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@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.
@mokaro2000, thanks for understanding and accepting the knowledge of the myth.
You are most welcome @Rachana-Cambodia.
Rightly put @ayesha_malim.
@Dannytex, it feels great knowing this from you.
Yes! one is likely to think the way you do @mac4law, but upon acquiring the knowledge of the myth all that changes.
@Suman_Sen, getting surprised about the myth upon its realization is the first step to acquiring the right knowledge from the myths.
@AbrahamOmaleDaStoryteller, that is rightly said.
Thanks for the response @Miljana.
I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD NEED AS MANY STATISTICS AND FACTS AS POSSIBLE TO PRESENT TO THE DONORS. BUT NOW I KNOW I OUGHT TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO TELL ALSO
Its about listening to Donor and connecting your organization's Mission and Vision with the donors thought
Raising funds needs no rich and wealthy, you can reach people rich at heart
Internet can be really a quick source for crowd funding
Donor and not much interested in statistics, they are more interested in story
I was most surprised to learn that myth 1 was not true because I thought that fundraising is only about getting cash . also myth 2 i surprised because i thought that Raising money is all about knowing rich people.
kkkkkk same here always thought that cash is the master key in fundraising
I was most surprised to learn that myth 2 was not true because i always thought a great fundraiser is one who knows or have connections with the rich people not knowing that everyone around us and in our lives plays a vital role either in cash donations or inkind donations.
Storytelling as key to success!
No wonder most successful politicians are good storytellers.
I was most surprised about the fact that you do not have to tell a potential donor everything about your organization as fast as you can. That makes sense though: it would come over narcissistic if you only talked about yourself. By letting them talk about themselves they will be in a good mood and more likely to donate. Especially if they feel someone listens to them and cares about what they have to say. If we were to talk only about ourselves they could probably feel like they are being lectured and end up not giving anything. Some mind tricks there in other words :-)
That is for sure @AbundanceMolebatsi.
@felly, I am glad you know better as of now.
@vincent1996maart, thanks for your response.
I was most surprised to learn that myth 4 was not true because earlier I always used to tell people more and more about our organisation in order to male them potential donors but now I realised my mistake.
Myth #2: Raising money is all about knowing rich people. - This one is a complete eye opener for me. Changed my view and helped me breakthrough a misbelief.
The myth that most surprised me was myth number seven. It is very hard for me to believe that in-person fundraising and online fundraising can be so closely compared. It had always seemed to me that you would need very different methods and. honestly, personal characters to succeed at the two.
I believed in time past that i should largely tell my donor about my project and give them so much on the project . This training has made it obvious to me that i need to allow the donor tell me more about their needs
I was also surprised by myth #4. I have always thought that by giving the donor information about your organization you somehow impress them. I've learnt that you need to listen more to what the donor needs. Generally, all the myths were very insightful. Thanks, Tom.
I am delighted you do @MokshGrover.
@kilicerdem, that is awesome.
Exactly the point @crystalchigbu.
You are most welcome @Geoff2020.
I WAS ALSO SHOCKED TO SEE THE MYTH NO. 2 BECAUSE THIS WAS SOMETHING WHICH STOPPED ME FROM MY WHOLE INTO IT.
Myth 4 said let's donor know details about your project, this is very important because it will tell them the benefits or impact your project will have on the intended beneficiaries and will be an encouragement for them to participate in your good plans
Was shocked about how fundraising doesn't really care much for statistics facts. Always felt that donors would pay more attention to what can be scientifically assessed.
I thought as well, and I know realize it's also great to have storytelling skills, because, the way you go for it also matters.
Many points surprised me and I'm glad I can see things clearly now. I was a little bit slow to make my organization known because I thought I didn't have the perfect people around me.
It's not about people I know to get funds or what I need to get things change in my community!
Another great point is that everyone in my team is an asset in fundraising activities.
Finally, how to interact to find donors in internet, it's not different as if we were doing doing things in real life.
