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What do you call a fundraiser that stays in their job more than three years? 1

Fundraising | Alan Gosschalk | 19 Oct 2011

Alan Gosschalk announces the winner of his punchline competition and congratulates himself on sparking a lively debate.

I’m honoured and delighted that my last blog yielded the most number of comments ever by a country mile. I’ve also received other comments (none abusive!) from counterparts that were not posted on the Civil Society site. I’m convinced that this high response was not just because a £10 Amazon voucher was offered for the best punchline submitted. The winner of that was... no, you’ll have to read to the end of this to find out.

I set out the view that high staff turnover of fundraisers is not unavoidable. My thesis is that poor management and a lack of career opportunities contribute to fundraisers moving jobs so often. Also, that we prioritise relationship development with our supporters much more than with our staff. Staff retention is evidently crucial and the piece touched a nerve.

Excluding the responses of those entering the ‘competition’, most responses were in broad agreement that there’s a very live issue here and that we have to do much more as employers and fundraising managers. A very valid point was made that my article quoted retention stats that apply in London but are very different elsewhere where fundraisers stay much longer. I’d still maintain that we can do much more to engage and develop fundraisers wherever they are. Do you agree?

Good points were also made about the pressure heaped upon fundraisers by senior management and trustees who can believe that fundraising staff have magic wands. Sometimes, to be fair, as others pointed out, fundraisers bring this on themselves by promising far too much. When they don’t deliver, they may leave to start again elsewhere.

I hope that the article and debate managed to stir you into action: if you’re a manager, do up your game; if you are being managed, take more control of your own destiny – network, keep up-to-date with the latest developments, source your own mentor and if you have a terrible manager, rise up (en masse)!

So finally and not before time, it gives me great pleasure to announce the winner of the £10 voucher. What do you call a fundraiser who stays in their job for more than three years? A CEO, of course! Well done, Emma Malcolm, CEO of Prostate Action – the early bird (1st respondent) sometimes does catch the worm!

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Who's Who: Alan Gosschalk