The 5 Major Reasons CEO have a Hard Time Fundraising

Being an Executive Director or CEO in the nonprofit sector is incredibly rewarding. And incredibly challenging, particularly in the area of fundraising. Tightened budgets are putting unusual pressures on nonprofits and you as the CEO's are bearing the brunt of that pressure. We at FundraisingCoach.com have reached out to more than 100 CEO's and Executive Directors of nonprofits asking them what what 5 things were most getting in the way of them effectively raising enough money for their nonprofit. We received dozens of answers! They can be grouped into these common themes: time management, lack of training, staffing, the board, poor or incomplete systems, and issues with prospects or donor relations.

[Note: This is only for CEO's, Presidents, or Executive Directors. If your position isn't one of those, please do not complete this survey.]

Question Title

* 1. Job Title:

CEO

Executive Director

President

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 2. How long have you been leading a nonprofit (including years as an executive before your present position)?

0-3 years

3-5 years

5+ years

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* 3. The 15 statements below are the actual words from our interviews. Please rank these frustrations in order of most frustrating to least frustrating. (Choose "N/A" if the question doesn't apply to you or your situation.)

TRAINING:

	5- Strongly agree	4- Agree	3- Neutral	2- Disagree	1 -Strongly disagree	0- N/A
I just don't like asking for money. There are so many other things to do that it's easy to put off asking.	I just don't like asking for money. There are so many other things to do that it's easy to put off asking. 5- Strongly agree	I just don't like asking for money. There are so many other things to do that it's easy to put off asking. 4- Agree	I just don't like asking for money. There are so many other things to do that it's easy to put off asking. 3- Neutral	I just don't like asking for money. There are so many other things to do that it's easy to put off asking. 2- Disagree	I just don't like asking for money. There are so many other things to do that it's easy to put off asking. 1 -Strongly disagree	I just don't like asking for money. There are so many other things to do that it's easy to put off asking. 0- N/A
I honestly have never been trained to ask. I have other leadership and management skills, but I think training would help me do this more effectively.	I honestly have never been trained to ask. I have other leadership and management skills, but I think training would help me do this more effectively. 5- Strongly agree	I honestly have never been trained to ask. I have other leadership and management skills, but I think training would help me do this more effectively. 4- Agree	I honestly have never been trained to ask. I have other leadership and management skills, but I think training would help me do this more effectively. 3- Neutral	I honestly have never been trained to ask. I have other leadership and management skills, but I think training would help me do this more effectively. 2- Disagree	I honestly have never been trained to ask. I have other leadership and management skills, but I think training would help me do this more effectively. 1 -Strongly disagree	I honestly have never been trained to ask. I have other leadership and management skills, but I think training would help me do this more effectively. 0- N/A
I am afraid to ask for money. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am.	I am afraid to ask for money. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. 5- Strongly agree	I am afraid to ask for money. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. 4- Agree	I am afraid to ask for money. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. 3- Neutral	I am afraid to ask for money. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. 2- Disagree	I am afraid to ask for money. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. 1 -Strongly disagree	I am afraid to ask for money. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. 0- N/A

Other (Should something else be on this list?)

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* 4. TIME MANAGEMENT:

	5- Strongly agree	4- Agree	3- Neutral	2- Disagree	1 -Strongly disagree	0- N/A
Too many day-to-day/operational issues needs get in the way of me being strategic. I’m too busy putting out fires to have time to talk to donors.	Too many day-to-day/operational issues needs get in the way of me being strategic. I’m too busy putting out fires to have time to talk to donors. 5- Strongly agree	Too many day-to-day/operational issues needs get in the way of me being strategic. I’m too busy putting out fires to have time to talk to donors. 4- Agree	Too many day-to-day/operational issues needs get in the way of me being strategic. I’m too busy putting out fires to have time to talk to donors. 3- Neutral	Too many day-to-day/operational issues needs get in the way of me being strategic. I’m too busy putting out fires to have time to talk to donors. 2- Disagree	Too many day-to-day/operational issues needs get in the way of me being strategic. I’m too busy putting out fires to have time to talk to donors. 1 -Strongly disagree	Too many day-to-day/operational issues needs get in the way of me being strategic. I’m too busy putting out fires to have time to talk to donors. 0- N/A

Other (Should something else be on this list?)

