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Are today’s fundraisers really itching for more best practices, expensive credentials and industry buzzwords? If they are anything like Jessica in upstate New York, I don’t think so. As I listened to Jessica share her story today, I heard an individual who wants the opportunity to show up as her authentic self; and she wants the same for her team. The way I see it, Jessica is part of an emerging generation of fundraising leaders who recognize that the donor rarely cares one iota about our assent to professionalism. They would much prefer we demonstrate that the cause matters as much to us as we know it matters to them.

For Jessica, fundraising as meaningful work has become an opportunity to share her story of overcoming adversity. Jessica’s story reminded me of my own challenges with a life-long seizure disorder. Despite the limitations this has created for me, it allowed me to relate to my major donors at the Epilepsy Foundation in very real and meaningful ways. What do you think; does adversity make for a better fundraiser? How do adverse experiences allow us to show up as fundraisers in unique and powerful ways that perhaps we have only begun to understand?

As always, we are grateful to our friends at CueBack for sponsoring The Fundraising Talent Podcast. And, if you’d like to know more about hosting the Responsive Fundraising Roadshow in your community, please reach out today.