I was mostly surprised about myth 4. I always felt one should let out much information about what you do so as the donor will have the confidence that if he/she donates it will be used for the intended course. but then I understand Tom's argument on the importance of listening to the donor.
@alvinthomas-1, I hope the knowledge of the myth will impact your actions positively henceforth.
@Gbemigaoni, your response indicates you might have misconstrued the message carried by the myth. The myth rather encourages the fundraiser to enquire a lot about the donor, in order to deliver as expected by the latter. You can go back at your free time to listen again for clarification.
However, delivery of your cause to the donor is best done in the form of storytelling regarding beneficiaries.
@Romulus5, it is rather evident that storytelling has the utmost power to appeal to the emotions of donors to act in accordance with a cause. I am glad you know better as of now.
@Gertykem, you are right in your assertion.
Thanks for summarizing your view on the myths @Gertykem.
Voila!! @Nkemdilim, you got the knowledge of the myth clearly.
I am now more cleared about the seven (7) myths of fundraising. Thanks, for the explanations
I have learned quite a lot from this module. It put some things into perscpective for me. I believed that numbers were the top priority and discovered differently. It makes perfect sense that stories would be of great importance.
Also, I didn't think of fundraising as a transaction of give and receive. This was a pleasant eye opener for me.
For me the main risk is how to have access a comminication tools
You are most welcome @TITILOYE
@delise, we are honored to read your response.
I was comforted to know that fundraising is not just about knowing wealthy people, rather that fundraising can start much closer to home. Disproving this myth means that more people now know that fundraising can be done by anyone, regardless of connections.
I was most surprised to learn that myth 1 was not true because when I think of funds I think of cash, I think of cash donations, grants, etc. One question I have about myth 1 is how can you turn am in kind donation that is not valuable into something you can use, whether that adjusting needs or convincing donor for other kind of donation that is usable, which making them feel like you are rejecting what they have to offer.
Thank you for your response. I'm really learning alot. I'm thankful for this course.
I surprised to learn that myth 2: ''Raising money is all about knowing rich people''
I also think about how I can connect to rich people to raise funds and, that is Myth two. It's now clear to me that I can raise funds within my circle.
Given the categories of people or potential donors, I'm able to identify and, who are very close to me, I have learned how donors network Mapping can identify people I could not think of reaching out to help donate to my project if I had not taken this course
This course has been an eye-opener for me so far.
@jacnavo, in the first place it is wrong to turn down a donation which may not seem relevant to your cause. Although not relevant at the time, it may be of use to other causes for which you could also donate to. An outright rejection is, therefore a no go area in fundraising.
@Mamessy, can you please explain that which surprised you about the myth 2.
My pleasure and thank you as well
this myth really caught me off-guard too. I had always thought that I had to be connected to rich persons to get funds for a project
I found this module very interesting and refreshing. Truly, your network can be your networth and one really has to look inward, there are tremendous resources there.
@Facilitator I found that you have a very rich experience in different countries. We do have a very good storytelling course: https://courses.philanthropyu.org/courses/course-v1:PhilanthropyU+Storytelling_000+1_1.37_20191118_20191229/about Feel free to join.
@ChegeSimon @julietmyjewel I hope you have started to reach out to your networks if fundraising is needed for your organizations. That would be a very good experience for fundraising from outsiders at a later stage.
Yes, #2! The exercise demonstrated that we can work out from our networks to generate broader support and hopefully ultimately reach those with greater resources.
Thank you for demystifying the myths
@Nelson, Many thanks for the link to the Story Telling course. In fact, every course I have attended has hinted at the crucial role of story telling in bringing stakeholders on board.
The trouble is, when I'm telling a story I tend to get long winded by adding a lot of foot-notes, so I end up being boring. I therefore need to learn telling a story in a proper way.
