Ken Burnett

I was reflecting on the fact that for me as a fundraiser, it was always relationships first.

I remember reading early on in my career a book called Relationship Fundraising by Ken Burnett.

He's a sort of a well-known name in the fundraising industry.

And he wrote this book about relationship fundraising, which is all about give people a great experience and work on retaining people rather than getting new donors, then you'll have supporters for life, friends for life in your donor base.

It comes out of the 90s, and we talk about relationship fundraising.

Ken Burnett and others coined that term and led the way on that, I guess as a contrast to very transactional things.

And so it is just a truism that if as charities we treat supporters well, they will treat us well in return.

And so for me, that is just such a gift, right? That if we as fundraisers are kind to donors, if we're thoughtful about donors, if we're kind of just living well and being good people, then that is good for business.