Enter Forrest, Forrest Gump
If you’re like me, you’ve probably watched Forrest Gump a few times. If you haven’t watched it at all, why not?!? It’s a great feel-good movie and if you’re in fundraising, there’s a great deal to learn from Mr. Gump.
Forrest Gump, in some of his most famous words, teaches how some things are just out of your control.
“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.”
Emotional Rollercoaster
Raising money for your organization can be an incredibly emotional rollercoaster. The highest of highs live right next door to the lowest of lows.
WE GOT FUNDED!
(the event cost more than what it raised)
TARGET IS GIVING US 20 GRAND!
(Randy’s Donuts said sorry but they could not donate coffee and pastries)
It is hard if not impossible to predict the behavior or result of any one grant, donor or campaign. But, with enough chocolates in the mix, you’re bound to get a positive result. The key for fundraisers is to make sure you have a box of chocolates. The “box of chocolates” in fundraising is your activity, the things you can control. Make sure you’re meeting people, making phone calls, pitching your upcoming event, networking, etc. These are the things you can control. Once you’ve done this, let go!
Stop Overthinking
Newsman: Sir, why are you running?
Reporter #1: Why are you running?
Reporter #2: Are you doing this for world peace?
Reporter #3: Are you doing this for women’s right?
Newsman: Or for the environment?
Reporter #1: Or for animals?
Reporter #3: Or for nuclear arms?
Forrest Gump: [narrating] They just couldn’t believe that somebody would do all that running for no particular reason.
Reporter #2: Why are you doing this?
Forrest Gump: I just felt like running.
We are incredibly vested (justifiably so) in our mission, our Board, those we serve, budgets, the community, etc. It can all really take its mental and emotional toll. Quite frankly, it can be paralyzing, especially if you feel the pressure of raising money. It can be stressful if you’re constantly over-analyzing every little decision or worried about every possible result. Sometimes it’s good to just do, just go running.
(A bit later in the movie)
Forrest Gump: [narrating] Now, for some reason what I was doing seemed to make sense to people.
Young Man: I mean, it was like an alarm went off in my head, you know. I said, here’s a guy that’s got his act together. Here’s somebody who’s got it, all figured out. Here’s somebody who has the answer. I’ll follow you anywhere, Mr. Gump.
Forrest Gump: [narrating] So, I got company. And after that I got more company. And then even more people joined in. Somebody later told me it gave people hope. Now, I don’t know anything about that, but some of those people asked me if I could help them out.
Huge lesson – most people may not understand or even not care for your intentions. They will however, make their decisions based on your actions. In fundraising, if you do it long enough, it’ll begin to “make sense to people.” It’s very difficult to convince people, through your words, how much you care. But, your effort and your actions will literally give people hope. Just like Forrest, your consistency will attract others and you’ll get “company” and that company many times comes with a dollar sign in front of it.
I don’t know why this is but Forrest nails it right on the head. People, and money, are attracted to things in motion. So move. You don’t need to have a thoroughly thought out plan in order for you to start. Start where you are and run.
“When I got tired, I slept. When I got hungry, I ate. When I had to go, you know, I went.”
If you’ve been part of the nonprofit world for any amount of time, you know how much stuff you have to deal with. You’re not only in charge of programs but you’re also tech support. You not only fundraise but you’re also HR and part-time furniture builder. There’s always a hundred things pulling at your attention.
If we can learn anything from Forrest it’s his ability to focus. Forrest is portrayed throughout the film as simple minded and lacking in “intelligence.’ But don’t let that fool you, whatever he lacks in “smarts” he more than makes up in focus.
Time and time again, when Forrest does something, he ONLY does that thing.
When he’s running, he’s running. When it’s ping-pong, it’s only ping-pong. When he’s captaining a shrimp boat, he’s captaining a shrimp boat. You get the picture. He does one thing and he does it incredibly well.
When it comes to different methods to fundraise, there is no lack of options. Online? Corporate sponsorships? Crowd-funding? Mailers? Learn from Forrest – focus on one thing and do that one thing incredibly well. Often times we are split trying to manage different fundraising systems that we don’t do any one of them in excellence. Focus your energies and just like Forrest, you’ll experience uncommon success. Not much “intelligence” needed.
Genuineness is Effective
“Don’t you ever dream, Forrest, about who you’re gonna be?”
“Aren’t I going to be me?”
You don’t need to be the 30-year experienced UNICEF fundraiser. Be you. Serve your people with all of your might and heart. Far too often fundraisers worry about raising a “$1,000,000” when the reality is $100,000 or even $10,000 will work miracles. Of course dream big but Jenny’s question implies that the ‘good life’ is in the future. Forrest in his innocence asks, “Aren’t I going to be me?” His charmingly confused response is enlightening.
I once worked with a newly minted CEO. She was young, female, Latina and a first-time ED tasked with being the primary fundraiser. She struggled for some time trying to be who she thought she should be. Should she be more like her Board Members (90% white males)? Act older? Be as knowledgeable as them? Speak differently?
One day the change came. She realized she would always “be her.” She no longer attempted to hide her uniqueness. She instead shone light on the fact that she was different: she was from the inner city, she was young and eager to learn. She came to understand she would become a great fundraiser not in spite of these things but precisely because of these things. She stopped dreaming of who she was “gonna be” and instead embraced how she would always be her. She began to focus on who she was and it turn, began making genuine, fruitful connections. The ED realized fundraising was all about an authentic connection. Forrest couldn’t help himself, he was always him. Let’s all learn from him.
Run, Fundraiser, Run!
Forrest reminds us to appreciate who we are now. As a fundraiser, this is probably the most powerful approach you can take. There are a lot of strategies and tools to support you in fundraising but the most powerful of all is to be genuinely you. Just like Forrest, your honesty will resonate with donors and your fundraising asks will be all that more effective.