I was in the presence of a great man yesterday. Greg Mortenson, author of “Three Cups of Tea” risked his life to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
And HE said to US that he was “humbled” to be speaking to nonprofit leaders! Wow, it was I who was humbled to be in the same room as him.
The odds against what he was trying to do in those far-away countries were almost overwhelming. No money, few connections, no experience.
He started his fundraising by writing 500 letters to celebrities asking for funds to build his school. Needless to say, that strategy failed. Then a friend of a friend volunteered the full funding needed for the first school. The rest is history.
Our lesson here is that it was the personal connection yet again, that funded his project. The friend heard about what he was trying to do and was interested.
Mortenson’s key fundraising secret? “Storytelling is a great way to raise money.” He says that statistics are one thing but painting a picture with a story makes all the difference.
Mortenson shared some key qualities of people who’ve been successful. I’d say these are the qualities our nonprofit sector needs now more than ever. Qualities that successful social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders share:
1. You have to always think out of the box. (Consider this: where will solutions to today’s problems in our sector come from?)
2. You can’t be afraid to fail. The key to success is sometimes having to fail first. (Are our boards willing to take these risks?)
3. You have to be willing to work really really hard and persevere. (You can only do this if you are committed heart and soul to your mission and your vision.)
4. Learn how to listen – to the people you are trying to help. Their voice needs to be appreciated and understood. They can often show you the way, perhaps following a path that is totally outside your own box. (Mortenson’s Pakistani friends had to teach him this lesson.
How long has it been since you really listened to the people you are serving? They may have some interesting answers.
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