What do you do if your innovative fundraising techniques are met with resistance?

1. Approach resistance with an open mind and a willingness to listen. 2. Allow others to express their concerns and objections fully, without interruption. 3. Actively listen to understand their perspectives, not just to respond. a. Pay attention to verbal and non-verbal cues. b. Ask clarifying questions to ensure comprehension. 4. Demonstrate respect for their opinions, even if you disagree. 5. Gain valuable insights into underlying reasons for resistance. 6. Build trust by showing that you value their input. 7. With trust established, create a collaborative environment. 8. Encourage open and constructive discussions about your ideas. 9. Leverage the insights gained to address concerns more effectively.

I also believe it's important to build consensus, listen and to address any fears directly. Innovation needs to also be scaled so piloting a new fundraising idea or campaign is always key to it's success.

A technique I have used is to listen to others ideas and fears before engaging in a discussion on innovative fundraising. You have to be clear that innovation always involves the risk of failing. Ask for support and adapt strategies while maintaining the core idea on how to innovate. It is not so much about “educating others “. It is more about acknowledging and sharing the risks, provide evidence of how and when these strategies have succeeded in other context. And most importantly: Accept that you do not have all the answers and invite others to co-create.

So often I hear that in the fundraising space. Change is hard for staff, for boards, for volunteers. However, I always ask those who raise the defenses of not wanting to think outside the box, what would happen if the lid on that box closed? And there was nothing left in the coffers? If you at least try something new, you can refine the process(es) and improve. But if you don't try, you will never know. Trying could be the difference between success and not.

First understand the concerns and perspectives of those resistant. Then, adapt the approach, addressing any valid concerns while highlighting the potential benefits and outcomes of the innovation. Finally, engage stakeholders in open dialogue, emphasizing the importance of innovation in achieving fundraising goals and creating positive impact.

Getting others to understand a new or different method of fundraising might take a little extra preparation. Gathering market research and data from other organizations who may have used the same or similar fundraiser can set a basis for your efforts to educate with real-world examples showing results.

Focus on the needs/gains of the funder/ organization …. View Steve Blanks work with customer/partner discovery.. it’s all about “them” not you!

Education - is also incorporating the messages and concerns shared during the listening process, into the education process. Finding a balance is the key, and listening is important. But if you’re only listening to move forward on the idea that you have constructed, is it listening? It’s important that stakeholders feel like they have a voice in this equation. Balance is harmony!

Education can be a great way to bring change to an organization or system. I believe that if a new method would like to be implemented it’s important to cite where this idea / information came from. For example, if another organization tried a new technique, share that to provide more confidence that new ideas can work!

1. After listening, gently educate about the benefits of your innovative fundraising techniques. 2. Use clear, relatable examples to illustrate the potential advantages. 3. Tie the examples to your organization's goals and past successes. 4. Highlight how innovation can lead to increased donor engagement and funding. 5. Avoid dismissing or discrediting traditional methods that have previously worked well. 6. Strike a balance between respecting tradition and embracing progress. 7. Acknowledge the organization's history while making a case for evolution. 8. Address specific concerns and objections with patience and understanding. 9. Emphasize how innovation complements rather than replaces established practices.

When facing resistance to innovative fundraising techniques, pilot testing can be crucial. Use tools like Google Optimize for A/B testing landing pages and Hotjar for user behavior analysis. Gather data and iterate based on feedback. Remember, persistence often pays off in innovation.

Pilot groups are a great way to gain buy-in and test the process. Plus - they become your champions and can help drive the change across the full team.

1. Propose a pilot test to showcase your innovative fundraising idea in action. 2. Start with a smaller, controlled test before committing to a full roll-out. 3. Allow skeptics to witness the concept's potential firsthand. 4. Provide tangible, measurable results to evaluate the idea's effectiveness. 5. Reduce perceived risk by containing the test to a manageable scope. 6. If successful, the pilot can lead to broader support and buy-in. 7. Use the pilot as an opportunity to refine the technique. 8. Gather real-world feedback to identify areas for improvement. 9. Iterate and optimize the approach before launching on a larger scale. 10. Demonstrate a data-driven, iterative approach to introducing innovation.

The gold standard pilot test is an A/B test with your own donor file, but some organizations may not be big enough (or willing) to fund a large enough test to get statistically significant results. This is why networking with other fundraising professionals (or working with a consultant) can be so important so you can share case studies of what has or hasn't worked for similar organizations.

In addition to calming the nerves of resisters, you have an opportunity to compare your pilot results with those of past strategies (when you have access to the data, of course). Note differences in strategy, tactics and the culture of giving when comparing to ensure a holistic representation of the past, present and potential. “Where we came from. Where we’re going. And the potential we could achieve.”

Find a board champion and engage sympathetic coworkers. Ask them: "What would be possible if we could raise XX more money? We have to innovate in order to fight natural donor attrition and to raise more money. Similar tests for other organizations yielded XX..." etc.

Innovation will always be met with resistance. Take the time to soft sound and pilot ideas with your stakeholders. Encourage feedback and have mechanisms in place to synthesize that feedback and incorporate it into your launch.

Envision support-gathering as planting seeds in a garden, where nurturing relationships today can bloom into a vibrant network of advocates tomorrow.

