Robert Fulghum’s bestselling book, All I really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, is close to 40 years old and is still as relevant as it was when it was written. Many of the credos below, which I’ve taken directly from Fulghum’s book, can be applied to fundraising.
As the fall fundraising season gears into full swing, I thought it would be appropriate to write this fun and simple — yet important — post.
7 Kindergarten Lessons Applied to Fundraising
Here are some lessons you learned in kindergarten which can be applied directly to your fundraising work. Do your best to keep these in mind, especially on your rougher days.
1. Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
Taking donors from one organization to another is a big no-no in our field. It’s considered highly unethical. Your donors and relationships with those donors belong to your organization — not to you personally.
So when the time comes for you to move from one organization to the next, be respectful and exercise restraint. Never take your donors (or their files) with you.
2. Clean up after yourself.
I’m interpreting this to mean making sure you leave clean files / data and records for those fundraisers who follow in your footsteps. Don’t leave a mess for the next person who sits at your desk and fills your role.
Instead, think of the clarity of data you’d want when you begin a new fundraising job and strive to keep your files accordingly. After all, we’re all on the same team.
3. Take naps every day.
Let me reinterpret this to mean, take breaks.
It goes without saying that fundraising is stressful. Without daily breaks and occasional vacations, you’re more likely to burn out. Whether it’s an actual nap or a walk around the block, do something to rejuvenate your mind and body on a regular basis.
4. Don’t hit people.
Not to be taken literally, but figuratively — no YELLING! (I.e., don’t hit people verbally.)
Let’s just say I’ve witnessed a boss and a few board members who got a little too hot under the collar. No one likes a hitter or a screamer. Avoid losing your temper, no matter how angry you become. We’re all here trying our best to make the world a better place.
5. Play nicely and share with others.
We learned as children to be kind and share our toys. As adults, playing nicely and sharing roughly translates to the idea of being generous with your time and words. Thoughtfulness towards others will take you far in this world.
6. Say you’re sorry.
If you hurt someone’s feelings or make a mistake, say you’re sorry. Full stop. This is true for children and even more so for adults. When you make a mistake, a sincere and authentic apology can go a long way in making amends.
7. Say “yes, please” and “no, thank you.”
Being polite is good manners, plain and simple. However, as fundraisers, we often have a hard time saying no. Remember, it’s okay to say no if you are polite when you do so.
Some Lessons Are Easier Said Than Done
Hopefully you apply all the things you learned in kindergarten to your fundraising, as well as to your everyday life. However, some are easier said than done.
When work gets tense and stressful, it’s not always easy to play nice. Tensions rise and tempers flare. Sometimes, you’re just downright exhausted.
Better Fundraising and a Better You
And we all have those days when we wake up on the wrong side of the bed and can’t quite muster the spirit necessary to be exceptionally kind or generous. On those days especially, you might benefit from my 31 Rules for Better Fundraising and a Better You — I encourage you to freely download that eBook here.
I hope these reminders help to get you grounded for the day. None of these are revolutionary — rather, they’re all quite basic. Still, each one of these lessons is truly foundational toward building healthy relationships and success in your development shop.
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