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This lesson has been an eye opener to me. I've of late developed some thought about myth 7 that it was true, but I've now learned that it isn't. But question about myth 7 is: what are some of the best ways to use the internet to boost your fundraising campaign?
The seventh myth about fundraising surprises me too. I thought that the TICS change the way to obtain fundraising, but I understood that the internet allowed sharing the information with more people around the world.
Great to have you on board. This course is a great eye opener for me. I have learnt quite a lot. I have a lot on my plate.
@sadiquewalker I believe the Internet will expose you to sources and organisations funding and also increase the number of people and organisations seeing the campaign.
I was not surprised by any of Tom's fundraising myths.
It is surprising that we are witnessing a great development in fundraising via the Internet, in this particular period after Covid 19
I see the point that Tom raises in Myth 7, but I would respectfully disagree. I understand entirely that fundraising is very much so about cultivating personal relationships with donors and grantmakers, but I think the manner in which this is done, especially in a post-COVID world, is likely very different than it was 20 years ago.
Many of the myths taught were things I was aware of before but I will admit the ONE myth that caught me off guard a little was myth 2. I appreciate how it was clarified.
Thanks for informing us about the myths.
Very surprised by the myths. Tell a story and connect with the donor.
Myth #6 (A great fundraiser is an individual superstar) surprised me more, even though I've been involved in many meetings with donors at various stages of the relationship, because several NGOs I've worked for and collaborated with have a person with the word "fundraising" in their job title. The assumption is they are the one leading the effort and the one to get most of the credit.
The one myth that surprised me the most is number 3. Fundraising can be both ways and even make alliances to exchange needs depending on the necessities one needs to complete
I had always assumed that giving as much information about the organization as possible was of utmost importance. So I was surprised to see that this was in fact Myth #4. I felt like #5 & #4 went hand in hand... now I realize that facts, statistics and all the other information may be an overload! Yikes!
The lecture on myths is very helpful on foundations of fundraising
Fundraising is a huge world to understand, but with this myths and truths I have a more clear idea, and it shows how easy is to reach donors if you look in the correct place, because you could raise with persons or acquaintices that you didnt expect.
One myth that really made me change my view completely is ,"You should always try to tell a donor as much about your organization or project as possible". Previously I considered projecting my organization and its cause more. But now I got the real idea that we have to engage the donor through interest conversation linked to their interests and likes and have to create linkage between it and our organization's vision and mission.
Yes exactly that is the same with me. So, how do you think changing this myth into truth can lead to positive outcome for you.
For my part, I speak in relation to myth n ° 1 and n ° 2
For Myth 1, fundraising is about getting money.
There may be cases where the fundraising will be used to have money at the end.
Myth # 2 is: To raise money is to know the rich.
Knowing the rich is an asset because it can allow you to have money very quickly
Fundraising is an area with so much task and decision making, it is an area that needs to have a committed group so all of the objective can be completed, one person can't do it all.
I was very surprised that I shouldn't tell everything about my foundation or my social project, because I always thought it was the first thing I should do, but I learned a lot and it makes perfect sense.
My main question is, how can I reach a donor without having anything to offer? What should those tactics be?
Same! But I over the years, things have been different.
Myth one stood out the most for me. I have always known that you can receive gifts instead of cash but I liked how Tom expounded on that point. A reminder to be careful about accepting gifts that will not be helpful or gifts that will cost us to translate them to cash.
I was surprised when I heard the true that don't have to to tell my donor always about my organization
But how can my potential donor know and get convinced of what am doing if I don't tell him or her?
I completely agree!
I agree, I learned a lot about Myth 2!
I was most surprised about myth 4. Immediately thinking that donors would want as much information about my organization as possible. However, it was nice to realize the human side of donors. People like to talk about themselves and this is definitely a good tool to use in gaining support for my cause.
This module exposed me to the knowledge of in-kind.
The seven myth was a surprise to me. All along I have been doing the contrally and spend a lot energy for nothing. Therefore I have known the reason why It has taken me so long to win an donor. Hope after this course thing are going to work out better.
The I have been looking for rich people has been too much and ignore the poor little did I know that they are also donors!. Every surprising and laughable for me.
Surely it has killed my pride and improved the love for every one. It taught me that everyone is important when your doing something.
After learning I regret the the energy I have been spending, laboring to explain too much details of my organization.
Myths No. 4 & 5 are new knowledge to me
I completely agree. I always figured that you had to give donors the full run down of your organization before they would be able to make any decision. It makes so much sense to let them lead the conversation to discover exactly where their interests lie so you can focus on that.
I agree. I also did think that the more a donor knew, the better they could make a decision to support or not. Interesting how it was broken down to how to do the research on the donor first and have a conversation where the donor speaks and you lead them to points of connection with the support you are looking for.
