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October 27, 2008, 12:52 PM ET
Fund Raiser's 'Manifesto'
Sasha Dichter, a fund raiser, wants the world to know: “I’m sick of apologizing for being in charge of raising money.”
Mr. Dichter, director of business development for the Acumen Fund, a nonprofit group that provides loans to small businesses in developing countries, has posted on his blog a “manifesto” about the vital role fund raisers play in creating social change.
But despite the critical function, he asks himself, “Why are you so scared to ask people for money? Why do you feel afraid to say: ‘This problem is so important and so urgent that it is worth your time and your money to fix it. I’m devoting my whole life to fixing this problem. I’m asking you to devote some of your resources to my life’s work, too.’”
Fund raising can be daunting, he writes, because of the fear of rejection; too often the focus is on seeking dollars, when it is really about sharing a vision and developing a skill at telling inspiring stories; and in American society, wealth equals power and so conversations with the rich can be intimidating.
Ultimately, he suggests, the title “fund raiser” fails to describe the meaningful part he and his peers play.
As Mr. Dichter writes: “I’d rather be an evangelist, a storyteller, an educator, a translator, a table‐pounder, a guy on his soap box, a woman with a megaphone, a candidate for change.”
What do you think? What is your nonprofit manifesto?
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