As Carlo Robustelli, V.P. of College Advancement at Dickinson College explains, “We’re not miracle workers, we’re matchmakers.” Carlo is trying to help his colleagues outside of the field understand that philanthropic facilitators don’t wow people into philanthropic submission, they build philanthropic partnerships. That requires multi-faceted matchmaking skills, some of which are enumerated below.
Carlo’s depiction also teaches organizational leaders that they need to provide advancement with the material that will allow them to be effective matchmakers including:
When the conditions are right, matchmaking advancement officers can be wondrously effective. Some examples include:
When you think about it, very sophisticated matchmaking is miraculous – but I better not get into that. It will soon be expected without the attendant institutional attitudes and obligations.
Jim Langley is the president of Langley Innovations. Langley Innovations provides a range of services to its clients to help them understand the cultural underpinnings of philanthropy and the psychology of donors and, with that knowledge, to develop the most effective strategies and tactics to build broader and more lasting communities of support. Jim has authored numerous books including his most recent book, The Future of Fundraising: Adapting to New Philanthropic Realities, published by Academic Impressions in 2020.
To be philanthropic is to acknowledge that we are in this together; that: Your misfortune…
Donor retention statistics continue to worsen, with 2022 showing the lowest overall rate ever recorded,…
Do you know what they don't teach in fundraising school? The situational realities of fundraising,…
HOW YOU CAN LAND MORE MEETINGS with Major and Legacy Donor Prospects Who Are Ready…
Should you work on building and sustaining long-term donor relationships that lead to major giving,…
Seemingly random events earlier in our lives actually serve as omens for what we will…