To repeat one of the best lines I’ve ever heard about fundraising:
Fundraising is like a pie-eating contest where the prize for eating the most pie is that you’re asked to eat more pie.
“You raised 4% above projections this year,” the Board says, “let’s aim for 6% over projections in 2026!”
It’s kind of like Sisyphus, doomed to push a boulder up to the top of a hill but always having it slip from his grasp before reaching the top.
But there’s an unsaid part of the Sisyphus myth that was pointed out to me a few years ago: each time the rock rolls back to the bottom of the hill, Sisyphus has a restful, unencumbered downhill walk before he starts again.
So today – when the appeals have been sent, the calls have been made, the emails for today and tomorrow already programmed and ready to go – I hope you are enjoying your “restful, unencumbered downhill walk” as all the money comes in.
Enjoy your walk, and happy new year!
