most important is to value our potential partner itself and how its activities would benefit from our project
I found out a long time ago just how useful a good story was, something to compel people to work with you both in fundraising and in general. The more friends, the wider net can be cast, the better your fundraising efforts can be. It's a virtuous cycle that pays dividends!
I know enough about Fundraising to be dangerous, so none of these were a surprise. I do appreciate how they were described with examples. Very helpful.
I know enough about Fundraising to be dangerous, so none of these were a surprise. I do appreciate how they were described with examples. Very helpful.
@Obikaviola, in most cases because we dwell so much on cash we tend to forget the essence of in-kind donations. Therefore, at any point in time there is something to be offered which can cater for a cause.
@ibnmohammedisah, I am impressed with the outcome of the knowledge acquired from your study of the myths.
@clugaz, what Tom seeks to make all learners realize is that by inquiring a lot about donors, you can find best means of channeling across your cause to him/her for a successful donation.
I am really glad to take this course and find more about fundraising. I did not know that a story can be much more important than the statistical results in the field of fundraising. I look forward to learn more!
I was quite surprised learning that stories are actually fundamental donor engagement perhaps even more than statistical presentations. Looks like I will be placing greater emphasis on compelling story telling
I was quite surprised learning that stories are actually fundamental donor engagement perhaps even more than statistical presentations. Looks like I will be placing greater emphasis on compelling story telling
It was surprising to realize the myth number 4; since I thought that the more information potential donors had about the organization or the project the better, but the reality is that it is better to focus on the aspects that interest them the most in order to capture their attention.
I was Surprised about myth number 6 which states that a fundraiser is an individual who works alone to succeed.
My opinion is that it takes two to tangle so when fundraising is done by many it is easier.
@ZtugceOz, yes! there is so much power in stories than there is in statistics and figures. I hope this stays with you for good.
You better do from now onwards @heavenboundpkay.
@Saavedrajairo2406, you captured it right in you conclusion statement.
@BEAUTTAH, please don't get the knowledge of the myth twisted. Contrary to your initial assertion, it seeks to make us know that it is a myth for anyone to assume that a fundraiser is an individual who works alone to succeed. In other words, team work is the uttermost way to achieve in fundraising.
I agree with you. We were always told that numbers matter. My question has been, why does it seem that we use the same statistics for over 10 years? With all funding that has been raised to address the problems, why are not often seeing the impact?
By the end of this module, you will master the words that donors and fundraiser use, understand the importance of having the proper designation/registration of your organization as non-commercial enterprise, understand how the type of funding a donor gives may impact how you can spend it, and determine whether your organization will be a good strategic fit for potential donor.
@Rachana-Cambodia, that is so much knowledge engulfed in a single course. I am glad you acknowledge its presence in the course.
@Matapa, thanks for contributing to the ensuing discussion.
The response to your first question is, most people aren't aware that dwelling on statistics during fundraising is a myth, therefore, its use for over 10 years.
Contrary to your second question, we may not be previewed to enough information to conclusively deduce that, we do not get to see the impact of the funds raised to address a cause. Granted that there is enough evidence to it, your question will effectively stand.
Myth #2 stood out to me the most. As we start our non-profit, the team is focused on the "deep pockets": wealthy individuals, corporations, businesses, etc. The idea being, the most amount of gain (donation) with the least amount of effort (not having to engage so many people) but now I can convey to them the fallacy in that approach.
Thank you so much for sharing comments and I am too glad that I can attend this course.
Hi. Even i was of the opinion that the donor needs to be aware about everything about the organization but now i understand that we should be a good listener and give him/ her information that will be of any interest to the donor.
I'm grateful that i learnt about the fundraising myth and i have corrected wrong notion about it.
I was surprised to learn that number 7 was a myth. I would have thought that the the tools and mechanisms of fundraising would have changed dramatically in the internet age.
Most Surprised about myth no 4 "You should always tell more about the organization" Listening to donor and correlating to the org work
You are absolutely right. Stories have a way of appealing to donors more than we think.