In Fundraising, Use Perfectionism With Caution
In our society, perfectionism 
is worn like a badge of honor – revered and touted equally. The best things that come with perfectionism are good quality work and high standards for work performance and product. These things go a long way.
Sometimes, however, perfectionism gets in the way of productivity. There is quite a bit written on the subject. Start with Amanda Neville’s article on Forbes.com, “Perfectionism Is The Enemy Of Everything”; she’s got some golden nuggets to share.
For fundraising, perfectionism can be a real problem. If you consider yourself a perfectionist, we’d like to offer some clues to indicate when your perfectionism might be getting in the way of a job well done:
- You are missing deadlines – actual or self-imposed – because you keep editing proposals, cover letters, reports, annual reports, etc. Having the perfect proposal is an accomplishment, but if you miss deadlines, or submit them too far into the calendar/fiscal year, then you are missing out on actual dollars for the organization. An accomplishment without any real results loses its luster.
- You are missing out on cultivation opportunities. You have to write your proposals, reports, newsletters, event programs, and then move on and out of the office. You should be out there meeting with donors, prospective grantors, stellar volunteers, or program partners – the relationship building, sharing, and brainstorming is where real things happen. If you can manage your time and tasks well, then you can check them off your list and move on to the next opportunities that need to be pursued. You’ve got too much on your plate to be bogged down by detail.
- You expect too much from your staff, colleagues, and volunteers, and they sense it. There is no faster way to push away your team members than making them feel bad about their work product and professionalism. Having high expectations is okay – but, not being able to build or maintain efficient happy teams working towards the same goals is not okay. It deeply affects your bottom line as a nonprofit leader and fundraiser, so beware!
In almost all things in life, self-awareness is critical. Knowing you are a perfectionist is a big first step. Knowing when your perfectionism is a handicap rather than an asset is even better. Fundraising is about building a community around a shared mission and vision, and offering opportunities for involvement and commitment to the organization’s work. If you can keep that close to your daily work, it should help you maintain the right perspective.
