I keep promising to use song lyrics to blog about fundraising and philanthropy and the nonprofit (NGO) sector. And, of course, life too. And I’ve done so a bit. So here are a couple bits…And I promise to do more and not such little bits.
AFP Western Massachusetts and we’re talking about change. I started out with Dylan’s The Times they are a changing…
And then I add this caveat, which I often say when I’m presenting or consulting:
“So you read all the blogs and books and go to the conferences. You learn and you change (improve a bit, dramatically reconcile, whatever) your fundraising. But even then — following best practice and applying body of knowledge and reading research and — even then…. Maybe you can raise enough money to create a sustainable organization. Maybe it just can’t be done. Maybe your cause just isn’t important enough to enough people. Whatever.”
And the faces stare at me. And then I say: “Maybe you won’t get what you want. Are you prepared for that possibility?”
That’s what happened at AFP Western MA in March. Dylan times… + Simone’s Are you prepared to not get what you want? And those AFP Western MA peeps responded in Stones song: You can’t always get what you want.” Marvelous!
P.S. And maybe you won’t even get what you need.
