6 savvy tips for fundraisers to thrive in contemporary philanthropy

In today’s fast-evolving philanthropic landscape, fundraisers must be agile, innovative and look beyond traditional funding relationships to maximise their impact.

The days of philanthropic giving being in the hands of a few wealthy individuals are over. Now, people with moderate means are also getting involved in contemporary philanthropy, seeking out and building lasting relationships with the organisations they care about.

This is an important shift in the landscape for not-for-profit organisations, with challenges and opportunities to step up and be visible for all funders, and emphasise their critical role in working with funders at all scales to shape a better world. With this in mind, here are six tips from Savvy Giving author Genevieve Timmons to help you maximise your fundraising efforts.

1. Know your value in the ecosystem

Not-for-profits and fundraising professionals are value creators in the philanthropic ecosystem. As a value creator, your role is pivotal in bringing money to life by connecting it with work that drives real impact. Be bold in asserting your value.

2. Look beyond traditional funders

Philanthropy is no longer confined to a small group of high-net-worth individuals. There are countless players from grassroots supporters to corporate donors, plus their advisors and support staff, influencing how and where philanthropic dollars flow. The more diverse your funder base, and your knowledge of accessible infrastructure, the more resilient your fundraising efforts will be.

3. Balance value and detail in your message

When engaging with funders, ideal messages to resonate with what they are looking for include a balance of values alignment and practical information, plus the creativity of your work and a commitment to learning as you go. Covering these four critical components will be sure to match funder expectations.

4. Foster learning and collaboration

See your role as learning together with funders. Wherever possible, share evidence and lessons learned together. Make it clear to funders that you are committed to shared learning as funded work progresses. Find ways to build in learning loops as appropriate, capturing insights from all involved. Keep an open mind: ‘we don’t know what we don’t know’.

5. Build efficient, trust-based relationships

Take the lead in lightening the ‘funding burden’ – the cost of time involved in seeking funds and reporting on grants. Funders are increasingly aware of how this burden gets in the way of outcomes and impact, and are looking to build efficient, trust-based relationships where philanthropic dollars are generating their best return. Wherever possible, promote light-touch relationships as the ideal for everyone involved. This includes encouraging and presenting simple proposals, grant agreements and reporting formats, and putting priority on face-to-face relationships with no surprises.

6. Embrace emerging ideas

Lean into new conversations and emerging ideas. Illustrate how contemporary thinking informs your work, e.g., the funding burden, Pay What It Takes, lived experience, self-determination, community-led and place-based approaches, systems change and more. Wherever appropriate, link your work to these ideas and illustrate how they are related as a core part of your narrative.

With these savvy tips in your toolbox, you’ll be better equipped to capture opportunities and navigate the complexities of contemporary fundraising. It’s all about knowing and showcasing your value, forming strong relationships built on trust and efficiency, and staying ahead of the curve by applying contemporary thinking to your work.

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