Читать книгу Achieving Excellence in Fundraising - Группа авторов - Страница 39

Philanthropy is stimulated by a vision for the future that improves on the present. Fundraising is the difficult work of engaging potential donors with an organization's vision for the future, its case for support, and its mission, goals, and objectives. The first statement is idealistic; the second, the view of a realist. Articulating a philosophy of fundraising will help each fundraiser soar, inspired by their own life experiences and philanthropic journey and uplifted by a compelling case for support. And, a philosophy, undergirded by guiding principles from the field, will provide grounding for carrying out the work, institutionalizing it, developing a culture of philanthropy, and deciding on the activities, approaches, and individuals to pursue to support the cause.

Fundraisers are called to become reflective practitioners prepared to critique their own work. To do so they must develop their philosophy of fundraising, one that evolves over time to remain relevant and to guide them through complexities of a changing world and field. Individual experiences, cultural traditions, a quest for justice, and consideration of organizational and social influences all contribute to a robust philosophy of fundraising.