The good fear

I'll say it: fundraising terrifies me.

The thought of talking to people about money is scary.  The act of doing so, even more.

It's also scary that I won't be up to the challenge, and that my failure will ruin or take away from a program that is important, even essential, for the health of kids and families.

And so I was interested to see this post on this topic from a great fundraising blogger, Steve Thomas.

Steve makes some great points - procrastination, timidity, risk avoidance and softening our message are very real risks, and things that I see myself engaging in some times.

Of course, fear is not fun - it makes my stomach hurt, my hands shaky and my words come out wrong.  It makes me uncertain and causes second-guessing.

At the same time it seems to me that fear is a healthy and normal reaction.  At my best moments, I recognize fear as a sign that something is important - that the thing I'm fearful about is something that matters.  What makes a difference, and where I see myself get in to trouble, is the way in which fear affects actions.

Perhaps if we can channel that fear - use it to ask for support, find resources, double-check our work and follow our best instincts (in other words, lean in to the fear) - we would all be better at what we do every day.  I know I would.

If we stop using fear as an excuse, but instead use it as a motivator, we might all be better at our work - whatever it is we do.

Why giving matters

I'm a fundraiser, and this is a blog that will be all about fundraising.  And so, for my first post, I had planned this long post about why fundraising matters; why it's changing the world, empowering people, building social agencies and making the world a better place.

And then I realized...

Fundraising doesn't matter.  Fundraising is a tool, a delivery method.  It is a way to connect people who want to give help to people and issues that need help.

What really matters is that people in a community rise up in support of issues and challenges that matter - research to cure or prevent diseases, care for kids and families that benefit, looking after our environment.  What really matters is that each of us chooses to step up and, in our own way, say "I will be part of this solution. I can do something about this".  In this way, our society is built up, strengthened; empowered to change itself.

Fundraising is one way to facilitate the generous support of individuals and groups for one another.  As a medium of delivery, I believe fundraising is an incredibly powerful tool.  It is not the only one, but done well (by empowering and building up donors and connecting people directly to the issues they are addressing) it is among the best.

And that is why I believe giving matters.  That is what I will be blogging about - exploring, speculating, digging in to - in this space.  Half of this blog is my perspective - that of a nonprofit professional, living in Calgary, born as part of the millennial generation.  The other half is from everywhere else - your comments and ideas, other blogs and books, and many many conversations.

Join me?