Looking Past Debits and Credits: Finding Common Ground Between Auditors and Fundraisers

For many not-for-profit organizations, auditors are a reluctant necessity to maintain the integrity of their financial operations and credentials in the eyes of donors and the government. However, auditors often understand best practices to support not-for-profits and achieve the ultimate goals of the organization from a financial angle.

During an interview, Partner Brian Kearns spoke of four major ways not-for-profits maintain their success from his viewpoint of supporting their organizations. The number one item he brought up was to emphasize the positive impact of a donation, rather than the underlying issue being addressed. One such example was of a local donor who was initially skeptical of smaller, local not-for-profits until they saw firsthand the impacts, converting them to a staunch and lifelong supporter.

 The second, Kearns said, is to make it about the donor. "If not you, then who?" he asked. When organizations can show donors the crucial role they play in fulfilling their mission, it strengthens their connection and benefits everyone involved.

Donor engagement also relies upon seeing the long-term impact of their support rather than just the immediate outputs, he said. Kearns mentioned scholarship donors often appreciated hearing about graduates’ successes more than how much of the tuition fees were covered. This focus on meaningful outcomes rather than mere outputs underscored the value of showing real, impactful results.

The final step is to focus on your own niche to create the largest impact. Smaller nonprofits can often spread themselves thin, trying to address too many challenges simultaneously, Kearns said. Collaborating with or referring people to other not-for-profits when it falls outside of the organization's area of focus can better support the communities served. It also helps create a clear and compelling message that serves as a unifying aspiration for all communications and appeals.

Read the full article published by Philanthropy Daily.