Myth number 4 just removed too much ambiguity in my head because I thought that overwhelming donors with too many reports was enough while listening to them is also necessary
Myth 4 that you should always try to tell a donor as much about your organization/ project as possible surprised me, because I have always thought that it is important to impress the donor with the work that my organization is doing and the best way to do that is to talk more.
Truly myth 2 shocked me. I had a conversation with a friend recently and i told her how important it was to know rich people who can fund a project. Obviously I was talking based on a myth. Now my eyes are opened to the potentials around me and the importance of one person who may know another one person.
Myth 4 is a lesson I personally intend to take to heart. I will do more of listening from now.
I am surprised with myth number 2 and 4. All along I have thought that to be successful and getting funds is through connection with the rich people and sharing more information about the organization and the project you doing. I would actually do more of talking. It's good that I am doing this course.
Myth 4 that you should always try to tell a donor as much about your organization or project as possible, surprised me, because I always thought that meetings with donors should be focused as much as possible about talking about my organization.
i could not imagine that number 4 is a myth. i thought it was important for me to organise my self as i plan to meet any doner and give them as much as i can about the work we do. basically i thought its about me doing the talking and they have to listen. am happy that i now understand how wrong i was
Myth Number 2. I thought raising funds is impossible if you don't have connections with rich people especially those from overseas.
As someone who works in the non-profit world, I was surprised to learn that donors don't necessarily want to hear SO much info about your organization. It makes sense, from a social standpoint, that they would respond well to hearing about how the organization can benefit them/apply to their own lives.
I had thought that it was important to tell donors as much as possible about your organization (#4) but now I understand that listening to donors is more important.
I was thrilled about not forthcoming about project or organisational details to the donor, its great i learnt that you can not be all out about your organisation to the donor.
Just learnt about these myths. Most of the time we hold on to these myths and make them facts.
I was most surprised to learn that myth 4 was not true because I thought you always needed to be totally transparent & detailed about your organization. I am glad to have learned this myth & how it is important to lead the conversation in the direction of common interests.
Yes! Very good knowledge to have.
Myth 3 surprised me because i was meant to believe that you need to know rich people who can give to your worthy course. Now i have more understanding that i start with those around me and their willingness to support will prompt them to share with their families, friends and acquaintances helping to spread the word.
I was most surprised to learn that Myth 4&5 where not true. I had always thought statistics was an indication that you knew so much about the problem you are trying to solve. I also thought the donors should be interested in my organization as much as the project.
I honestly thought same too till I took this course.
I too looked at the bottom line when fundraising but have since connected that the relationships that are formed throughout campaigns is truly what matters and in the end, brings success overall.
They myth that say both parties receive surprised me because I did not value partnerships, time and other.
So do I bro! I had long believed that, in fundraising one person or groups are donator/giver when the other is receivers and I had never thought that there's transaction concept in "fundraising". Thanks for enlightening.
I was most surprised to learn that myth 3 was not true because principally in fundraising the concept of financial transaction would apply in some or other form. One question I have about myth 3 is that what and how could charity give something in exchanges of fund apart from some abstract things mentioned in the lesson.
the myth 6 was a surprise to me, but I recognize the power of being a star in this process
Particularly I knew about myth #2 yet I found it very hard to think about sources of funding. The assignment was an eye-opener for me. That I know so many people who can help me get me funding. And that initially it's not necessary to know personaly some rich people or people from vc.
Absolutely! I need to expand my range of thinking to include in-kind donations, donations of time, food, etc. I had definitely been focusing on money.
Agreed. I was under the impression that telling potential donors everything about us was the right way to go, but it makes sense to let the donor talk, find out what they're interested in, and find a way to make a connection.
Yes! I get nervous thinking about how I don't know many people with a lot of money, but it was helpful to realize that a bunch of people donating smaller amounts makes a huge difference, too.
This was a great module to start with. Being fairly new to fundraising I had not heard of these myths before. I was surprised with Myth #3 being on the data I thought this myth to be true.
I was most surprised by Myth 4 since I always thought that telling a lot about one's self was an effective way to connect to people. But now that I have heard the explanation, it really makes sense that this is not always the case.
Hi @AlexaDodd, we are glad you now know better after completing this module. Do well to impart the knowledge wherever you go.
@anisavrenozi, thanks for acknowledging the wisdom in sharing beneficiary stories in fundraising than saying so much about ones' self.
I was real suprised and enlighted after learn about no 2 now i know better
I was real suprised and enlighted after learn about no 2 now i know better
I was real suprised and enlighted after learn about no 2 now i know better
I was most suprised to learn that myth 4 was not true because I thought donors would want to know as much about our cause and the work we do in order to donate. I can now see and understand the importance of listening to your donor and connecting your work to the things that matter most to them. I am curious how you know when to stop asking questions and listening to the potential donor and tie the conversation back to your work.
i think the course its wonderfulli think the good course
i think the course its wonderfulli think the good course
I was surprised when listening that you shouldn't tell a donor as much as possible about your organization or project. I do believe that people enjoy talking about themselves so this makes complete sense.
