The Best Fundraising Lesson I’ve Learned

Early in my career, I wanted everything to be perfect.

Every email, every donor conversation,

every appeal—I obsessed over getting every detail just right before putting anything out into the world.

But here’s what I’ve learned: there’s no such thing as perfection in fundraising.

Fundraising isn’t black and white. The nuances that drive someone to give—their motivations, emotions, and timing—are always shifting. What works for one donor might not work for another. What resonated last year might fall flat today.

So instead of chasing some unattainable perfect campaign, you have to be willing to hone, test, and adjust—continually learning what speaks to your donors.

The first time you launch a new campaign, take a stab at a more emotional gift acknowledgment letter, or talk with a donor—you don’t have to be 100% graceful or eloquent. You just have to be authentic, vulnerable, and open to growth.

Fundraising is About Connection, Not Perfection

I still remember the first time I made a big donor ask. My voice cracked. I rambled. I probably said way too much.

But you know what? The donor still gave.

Because I wasn’t reading from a perfect script—I was having a real conversation. And that’s what donors respond to: genuine connection.

And then, I heard the highest compliment a fundraiser can get:

"You are so passionate about [cause here]."

I remember it so vividly because, at that moment, I realized—that’s what makes fundraising work. Not perfect phrasing. Not the “right” ask amount. But showing up with real passion, real belief, and a real willingness to connect.

Your Donors Will Show You What Works—If You Listen

💡 That heartfelt acknowledgment letter you’re overthinking? Send it and see what kind of response you get.💡 That email campaign you keep revising? Launch it and watch the open rates.💡 That donor meeting you’re nervous about? Have the conversation and pay attention to what sparks interest.

Fundraising isn’t about crafting a perfect appeal. It’s about creating opportunities for donors to say yes.

The Best Fundraisers Keep Testing and Learning

When I look back at my early fundraising work, some of it makes me cringe. Emails that could have been clearer. A few awkward donor calls. A thank-you note that now feels way too formal.

But fundraising isn’t something you ever “master” and move on from. It’s something you continuously refine.

Because the world shifts. Donors’ priorities evolve. And the best fundraisers? They don’t wait for perfection. They stay curious, keep learning, and adapt.