Week 6 gave me the amazing opportunity to learn from Mr. Andy Geiger, one of college athletics most accomplished athletics directors. It also brought us face to face with the one class I was dreading most of all: Development and Fundraising.
I've never been a fan of asking people for favors, let alone money. But what I learned from Mr. Geiger was that it's not always just about the ask, it's about the relationship; and developing relationships is something I can do. I can Friend-raise.
If I learned nothing else this week it's that developing relationships are key to success, both in fundraising and in a career. When you believe in something - your institution, your colleagues, a project - it shows through and people are drawn to that. This ties back to the first week in class when we learned that "While no single conversation is guaranteed to change the trajectory of a career, a company, a relationship or a life – any single conversation can." By taking the time to develop relationships, by making people feel connected to something you believe in, you make the connections that enable you to ask the tough question when it comes to it (or to know who to have ask the tough question).
After this week, while I am still not comfortable in the "fundraising" role, I do think that I can do the development portion of this relationship. I may not be a "Rain-maker" but I am a Friend-maker. And I'm comfortable with that. Who knows I may become a rain-maker yet.
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