Two Years of Serenity
Two years ago, armed with a computer, unwavering determination, and a love for nonprofit fundraising, Serenity Nonprofit Consulting Group was founded. My dreams, aspirations, and ideas transformed into reality.
While I might not have realized it at the time, founding my consulting business almost perfectly mirrored the process I help our clients navigate every day. It turns out that starting your own business is a lot like building a successful fundraising campaign.
Let’s take a look at some of the ways that being an entrepreneur is similar to being a fundraiser.
You have to have something to believe in.
When you work in a nonprofit, the mission is at the core of everything you do. It drives your decisions, helps you push through the hard days, and keeps you focused.
When Serenity was just getting started, the thing that kept me going was simply a belief that I could do this. I wanted better for myself and my family, and I knew I had something to offer that would fill a need for small-to-medium-size nonprofits.
I started my business because I am passionate about helping nonprofits become strategic about their fundraising and donor stewardship. So many nonprofit professionals, especially in smaller organizations, end up in their jobs because they care deeply about the cause. This passion can take you a long way, but it can only take you so far without strategic direction.
You have to put yourself out there.
Successful fundraisers are successful networkers. They are always looking to meet new people and grow their community.
As an entrepreneur, I needed to meet as many people as possible. I spent endless hours on the phone and meeting with people for coffee or lunch. I reached out to people I hadn’t seen in a long time, I met new people, and I strengthened my existing relationships. Sometimes it required a little (or a lot!) of courage, but each person I met helped build the foundation of the business I have today.
You have to demonstrate your value.
Unfortunately, people aren’t usually knocking on the doors of nonprofits with checks in hand. In order to be a successful fundraiser, you have to show the value you bring to your community.
In my early days, I spent a lot of time writing proposals. I shared my expertise and what I could do to help nonprofits reach their full potential. I developed the Serenity Guarantee – that we will always raise at least the amount of our original contract – to help ease the fears of nonprofits too small to take any risks with their money.
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Two years later, thanks to that fundraising strategy experience, Serenity has grown beyond my wildest dreams. I am so grateful to do work that I love while making a meaningful impact on some truly inspiring organizations.
Through this new blog, we’re inviting you along for an inside look at the work we do, including tips and tricks for fundraising success, what it’s like to run a small business, and more. I hope you’ll follow along!
