8 Simple Ways for Fundraisers to Stay Positive

In tough economic times, fundraising rejections can be more common and might get your team down. Overcoming negative feelings is essential for maintaining momentum and making your fundraiser more enjoyable and effective for everyone. Learn more about how fundraisers can stay positive with these eight strategies.

1. Don’t Internalize Failures

While personal accountability is important, taking rejection personally is a sure way to build negative energy. Internalized thinking occurs when you diminish the effects of things outside your control. For example, if someone rejects your donation request, you might think, “I didn’t do a good job,” as though your pitch was the only reason someone didn’t contribute.

Instead, you might think something like, “Times are tough. Higher costs are making it hard for everyone to donate.” The first thought involves feelings of shame, guilt, and blame, while the second is much more neutral. Remember that your work involves many factors beyond your abilities. Even the best donation request won’t work for someone already struggling financially. Having a bad day, not having cash, or being in a hurry are just a few reasons for a lack of donations outside your control.

Of course, you can learn from rejections and look for ways to mitigate them, like taking donations through credit cards or sharing a flyer someone can read later. Still, don’t let these thoughts become destructive to an optimistic outlook.

2. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

Your fundraising efforts will inevitably hit a snag. No team will reach its goals every time. Be prepared for these adjustments and ready to pivot. Having a plan for failure helps you respond to it effectively and gives your mind time to get used to the idea. With a positive fundraising mindset, rejection no longer becomes an interruption but just a scheduled stop on the journey.

3. Emphasize Self-Care

From spa nights to healthy eating, emphasize the value of self-care. Science agrees — self-care is clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, increase happiness, and minimize stress. Many people also find it boosts confidence and productivity.

Self-care can cover areas like physical health, relationships, stress management, and spiritual health. Here are some ways to focus on self-care:

•  Exercise: Even short exercises that get your body moving can have significant benefits. Going for walks is a great way to start, which also helps you get a healthy dose of sunshine. You can even arrange walks or runs as part of your fundraising efforts.
• Healthy eating: Powering through your campaign with sugar and fast foods might leave you feeling more sluggish than fueled. Try to maintain a balanced diet with protein, fiber, fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. While helping you stay healthy, they can also keep you feeling full and happier through long days of contacting donors.
• Quality sleep: Sleep is essential in helping our bodies refuel, impacting our brain function and mood. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep, avoid screens at night, and look into other sleep hygiene practices.
• Boundaries: Many nonprofit workers want to help as much as they can, but you must know your limits. Set aside time for self-care, and say no to activities when you need to.

Remember, you can support your cause more effectively when you feel energized and healthy.

4. Celebrate the Little Things

Small successes are everywhere — you just need to find them. Pay attention to day-to-day activities and call out little wins to encourage positivity in fundraising. These bite-sized celebrations can snowball into a lot of excitement and motivate your team. Congratulate others on their successes wherever possible.

Track funds with visuals like a live thermometer, and treat even small donations enthusiastically. Consider following updates in your general industry and news from national chapters. Good news for your cause can keep the mood positive even if things are quiet in your organization.

Remember to look past funds alone and consider successes like recruiting new volunteers, adding more people to your email list, or learning a new skill.

5. Build Relationships with Donors

If you and your team look at every donor as a success or a failure, you rob yourselves of filling your days with meaningful connections. Donors are more than their funds. Approach every interaction as an opportunity to build a relationship with someone. Even if they can’t donate, you walk away with a more positive experience and might even make a new friend.

The other person also gets a more personal connection to your cause and may be able to help you in the future. These are a few examples of why building relationships and understanding your donors is foundational to fundraising efforts.

6. Build Relationships with Your Team

Camaraderie is a powerful motivator. Team building can help boost fundraisers’ confidence, morale, and collaborative skills. Spend some time helping your team get to know each other. Try to build an open mindset for making new connections.

Strengthening team bonds can make fundraising feel more social and fun. Again, even when successes are limited, your crew still has an enjoyable experience. Positive attitudes can build off each other, prevent isolation, and help fundraisers enthusiastically approach their work. Plus, people often bond from being “in the trenches” and overcoming difficult tasks together.

7. Tap into the Power of Positive Thinking

“Just think positive” might sound easier said than done, but optimism can make a significant difference. Positive thinking is associated with better stress management, creativity, coping skills, and mood. Fortunately, positive thinking is contagious — but so is negative thinking. Try to quell negative attitudes and foster more optimistic sentiments while acknowledging legitimate concerns and frustrations.

If you’re a leader in your organization, encourage a positive mindset in fundraising leaders. Anyone interacting with team members, such as volunteer coordinators, should know the dangers of negative thinking and stay alert.

8. Show Gratitude

A simple “thank you” goes a long way — for individuals and teams. Show your teammates how much you appreciate their hard work to help them power through the hard times. Encourage others to regularly practice gratitude. For instance, you could have everyone share one thing they’re grateful for before starting a meeting. Practicing gratitude can boost self-esteem and make people more appreciative of their successes.

Remember to thank your donors, too. Of course, it’s good practice for building donor relationships, but it also shows fundraisers that you appreciate every dollar they raise.

Maximize Your Fundraising Success with GiveSmart

A positive mindset in fundraising is an essential ingredient for success. Give your team the best chance at meeting goals and making a bigger impact by cultivating optimistic thinking.

Of course, they’ll also need the right tools. At GiveSmart, we help nonprofit and charitable organizations reach their goals through our fundraising and donor management solution. Spend less time on administrative demands and more time on fostering positivity in fundraising. See how we can help by requesting your demo today!