I found the myths very interesting as they reflected my thoughts to a large degree. The one that caught me most off-guard was #4 - telling all you know about your organization. Instead, I learned its more about listening. I've always known that people love to talk about things they love....themselves, their interests, etc., So it makes perfect since now.
Hello!
I knew about myths 1 and 6. But the rest of the myths were eye-opening to me. Now I know that it is important to listen to the donor and his interests, have a compelling story to tell, you should start fundraising with people around you and build up, you still have to contact and convince the donors to donate and that as an Organization, you also have something valuable to offer the donor.
the myth about one person receiving and the other giving was enlightening to me. i also learnt to listen when a potential donor is speaking and get learning points
Being careful to only accept in kind donations that are useful to your cause.
This model has opened my eyes on fundraising,previously I had thoughts as identified in the seven myths,but now I see it is possible to start fundraising at my surrounding community.
I was surprised by myth number 5 because I always thought that results is what only matters. I agree that telling stories are crucial to attain the donors, it is very effective.
Myth No.6 is not a surprise, I have found tha the best fundraisers are ususally people passionate with the cause.
True talk
6 Myth .is a natural fact
Being involved in writing proposals for external donor funding from the beginning of my career, I always thought fundraising is all about rasing cash for philanthropic and conservation work. It's the first of the seven fundraising myths,
I thought that I need to feed a Donor with all my details to projects to get funds, but this module gave other good side. And also I had no Idea about the Kind donation, now I am aware of
Myth 4 was surprising to me because, Most times when we recieve donors, we conecentrate to show our best side and our best color and probably hardly give them time to share and discuss more about themsleves.
Yes. basics remains the same
As a beginner in fundraising , the myth that surprised my a lot is the first one, for my background, only fund is about money , I appreciate the effort for this module
Myth no. 5.
I assumed that numbers and stats would be more convincing for donors and would be information that has the power to gather more resources while fundraising especially. But, yes, stories of impact/change/ hope will be more effective in communicating the cause to potential donors. It might also lead to getting resources that we may not have mapped, but which may turn out to be lucrative.
For me the most surprising myth was that internet has not changed the fundraising methods much . I thought it made much easier as the access for new circles of funders much faster.
Yah ,but it requires a team work to showcase the stories in an attractive way , and not compromising the story owners.
After listening to Tom Wolf's podcast , many myths regarding the concept of fund raising got demystified . Thank you very much
I was surprised to learn that I can fundraise among people I know and relate with.
My question is how do I change my thinking that my network can support me in my fundraising for a cause I consider important.
This step-by-step instructions is perfect: Planning and strategizing, identifying prospects, following up and courting donors, designing compelling materials, keeping your website up to date, collecting stories, record keeping, reporting, servicing donors, acknowledging gifts.
All along i knew that in fundraising only one party benefits and that its only the rich like bill gates who do fundraise. but this course has enlighted me alot.
I was surprised to learn about myth 2 because I thought fundraising is about knowing rich people but am now very grateful about the knowledge I have acquired thank you
I was most surprised to learn that myth 2 was not true because how can normal people be main donor One question I have about myth 7 is how can the donor trust internet fundraising ?
Myth number 7. I thought that in the presence of the internet it is considered the number one source of fundraising.
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Having been involved in donor engagement for almost 13 years, I am not surprised by any of the notions that corrected the myths. However, the one that stood out was not to tell the potential too much about your organization and its mission, etc., but rather, listen to them and get to know what their ideals, etc. are. I agree with this wholeheartedly. Identifying the right donor is critical to ensure that your goals align. You will be wasting your time to apply for a grant or loan that, not only you don't qualify for, but they may require you, or you may be obligated to do something that doesn't align with your beliefs or mission.
I was surprised at two of these myths being myths.
The fact that you are not supposed to tell your donors as much as possible about your organization. I thought that the more you kept them in the loop and the more that you tell them, the more likely they are to donate more. I thought they wanted to be in the loop, so to speak. But it makes sense that people like to talk about themselves and you don't have to tell them everything.
Also it surprised me that facts and statistics are not the only things that matter. In the nonprofit sector, I am so used to having to record and report every service we provide, and report on how many of what service and how many people were helped. But I guess this really only matters for grant purposes. For private donors, it makes sense that people want to hear the stories of how their contributions are making a difference, and see faces of those they have helped.
I was surprised when I realised statistics shouldn't be the only we share in a proposal.
I would like to focus on myth #4- not over sharing and talking about the organization but rather actively listening to what is important for the donor.