When a nonprofit's board members expressed skepticism about our proposed fundraising strategies, we knew we needed to involve them in the process. We invited them to a collaborative workshop where we shared our vision and sought their input. By actively listening to their concerns and ideas, we were able to refine our approach and gain their buy-in. The result was a unified team excited about the potential of innovative fundraising and committed to making it a success.

One thing I find helpful is understanding and acknowledging people's fears and interests and being open and transparent about my interests and fears too. People will respond positively if you make an effort to address their fears and self-interests while building bridges between them and yourself. This helps create a convergence of interests and builds consensus amongst teams and stakeholders thereby reducing or even eliminating resistance.

Acknowledge the fear that your donor or investor may be having. And then shift the conversation from fear to possibility, with the understanding that fear gets in the way of impact. If we let fear control our decisions, we might miss opportunities. Instead of focusing on what could go wrong, we should shift the conversation to what could go right. What if that donation helps feed hungry children or provides education to those who need it most? What if that investment leads to breakthroughs in technology that could change the world? By shifting our focus from fear to the possibilities, we can see the true impact our actions can have.

Discovering the reason behind the resistance is crucial to finding solutions that can address their resistance, which can often be attributable to 'fear'. You should ask those who are resisting 'why', which would then lead to possible solution/s. Have they been consulted? Have they had any input in this innovative idea? Perhaps they have a better idea? Or can explain why they don't agree with it? What are their concerns? Lack of ownership can be a good reason for resistance.

Utilising Technology to Improve Efficiency: Many fundraising tasks can be made more efficient with the help of technology. Use cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms to manage donor relationships and monitor progress. Take advantage of online fundraising platforms or project management tools to work with your team and keep track of tasks effectively. This will enable you to concentrate your time and effort on building relationships and engaging in strategic activities that directly contribute to achieving fundraising goals.

Transform fear into curiosity by engaging in open dialogues, creating a safe space where concerns are not only heard but are essential building blocks for trust.

When a skeptical client questioned the viability of our innovative fundraising strategies, we knew we needed to show them what was possible. We shared stories of other nonprofits in their sector that had achieved incredible results using similar techniques. By highlighting these success stories and the specific tactics that drove their achievements, we helped our client see the potential in our approach and feel more confident in taking a leap of faith.

Continue to track and share results with stakeholders, demonstrating the impact and effectiveness of the approach. Highlight success stories and tangible outcomes achieved through the technique.

The power of tangible results cannot be underestimated. Sharing success stories, data from pilot tests, and benchmarking against industry standards can significantly influence perceptions. It shifts the conversation from 'what if' to 'what can be.' I’ve consistently found that showcasing the impact of innovative fundraising techniques, through both quantitative and qualitative data, is a compelling way to build credibility and support.

Non-profits play a vital role in furthering their mission, but finding funding can be a challenging task. However, it is essential to focus on your organization's successes and highlight what sets it apart from others. This will help donors and funders understand the value of their contributions and the positive impact it will have on society. When making a request, be clear and concise about what you need, but also be grateful for any time or support offered. By following up periodically, you can build a relationship with donors and show them how their contributions help make a difference. Remember, investing time in building relationships now can lead to greater investments in the future.

Perhaps the most significant challenge to achieving results for innovative or blended financing in global health, is the harmonization of different public & private financial mechanisms, procurement rules, & authorities to implement beyond the conceptual design. From timing of a launch to interim/closeout KPIs that define impact & return, to be successful, the steering committee of collaborators should ideally be: 1) Flexible in their approaches & adaptable to change. 2) Responsive to new ideas from the field. 3) Focus on respective organizational strengths that are complimentary & synergistic. 4) Clearly codified (MOU) objectives, resource contributions, establish routine communication channels, and a process for dispute resolution.

I recently attended an innovative FR event hosted by the Leonardo museum in Salt Lake City. Attendees rotated to different tables for a hosted conversation. It was called The Future of.... democracy, journalism, healthcare, and more. The conversation I hosted was the future of "Women, money and power". It was so much fun and engaging and attendees walked away with a deeply personal experience. Everyone I spoke to loved it! More likely to give to the organization, heck yes. As a donor I want to attend events that showcase the organizations work, and are engaging and fun. Time to put the fun into philanthropy. Fun, works.

Continually refine and reassess and also be a champion for others who wish to innovate, too. I have found that building fellow champions who reinforce the type of growth mindset culture it takes in our space will pay dividends.

I opened my own consultancy; there will always be frontrunners for innovative approaches (and those who are slower to adopt).

Bring in peers from other Organizations around a brown bag lunch to showcase how the innovative fundraising channel / idea worked out for them, focusing on the results achieved. This can create some soft peer pressure. I also learnt to accept that sometimes the environment in which you work is more risk averse and that you waste your time fighting against windmills. I was fighting against windmills when I was at the beginning of my career. Now I learnt to let go. Try to do your best, always, accepting that despite all your efforts your Organization might not buy into your idea. Prepare a pros and cons list. If the cons list is longer than the pros list, you know that it’s time to leave. There is no perfect place, but there is a better fit.

Look beyond immediate outcomes and envision how your innovative fundraising can shape the cultural landscape of philanthropy, setting new benchmarks for future endeavors.