Question Title

* 5. STAFFING:

	5- Strongly agree	4- Agree	3- Neutral	2- Disagree	1 -Strongly disagree	0- N/A
Asking for money isn’t my responsibility. That should be done by someone else, like the fundraising person.	Asking for money isn’t my responsibility. That should be done by someone else, like the fundraising person. 5- Strongly agree	Asking for money isn’t my responsibility. That should be done by someone else, like the fundraising person. 4- Agree	Asking for money isn’t my responsibility. That should be done by someone else, like the fundraising person. 3- Neutral	Asking for money isn’t my responsibility. That should be done by someone else, like the fundraising person. 2- Disagree	Asking for money isn’t my responsibility. That should be done by someone else, like the fundraising person. 1 -Strongly disagree	Asking for money isn’t my responsibility. That should be done by someone else, like the fundraising person. 0- N/A
The board isn't allowing me to staff the nonprofit in a way that would free me up to develop donor relationships.	The board isn't allowing me to staff the nonprofit in a way that would free me up to develop donor relationships. 5- Strongly agree	The board isn't allowing me to staff the nonprofit in a way that would free me up to develop donor relationships. 4- Agree	The board isn't allowing me to staff the nonprofit in a way that would free me up to develop donor relationships. 3- Neutral	The board isn't allowing me to staff the nonprofit in a way that would free me up to develop donor relationships. 2- Disagree	The board isn't allowing me to staff the nonprofit in a way that would free me up to develop donor relationships. 1 -Strongly disagree	The board isn't allowing me to staff the nonprofit in a way that would free me up to develop donor relationships. 0- N/A

Other (Should something else be on this list?)

Question Title

* 6. SYSTEMS:

	5- Strongly agree	4- Agree	3- Neutral	2- Disagree	1- Strongly disagree	0- N/A
I have no idea what the development staff is doing.	I have no idea what the development staff is doing. 5- Strongly agree	I have no idea what the development staff is doing. 4- Agree	I have no idea what the development staff is doing. 3- Neutral	I have no idea what the development staff is doing. 2- Disagree	I have no idea what the development staff is doing. 1- Strongly disagree	I have no idea what the development staff is doing. 0- N/A
I expect to have to build a relationship, but I never even get a bio or profile of the people development wants me to meet. I’d do better with more preparation.	I expect to have to build a relationship, but I never even get a bio or profile of the people development wants me to meet. I’d do better with more preparation. 5- Strongly agree	I expect to have to build a relationship, but I never even get a bio or profile of the people development wants me to meet. I’d do better with more preparation. 4- Agree	I expect to have to build a relationship, but I never even get a bio or profile of the people development wants me to meet. I’d do better with more preparation. 3- Neutral	I expect to have to build a relationship, but I never even get a bio or profile of the people development wants me to meet. I’d do better with more preparation. 2- Disagree	I expect to have to build a relationship, but I never even get a bio or profile of the people development wants me to meet. I’d do better with more preparation. 1- Strongly disagree	I expect to have to build a relationship, but I never even get a bio or profile of the people development wants me to meet. I’d do better with more preparation. 0- N/A
We have no history of a major gifts program. We’re just getting this off the ground.	We have no history of a major gifts program. We’re just getting this off the ground. 5- Strongly agree	We have no history of a major gifts program. We’re just getting this off the ground. 4- Agree	We have no history of a major gifts program. We’re just getting this off the ground. 3- Neutral	We have no history of a major gifts program. We’re just getting this off the ground. 2- Disagree	We have no history of a major gifts program. We’re just getting this off the ground. 1- Strongly disagree	We have no history of a major gifts program. We’re just getting this off the ground. 0- N/A

Other (Should something else be on this list?)

Question Title

* 7. PROSPECTS:

