Chess is a great fundraising analogy.
Are you only looking one move ahead or do you have the skills to see two, three or even four moves into the game? Usualy the player that can visualize how the game will unfold has the advantage.
In fundraising Sometimes having even the best cause is simply not enough. Focusing on getting a donation is not enough. You need to see a few steps beyond that donation.
When you receive that donation, no matter what size, take the time to see the next few steps. Think about the next donation or the next two or three donations that person might make. Make each donor feel important, like they are your main focus because if you don’t, you can be sure that there are plenty of other organizations that will and that donor will most likely donate to them before they will ever donate to you again.
If you look ahead past the current donation and follow up with your donors to invite them to be a vital piece of your cause then you will have a much better shot at keeping them for the long term… if not you risk loosing them sometime soon.