Three Lessons the Olympics Can Teach Us About Being Better Fundraisers

A dazzling feat of strength. A true display of athleticism. A medal winning performance. And we’re just talking about the impressive amount of chips and salsa we ate on the couch while watching world-class athletes compete in the Olympics. But seriously, there’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of watching your country’s athletes do the thing they’ve trained their whole lives for.

Aside from learning that we’re definitely not going to be winning any gold medals for gymnastics or diving anytime soon, there are lots of great lessons from the Olympics that we can apply to philanthropy. We put together a list of the three most important ones that we think will  help you go for the fundraising gold! (I mean, you knew there were going to be Olympics puns, right?)

Lesson 1: Be Yourself. 

We can all agree that Snoop Dogg MADE the Olympics, right? The commentary, the spirit, the banter with Martha Stewart. Incredible. The most important part? Snoop remained unapologetically himself—authentic, funny, and true to his own personality. He reminded us that you don’t need to TRY and be something you’re not, and that embracing who you are can lead to amazing opportunities.

The same is true for your organization. It can sometimes feel like we have to mold ourselves to fit the expectations of foundations for grants or specific individual donors, but the truth is, your raving fans are out there and they don’t need you to be anything but YOU! 

Our advice: establish your voice, and the voice of your organization and stick to it! You know your community best. You see the language you use, how you connect with them online, in emails, in newsletters and event invitations, and how they are responding. And if you’re feeling unsure? Pro tip: your organization’s voice will likely be more effective when it sounds less “professional”. While it’s great to demonstrate that you’re an expert in your mission, people want something they can relate to. Avoid using industry jargon in favor of being genuine and relatable.

Start by ditching the formal “Dear Mr. & Mrs. Smith” in email greetings, and go for a more relaxed “Hi Bill and Diane”, even a small change like that may engage your supporters and help build a deeper connection.

We’re so ready for LA28!

Lesson 2: Ask For What You Need.

On May 4th, water polo player Maggie Steffens posted on Instagram offering a look behind the curtain in highlighting that many athletes work 2 or even 3 jobs to support their Olympic dreams. Little did she know, this would inspire something life-changing in the form of the iconic Flavor Flav. Not only did Flav pledge his support for the water polo team, he showed up to cheer them on from the sidelines. And it didn’t stop there.

Track and field athlete Veronica Fraley posted that she couldn’t afford her rent the day before she was set to compete, and yet again, Flav stepped in to help alongside Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

The moral of the story? Ask for what you need, and let your community of supporters know the real deal – the gaps, the setbacks, the most urgent needs. Your supporters don’t need your organization to be “perfect”. In fact, they may relish the opportunity to come through BIG for the community they’re so proud to be part of. 

Donors WANT to support your mission, they WANT to help you make a big impact, but they can’t do that unless you tell them what you need, directly. And we’re here to tell you that you don’t win a medal for doing things the cheapest way possible. Be realistic about what you need to accomplish your goals. We promise, your people will show up.

Lesson 3: You Can’t Pour From An Empty Cup.

It’s nothing new, those of us in the nonprofit sector are all too familiar with burnout, stress, and the classic “overworked and underpaid”. We saw the effects of the immense pressure Olympic athletes are under at the last games, and this year, got to see the incredible things that happen when you put your self-care front and center.

In 2020 Simone Biles made the decision to withdraw from the Tokyo competition after her anxiety became overwhelming. She took the time to focus on her mental health, and returned this year helping secure a gold medal for her team and a silver for herself.

The lesson here? Take care of yourself. Period. (That one needed some emphasis). Yes, your work is important, yes you are changing lives, but you can’t show up to work as your best self if you’re not supporting your best self outside of work. It’s not worth pushing yourself over the edge just to get one last grant proposal in before the month end, or to squeeze in one more donor meeting after a 60 hour work week.  If we learned anything from Simone, it’s that taking a step back can mean coming back to work stronger and more joyful. Take care of yourself now friends, so you can show up for yourself and your team tomorrow.

Like, seriously? Unreal.

We hope this post inspires you to get your running shoes on, practice your ping pong, and maybe try surfing. Okay, not really (unless you’re into that). But we do hope that you take some of the incredible Olympic spirit into your day to day. Be bold, be brave, and be yourself. You’re changing the world after all.

If you’re feeling fired up right now and don’t know where to start, we’re ready to be your coach! Schedule a consultation with us to learn how we can help you achieve your goals, Olympic or otherwise.

As always, we’re rooting for you!

-Team TPC