- Leadership is passionate about philanthropy and donors. Leaders know donors. They are actively cultivating and nurturing relationships. These leaders invest in fundraising, and especially in major gifts. They understand that cultivating a relationship with a donor takes time. Leaders do everything they can to reach out to others and invite them to support the organization.
- Leadership welcomes asking for support. Both the executive team and the board of directors actively give and get others to financially support the organization. They are not only trying to make sure the non-profit is running correctly; they look at themselves as true ambassadors of the mission. Leaders like this are constantly talking about what their organization does and why it’s so important to support it. Have you met either an executive director or board member who was so enthusiastic about their cause you couldn’t help but want to pull out your checkbook?
- The executive team reaches out to donors. They see the value in actively engaging donors in the problems and concerns of the non-profit because they know that as stakeholders they want to be part of the solution. Leaders who embrace a culture of philanthropy are open and honest about the good and the bad with donors. They don’t hide things.
- The entire Board of Directors gives financially to the organization. Good leadership also provides gentle peer pressure to all members of the board to give financially. But more importantly, a good board has this written in their handbook before anyone even becomes a board member. There is a training session for all new board members on the importance of philanthropy and how donors are part of the mission of the organization. The board is the development team’s greatest cheerleader, and they actively reach out to help promote the organization.
- When looking for a new leader, the job description of that position stresses that half of their time will be devoted to donors and philanthropy. Great organizations that have a culture of philanthropy will not hire anyone who doesn’t embrace or feel comfortable with reaching out to donors and asking for support. The board influences the executive team in this way, and the executive team builds a board with people who embrace it. They go hand-in-glove.