Fundraisers have been told that they need to be generous with their time and money in order to ask others to give too.

Delegates attending the International Fundraising Congress in Holland were encouraged by American consultant Karen Osborne to become supporters as well as workers for charity.

“Is everyone in this room a generous donor – and not just to your own organisation?” Osborne asked a room of nearly 1,000 fundraising professionals in the opening plenary of the annual IFC.

“Is everyone a volunteer?” she asked. “Are we sharing our knowledge?

"Are we as generous as the people who we want to inspire?"

Osborne commented that fundraisers should experience the “joy” of giving money and time in order to get others believing and participating in giving also.