A Short Story On… The Night Fundraising Wasn’t for Me

There is a lot of debate in the fundraising space about the overall impact of event-based fundraisers. We argue for hours over return on investment, community visibility, net/gross, staff investment, and event models. These debates are justified and needed.

For my part, this debate is one I have held internally throughout my professional career. In my estimation, fundraising events are time-consuming, costly public affairs that possess the ability to draw people nearer to your mission, and with the right mix of people in the room can raise serious money. I also wholeheartedly believe fundraising auctions, golf tournaments, and even runs/walks to be boring. I also believe our audiences are exhausted by the prospect of having to attend another event that feels photocopied by another organization.

With this in mind, I have a story to tell about the night fundraising wasn’t for me. For those of us who do this work professionally, I am hoping you can find some comfort in my pain. For those standing on the outside looking in, be gentle on fundraising professionals. We are doing the best we can!

I began my fundraising career in 2011 at Kent Youth and Family Services in Kent, Washington. I was new to the world of fundraising and new to the nonprofit sector. I joined an organization with a tried-and-true dinner…