At a presentation about not-for-profit organizational effectiveness a presenter referred to fundraising as “creepy”. Everyone laughed…except me. 

The 30+ people in attendance included senior volunteers and administrators. When the presenter got to the part of the presentation about fundraising and the impacts of fundraising on the sector being discussed, the presenter acknowledged the significant dollars being raised as a result of fundraising, but used the term 'creepy' when speaking about the work required to ask for money.  The room burst out laughing as the individual joked off the comment.

Hey, everyone is allowed their opinion.  And many people I speak with say they could never do my job as they find asking other people for money difficult.  Uncomfortable.  Foreign.  I understand those comments too, as I could never be a Doctor (not a fan of blood) or a Pilot (not a fan of flying).

What I found disheartening from the comment was the fact that this individual could so easily diminish in their speech with one single word the hard work successfully done by an entire profession.  It was noted that the presenter gave numerous, similar speeches across the country. Was this person giving the same negative message that fundraising is creepy in every presentation?

With over 170,000 not-for-profits in Canada alone and growing, fundraising activities can be seen from coast to coast, from so many different types of people, and for so many different and important causes.  Not only is fundraising an opportunity to enhance and further an organization's mission and vision.  Sometimes fundraising is the key to an organization's survival, to make positive change in a community, region or for a cause around the world.

Here are some additional, quick facts about this important sector, as researched by Imagine Canada.  For more details, please check out Imagine Canada here:

Quick Facts about the Sector

• There are over 170,000 charitable and non-profit organizations in Canada. ¹
• 85,000 of these are registered charities (recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency).
• The charitable and non-profit sector contributes an average of 8.1% of total Canadian GDP, more than the retail trade industry and close to the value of the mining, oil and gas extraction industry ²
• Two million Canadians are employed in the charitable and non-profit sector ¹
• Over 13 million people volunteer for charities and non-profits.

Our work as professional Fundraisers is the same today it was hundreds of years ago when formal fundraising began.  When done right, fundraising work is systematic, focused, professional and respectful.  We are not aggressive sales people pushing a product on unsuspecting people.  We work as messengers and connectors.  We are partners with our program colleagues, directly executing on the organization's mission.  Our work focuses on their work. We are the people who help our colleagues highlight (and pay for) their successes so the important work can continue. 

So yes, Fundraisers proactively ask for money.  But in order to do that we first build effective, strong, passionate, long-lasting relationships with philanthropists of all giving levels.  We do that in order to deeply connect these individuals to our organizations. 

Fundraising is anything but “creepy”. 

Fundraising helps make the world a better place. We should all be very proud of that.

Hallie McClelland, CFRE is Director of Advancement at Kingsway College School in Etobicoke, where she leads the school’s fundraising, marketing/communications, alumni outreach and parent engagement programming.  Hallie has 22 years of fundraising and relationship management experience, having worked in social services, conservation, health care and education.