More and more nonprofit leaders are looking at ways to eventually become “completely self-sustaining.” Aiming to build enough of an endowment or revenue generation programs that they no longer need to rely on donors. But there’s a lot to like about the dynamic, so why work to eliminate it? TCI’s Travis Hurley offers three reasons for reliance on a donor base.

If your experience has been anything like mine, you’ve had a negative view of fundraising at some point in your life (and maybe you still do now). When I was approached ten years ago to consider coming on staff in the development department with a private college, I first had to ask what “development” even was. When I was told it was primarily fundraising, I said, “No, thank you!” I didn’t want to be part of a field I had always seen as a necessary evil that burdened donors, and I was fearful of the responsibility that came with finding an organization’s necessary funding.

It’s no secret that maintaining a strong relationship with your organization’s top donors is paramount to long-term sustainability. It takes intentional effort to ensure those relationships extend beyond a mere exchange of money. Wouldn’t it be helpful to know their thoughts and attitudes about your organization, their resources, and the factors that bring the two together?