Defining Your Constituency - Circles of Support

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During a job interview, I was once asked how I liked being a professional beggar. The image of fund raising as panhandling permeates our world, yet it couldn't be farther from the truth. A beggar offers nothing in return for your support. A fund raiser offers concerned constituents an opportunity to invest in a cause. Chances are, a beggar won't ask you whether you'd prefer your loose change to support food purchases or bus tokens. A successful fund raiser works with donors to make sure mutual needs are met. When was the last time you received a thank you note, annual report, or donor newsletter with a return address of "corner of 7th and Main"? A fund raiser recognizes the importance of cultivating relationships, not simply to ensure a repeat gift, but rather as an acknowledgment of the donor's interest in and concern for the organization.


The constituency from which our donors ...