As I travel around the country working with clients, I always emphasize the importance of finding the right volunteer leaders for your fundraising endeavors. These are usually outgoing “ring leaders” whom others rally around. They have a huge impact on campaign success.
But lately I’ve realized that in my passion for strong leadership, I have neglected to talk about those quiet, shy
folks we walk past day after day. We tend to forget that, just because someone is less outgoing, it doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t be a great addition to our campaign.
A great fundraising volunteer needn’t necessarily be full of charisma.Other important qualities include a strong personal network, a passion for the mission, the ability to articulate the need and the ability to listen.
Some volunteers enjoy participating in a group; others are content to work alone. Some will enjoy public recognition; others will prefer a private word of thanks. Some volunteers are ready to make an ongoing time commitment to your organization; others only have a short burst of time to give.
So now I challenge myself and challenge you to look a bit further for those who may just be waiting for someone to ask them to help out. Often, people seek out our organizations because they need to belong. Asking someone to volunteer cements that connection to your cause.
Take a closer look – who’s in the corner, waiting to be asked?