In his new memoir, A Promised Land, former President Barack Obama describes how, after delivering one of his early presidential campaign speeches, he asked his top advisors, including Mr. David Axelrod, what they thought. He says they told him bluntly that his speech was ok for facts, figures, and all - only it hasn't won him any votes! So, from that moment, these senior advisors, who were established political consultants with several successful campaigns under their belts, went on to coach their novice charge in the DOs and DONTs of an effective campaign speech - and, as they say, the rest is history.
So, it seems story telling can be tought after all.
Thanks again for encouraging me to take this course.
Very well said @jillwuqu.
You are most welcome @julietmyjewel.
You are most welcome @Facilitator.
I had long believed that the rich do matter in fundraising but honestly this module opened me up to greater analysis and indepth study.
I'm surprising to know the 7 myths for fundraising
I have not been aware of all these myths. But then I always though donors need to know about the organisation inside out so that they can easily chip in to provide whatever kind of assistance. And again I believed Soo much in the power of figures( statistics) in influencing donor decisions. Thanks all these have been clarified articulately
So did I, prior to knowing about the 7 myths @tmadhlayo. I am glad we know better as of now.
Thanks for responding to the discussion @Okujja.
I have been improved a lot with this teaching! specifically the first myth that fundraising is about getting cash.
Surely here in Africa and probably in some other parts of the world the language of cash sounds more meaningful than other resources. We need to over come this mind set so as to think of other forms of funding that can also improve our organisations for example books, computers and other materials.
I was surprised to know the myth number 2 and 4 because mostly rich people do philanthropic or charity events and for myth 4, this has been a common perception that mostly the talking must be on the side of the NGO. Little did I know that it is more effective to leave the conversation to the donors.
Rightly said @KibirangoSolomon, thanks for contributing to the discussion.
Well you know now, and I am glad you have come to terms with the knowledge of the myths @ChezEbot.
i was shocked to realize that fundraising was not essential about cash. many times i did not pursue fundraising because i thought i should look for wealthy people with lots of money.
Very true
I was surprised and happy to learn that myth number 3 was not true. I presumed that in most cases, the receiver was solely the people receiving the support.. I didn't think about what donors get out of the partnership.
@Facilitator That's a very good sharing. Perhaps, storytelling is more of an art than science, though we can learn the skills. Wish you find the cue. And thank you for supporting our courses.
I found myth 3 really helpful - rather than simply asking for something, to place some emphasis on what the donor gets from the donation, how it meets their needs and desires.
The Myths did not really surprise me for the most part. But I feel that many people think of giving from a large pool of money. So the idea that knowing rich people or having a lot of money comes to mind when we think of Philanthropy. I was watching a YouTube video about Oprah and was reminded that she urged people to send in pennies and was able to raise a staggering amount of money. Thus showing the power that anything can add up., even from pennies.
@Emma_Kingdon, you have rightly captured the knowledge of the myth in your statement.
@averysherrodjr, I am glad you can attest to the knowledge of the myth with an empirical evidence.
All the myths are important, but the most important thing to highlight is to be listening to all the concerns, of the future donor, which is what is important for him, about what he wants to support and benefit and we will be his listener, his guide and above all else the most honest, transparent about our organization.
I was surprised about myth #4, I know you need to build relationships with your donor however I really thought you needed to tell them as much about your organization so they know why you are reaching out. Good to know!
some time its hard for me as in quiz the answers are different from the leson
But I once thought you need to tell the donors what want instead you should listen to the donors instruction
The myth regarding the way we should explore the organization's potentials and achievement vis-à-vis the sponsors' interests really impressed me, to the sense that we should, then, provide different approaches and projects (minimally individualized) to different sponsors. I hope we can further develop these reflections throughout the course.
Fundraising myth no.5 is particularly the mindset I've had for a long time now. I've realized otherwise today.
Thanks for your rich input @irmacuellar.
@eaj2710 for your information, you aren't the only one who found him/herself in that condition on encountering the myths for the first time. However, the most important thing is that you now know better and would be guided accordingly.