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# Nonprofit fundraising, reimagined
- URL: https://www.chudgar.com/reimagining-nonprofit-fundraising/
- Published: 2021-01-28T19:47:00.000Z
- Updated: 2023-08-12T14:12:24.000Z
- Description: As we start to imagine what our world might look like in the future — in the wake of the pandemic, the uprising, and the wounds of the last administration — our state’s chapter of the Association of Professional Fundraisers recognized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reimagine the role they play.
- Author: Ash Chudgar
- Tags: Consulting, Workshops, Work with groups, #consulting portfolio, Nonprofits

## Fundraising for nonprofits is hard work. 

> “Nonprofit fundraisers have this really hard job of communicating about a societal breakdown. Everything we have to ask money for — every nonprofit mission — is a way society has failed. That’s really hard.” — [Sarah Staiger](https://www.staigervitelli.com/about-us?ref=chudgar.com)

“I manage a team of eight people,” said my friend Sarah Staiger, who was director of advancement for [Beacon Interfaith Housing Cooperative](https://www.beaconinterfaith.org/who-we-are/?ref=chudgar.com) at the time. “Every single one of them right now needs to be seen. Isn’t that what everybody needs right now? Nonprofit fundraisers have this really hard job of communicating about a societal breakdown. Everything we have to ask money *for* — every nonprofit mission — is a way society has failed. That’s really hard.” 

That’s why, back in December of 2020, Sarah asked me to give a talk for the Minnesota chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Sarah wanted me to provide “some ways of communicating that could help fundraisers communicate in a way that’s not so *hard* — that’s filled with more ease and integrity.” 

That was a tall order, for sure — but with help from Sarah, Cecelia Caspram, and other visionary [friends](https://chudgar.squarespace.com/friends?ref=chudgar.com), I came up with a way to help nonprofit fundraisers do just that. Here’s a recording of the workshop, edited down to the most important 12 minutes. 

In this education session for the Minnesota chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, I teach folks how metaphors work, why they matter to nonprofits right now, and how to build new ones to “practice the future.” This is a 12-minute cut of a 90-minute workshop with the highlights.