By Beth Krumm, MEd, Senior Consultant

Anyone who knows me well knows I am a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan. Honestly, I’ve been talking about them playing in the Super Bowl for weeks now. So when quarterback Patrick Mahomes went down with a concussion in last Sunday night’s game against the Cleveland Browns, my confidence in their reaching the Super Bowl decreased dramatically. I held my breath through seemingly every snap. The game plan was built around Mahomes – his ability to evade defenders, to see the entire field and find a receiver, to use his feet to gain the yards needed for a first down.
 
When Chad Henne came in as quarterback, it would have been easy to groan, give up, and say, “Well, I guess this is as far as we’re going to go this year.” Instead, Coach Andy Reid kept to his game plan, made a few adjustments, and the Chiefs will now be playing the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game next weekend.
 
Fundraising can sometimes feel the same way. The annual fund mailing performed better than expected…your mid-level giving program grew by a decent percentage. You’re feeling good about how the year will end. But then the event that you relied on for a significant portion of your revenue had to be switched to a virtual event and didn’t raise what you projected. Or perhaps the donor you thought was going to make a major gift let you know it wasn’t going to come in this fiscal year.
 
You may be inclined to throw up your hands and be thankful that you raised what you’ve raised. But now is the time to stay the course, stick to your game plan, make necessary and immediate adjustments, and relentlessly pursue your goal as a team. It isn’t over until the clock hits 0:00.
 
As Patrick Mahomes tweeted following the Chiefs win, #HenneThingIsPossible. Go Chiefs! Go Fundraisers! Go Board Members! Go Senior Leadership! YOU can do this!
 
Need expert fundraising guidance? Contact Let’s Build Hope today: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com.
 
#LBH #LetsBuildHope #StayTheCourse #StickToYourGamePlan!

By Sarah Melinger, Senior Consultant

Often in our roles as consultants we are asked, “What does fundraising beyond Covid-19 look like…what can we expect?” To determine what this meant to me I thought I should start by looking up the definition of the word “beyond.” The definition reads as follows:
 
Beyond – at or to the further side of; happening or continuing after.
 
I think “beyond” is entirely appropriate in this case. We are beginning to see hope of being on the other side of Covid-19 – and fundraising is still occurring and will continue as we move forward.
 
The questions continue to be, “How will we continue to approach this challenge? And can we turn it into an opportunity?”
 
What this time has reinforced for me is the need for sincere connection. In the past I perhaps did not treasure that casual interaction at the grocery store or the chance meeting at the post office. And I certainly took for granted dinners with my family and friends. Now, I value each opportunity to interact with someone – whether a close friend or a stranger…a donor or a client.
 
There are days when I am the cheerleader…and there are days when I need cheering on. I am ever so grateful to have connections in my life that allow me to be the giver and the recipient of support.
 
As I look ahead, not into some crystal ball but into my heart, I think that successful fundraising beyond covid-19 will continue to focus on the need for and appreciation of true connections with one another. That just may be the tide that carries us as we overcome the challenges and embrace the opportunities that await us…beyond COVID-19.
 
If you crave a sincere connection or need someone to be your cheerleader, call Let’s Build Hope: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com.
 
#LBH #LetsBuildHope #FundraisingBeyondCovid19 #SincereConnection #MovingForward #CheeringYouOn!