“Here’s what we’re trying to do. Here’s why and how.” Mike Zywina on creating a fundraising strategy that stays live

Today at Fundraising on the Margins, I attended a session on how to create a collaborative fundraising strategy that doesn’t languish on a shelf, given by Mike Zywina of Lime Green Consulting. It was great to get to hear him speak as I've admired his work in this area for many years. My notes are here. The problem is when organisations develop a fundraising strategy, the focus is on it as an end product. The focus is often too much on the written piece and not enough on the collaboration – talking, discussing, looking at where there’s consensus. Often a lot of work goes into fundrasising strategies, but they don’t embed meaningful change. There is a better way! 1. Set the context collaboratively 2. Make decisions collaboratively 3. Launch your strategy in the right way Bringing people together. Workshop might not be the best word, but: Who? Not just senior leaders. People with relationships at other levels. Light sessions, or srveys to get their input. How? In room or online (have found ways of doing it effectively – needs its own planning). When? Need clear process and timeline – not rushed but to get it over the line. So, collaboration to set the context: What are we trying to achieve? How do we currently raise money? What holds us back? What are the untapped opportunities? What are you most excited about doing that we’re not doing at the moment? This provides the right context for objective decision-mak