• Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Nonprofit Career Academy
  • Contact us
  • My Account
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • 0Shopping Cart
DCS Robin L. Cabral, MA, CFRE | Development Consulting Solutions
  • About Robin
  • Products
    • Webinars
    • Board Development Group Mastermind Coaching
    • Templates
  • Resources
    • Blog
      • Board development
      • Campaigns
      • Donor relations
      • Grant Writing
      • Individual Giving
      • Major gifts
      • Online
      • Planning
      • Small shop fundraising
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
    • Videos
  • Speaking
    • Topics
    • Schedule
    • Testimonials
  • Community
  • Services
    • Coaching with Robin L. Cabral, MA CFRE, MFIA
    • Consulting
    • Speaking topics
    • Clients
    • Testimonials
  • Australia Office Services
    • Visit our Australian website
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Posts

Blog, Campaigns, Individual Giving, Major gifts, Planning, Resources for the professional, Small shop fundraising

Culture of place and how it impacts fundraising campaigns

There is so much science behind fund development. You can study it, take courses in it, and read books on it. Campaigns have become honed regarding best practices; there are easy steps to put into place, materials to be created, and people to be engaged.

The one thing that I have come to realize, though, is that one part of fundraising is science and the other is art. And, what is that other? Well as a regional consultant, one thing that I notice that makes a tremendous difference is the culture of place. That is why I firmly believe that consultants need to adopt the old “in residence” model. They need to live and breathe a community and get to know and vermontunderstand its nuances. Then and only then will a campaign be successful.

Currently, I have three different clients from three distinct geographic areas. One is for the Stamford area of Connecticut, one is from the Greater Providence area, and the other is from a rural village in Vermont. I could not stress the dichotomy between these clients and it all has to do with the culture of place.

In Connecticut, life is fast-paced and hectic. Projects move quickly. And, the population is so very significant that one tends to blend in with the community without being noticed. In Rhode Island, everyone knows everyone; it is the smallest state in the Union. There is a high degree of competition for funding from a limited donor pool, and people treat each other like family. It is all about who you know. In Vermont, very different. Life in a village is remote. The nearest store is 45 minutes away, sometimes up and over the mountain, you rely on and bond with your neighbor, and it is not about who you know, it is about what you know about those that you know.

Culture of place. If you don’t begin to understand it, you will not be successful. The culture of place is how fundraising art meets science, and the magic of campaign success happens. Ignore it and try to forge ahead without addressing or understanding, and your campaign is doomed to fail.

For those nonprofit organizations wanting to hire someone who works from a remote location and who will not commit to finding someone who can spend time “in residence” then think again. While all the degrees in the world, equate to know how it does equate to campaign success. An understanding of the culture of place does.

October 1, 2016/0 Comments/by hireacfre

Like DCS on Facebook

Latest Posts

  • How to Grow Online Donations for Your Nonprofit OrganizationJanuary 9, 2021 - 4:49 pm
  • How to follow-up with your donors this calendar year-endDecember 12, 2020 - 1:18 pm
  • Three Powerful Ways to Follow up Your Fundraising Letter in 2020November 28, 2020 - 10:53 am
  • Helping Your Board Be Fundraising Ambassadors this Holiday Giving SeasonTop Ten Tips to Help Your Board Be Fundraising Ambassadors this Holiday Giving SeasonNovember 13, 2020 - 9:27 pm

Newsletter

Fill out this form to sign up for our email newsletter

Contact

Development Consulting Solutions
New Bedford, MA
(508) 685-8899
rcabral@developmentconsultingsolutions.com
Join Our Community

Schedule Free Session

Schedule your first 30-minute complimentary session to see if we are a great fit!

Book Now

Quick Links

  • Visit us on Facebook
  • Visit us on Twitter
  • Visit us on LinkedIn

Join our Newsletter

Fill out this form to sign up for our email newsletter

© Copyright - Development Consulting Solutions | Privacy Policy
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
Scroll to top

Get my FREE Ebook on the Building Blocks for a Successful Case for Support

Sign up to get FREE instant access to this Ebook now.

Fill out this form to sign up for our email newsletter.