logo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Flexible Ego of Winnie the Pooh: Reflections on Fund Raising
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Greetings!
 
"Well," said Owl, "the customary procedure in such cases is as follows."
"What does Crustimoney Proseedcake mean?" said Pooh.  "For I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words Bother me." 
 
-- Eeyore Loses a Tail and Pooh Finds One
 
 
"Without Pooh, said Rabbit solemnly as he sharpened his pencil, "the adventure would be impossible."  ...Pooh went into a corner of the room, and said proudly to himself, "Impossible without me!  That sort of Bear."
 
-- Kanga and Roo Come to the Forest

 Pooh Falls from Honey-Tree
A fund raiser can learn a lot from Winnie the Pooh, whose creator, A. A. Milne, was born January 18, 1882.  It takes a flexible ego to be a fund raiser.  Pooh has a remarkable ability to slide between self assurance and modesty.
 
There are times when our profession requires us to submit ourselves to almost-secretarial support of an executive director, board member, or donor.  There are other times when we, as fund raisers, are the creative force of the organization, with mind-blowing expanses of responsibility.
 
We sometimes work for months behind the scenes.  On other occasions, if we are fortunate, we return triumphant from a donor visit and are greeted by astonished acclaim from our colleagues.  If you can continuously increase your territory at the Important end of the spectrum, and still be comfortable at the Modest end, you will serve your organization well.  And if you ever feel under appreciated, say to yourself, "Impossible without me.  That sort of bear."

Happy Winnie the Pooh Day.
 

UPCOMING WORKSHOP:
 
 
Getting Ready for your First Capital Campaign
February 18, 6:45 - 8:45pm
Social Action Leaderhip School for Activists (SALSA) c/o IPS
1112 16th St. NW, Suite 600
Washington DC 20036
202.234.9382
To register or for more information go to SALSA's website
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
Free Consultation 
If you are associated with an organization that might benefit from creative thinking about its relationship with major donors, send an email or call 301 758 3410