Having a great mission doesn’t guarantee that funding will follow.

At Midwest Studies Group, we encounter far too many nonprofit leaders who believe their powerful mission—or a compelling story about one person they helped—is enough to attract donors.

Get up and do something.

Talk to your funders.

Recruit board members who not only love the mission but are willing to do the work to advance it. Loving the mission alone doesn’t make someone the right board member.

Attend community events.

Meet new people.

Tell your story.

Step into community leadership—join a service club, take a seat at the table where decisions are made.

Gather and understand data that shows where your organization has been, where it stands today, and where it’s going.

And please—stop relying on a single “sob story” to carry your fundraising. That might tug at the heartstrings once, but it won’t build long-term support.

Stay connected with your current donors—not just when you need something. And never assume they’ll give forever. Relationships need care, not just asks.

Add new donors to the fold.

Most importantly, real growth takes time.
None of this happens overnight, which is why having a solid strategic and fundraising plan matters. If Midwest Studies Group can help you build that, we’d love to talk. www.midweststudiesgroup.com

In the meantime, remember: building a stronger, more recognizable organization requires effort. You wouldn’t sit on the couch and expect six-pack abs to show up out of nowhere (though that would be nice). It takes hard work, consistency, and dedication.

Let’s get to it.