Chris Goldie CFRE

A team player

Growing up in a theatrical family, I've always had a sense of what it means to be part of a ‘company’. Watching cast and crew use their skills to achieve something exceptional on stage, shaped my early understanding of what makes a successful partnership. The best productions were genuine team efforts, driven by enthusiasm and directed with creativity.

When the opportunity came for me to pursue my other great love, cricket, I took these same attributes to the professional game and more latterly to my various club leadership roles. I have been part of some remarkable team efforts and think that these qualities are at the heart of achieving step-change fundraising goals too.

When our clients engage us, they expect wisdom, innovation and a pragmatic approach to bringing in the money. They also see us as part of the home team, wholly immersed in the process of securing gifts and deeply interested in their work long after the campaign reaches target or our contract is completed.

Plain speaking, no nonsense, results focus

I understand that my clients expect clear and unequivocal advice.  They have limited time and money to invest in their fundraising and rightly expect the highest returns.

I’ve found that successful fundraising advice is based on a rigorous understanding of an organisation’s make-up and the marketplace in which it operates. Taking time to properly appreciate the unique DNA of my clients, the way they function and particularly the strengths of their volunteer community, means that ‘off-the-peg’ solutions are never part of the game plan.

Without doubt, the aspect of fundraising that our clients fear the most is making personal requests for money. Those that do this well, whose leadership teams have been expertly trained and feel confident in exciting others about their vision, are usually the ones who excel.

In my own life, whether as a trustee or in guiding my clients through major gift approaches, I am constantly reminded that peer to peer fundraising is rarely an optional extra in an effective fundraising strategy. Top level gifts only happen when the givers see themselves as stakeholders; when they feel moved to contribute or believe that a project adds value. A face to face encounter is often the only way to capture genuine interest and lead someone to invest serious sums of money in an exciting venture.