	5- Strongly agree	4- Agree	3- Neutral	2- Disagree	1- Strongly disagree	0- N/A
People give to event participants (walkathon, bowlathon, awards gala, etc.), not to our nonprofit. It's hard to bridge that connection.	People give to event participants (walkathon, bowlathon, awards gala, etc.), not to our nonprofit. It's hard to bridge that connection. 5- Strongly agree	People give to event participants (walkathon, bowlathon, awards gala, etc.), not to our nonprofit. It's hard to bridge that connection. 4- Agree	People give to event participants (walkathon, bowlathon, awards gala, etc.), not to our nonprofit. It's hard to bridge that connection. 3- Neutral	People give to event participants (walkathon, bowlathon, awards gala, etc.), not to our nonprofit. It's hard to bridge that connection. 2- Disagree	People give to event participants (walkathon, bowlathon, awards gala, etc.), not to our nonprofit. It's hard to bridge that connection. 1- Strongly disagree	People give to event participants (walkathon, bowlathon, awards gala, etc.), not to our nonprofit. It's hard to bridge that connection. 0- N/A
I only want to just ask people that are ready to make big gifts. Someone else should figure out if they're qualified.	I only want to just ask people that are ready to make big gifts. Someone else should figure out if they're qualified. 5- Strongly agree	I only want to just ask people that are ready to make big gifts. Someone else should figure out if they're qualified. 4- Agree	I only want to just ask people that are ready to make big gifts. Someone else should figure out if they're qualified. 3- Neutral	I only want to just ask people that are ready to make big gifts. Someone else should figure out if they're qualified. 2- Disagree	I only want to just ask people that are ready to make big gifts. Someone else should figure out if they're qualified. 1- Strongly disagree	I only want to just ask people that are ready to make big gifts. Someone else should figure out if they're qualified. 0- N/A
I don't have enough qualified prospects in our pipeline.	I don't have enough qualified prospects in our pipeline. 5- Strongly agree	I don't have enough qualified prospects in our pipeline. 4- Agree	I don't have enough qualified prospects in our pipeline. 3- Neutral	I don't have enough qualified prospects in our pipeline. 2- Disagree	I don't have enough qualified prospects in our pipeline. 1- Strongly disagree	I don't have enough qualified prospects in our pipeline. 0- N/A

Other (Should something else be on this list?)

Question Title

* 8. BOARD:

	5- Strongly agree	4- Agree	3- Neutral	2- Disagree	1- Strongly disagree	0- N/A
My board doesn’t realize that 90% of fundraising isn’t asking, it’s building a relationship. And they don’t appreciate how time consuming that is.	My board doesn’t realize that 90% of fundraising isn’t asking, it’s building a relationship. And they don’t appreciate how time consuming that is. 5- Strongly agree	My board doesn’t realize that 90% of fundraising isn’t asking, it’s building a relationship. And they don’t appreciate how time consuming that is. 4- Agree	My board doesn’t realize that 90% of fundraising isn’t asking, it’s building a relationship. And they don’t appreciate how time consuming that is. 3- Neutral	My board doesn’t realize that 90% of fundraising isn’t asking, it’s building a relationship. And they don’t appreciate how time consuming that is. 2- Disagree	My board doesn’t realize that 90% of fundraising isn’t asking, it’s building a relationship. And they don’t appreciate how time consuming that is. 1- Strongly disagree	My board doesn’t realize that 90% of fundraising isn’t asking, it’s building a relationship. And they don’t appreciate how time consuming that is. 0- N/A
Getting to 100% board participation shouldn’t be a Herculean effort, but it is. (A task we don’t always achieve.)	Getting to 100% board participation shouldn’t be a Herculean effort, but it is. (A task we don’t always achieve.) 5- Strongly agree	Getting to 100% board participation shouldn’t be a Herculean effort, but it is. (A task we don’t always achieve.) 4- Agree	Getting to 100% board participation shouldn’t be a Herculean effort, but it is. (A task we don’t always achieve.) 3- Neutral	Getting to 100% board participation shouldn’t be a Herculean effort, but it is. (A task we don’t always achieve.) 2- Disagree	Getting to 100% board participation shouldn’t be a Herculean effort, but it is. (A task we don’t always achieve.) 1- Strongly disagree	Getting to 100% board participation shouldn’t be a Herculean effort, but it is. (A task we don’t always achieve.) 0- N/A
My board has high fundraising expectations but doesn't give donations or make introductions to possible donors to help us get there.	My board has high fundraising expectations but doesn't give donations or make introductions to possible donors to help us get there. 5- Strongly agree	My board has high fundraising expectations but doesn't give donations or make introductions to possible donors to help us get there. 4- Agree	My board has high fundraising expectations but doesn't give donations or make introductions to possible donors to help us get there. 3- Neutral	My board has high fundraising expectations but doesn't give donations or make introductions to possible donors to help us get there. 2- Disagree	My board has high fundraising expectations but doesn't give donations or make introductions to possible donors to help us get there. 1- Strongly disagree	My board has high fundraising expectations but doesn't give donations or make introductions to possible donors to help us get there. 0- N/A

Other (Should something else be on this list?)

Question Title

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