Fundraising Leaders: How do you create individual goals and incentives while also encouraging team collaboration?

Most organizations set financial targets for their fundraising. This big goal then translates to financial goals by sector and then professional goals around funding targets, asks, and moves.

While all of this is standard practice, I have observed that it also can create disincentives for collaborative work and out-of-the-box thinking.

The most direct way to get to a destination is a straight line. Or is it?

If we challenge our team members to amplify each other’s work and to collaborate, we are able to achieve something larger than what is possible alone.

Although this may not be a straight line, the messiness and unknown path, helps us to aim higher and achieve beyond our expectations.

As leaders, we need to think about our goals and incentives. Are we encouraging competitive or cooperative behavior? Are we encouraging win-win relationships?

What if we created more agile teams that bring multidisciplinary skills together rather than structures by funding sector?

An agile team is created around a shared aspirational goal and objectives established by the group. There is both individual and team accountability.

Roles are created for individuals and tasks established for each “sprint” of activity. During “standup” meetings, team members talk about what they have accomplished, barriers they are encountering and what they need of their teammates.

The team only succeeds if the individual contributions are powerful and consistent.

Let’s innovate and be more agile in our fundraising structures, goals and incentives to position our field to match the innovations of our nonprofits.

Now You: Are your individual goals supporting shared goals as well?
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