Most good leaders understand that we have responsibilities beyond running our own business. As a CEO with a sales background, I am often asked to participate in community fundraising activities. While for the most part it is expected, I also see it as an opportunity to personally give back to the community.
As a sales guy at the core, it’s in my DNA to be comfortable asking for donations that can impact the success of a campaign. These can consist of larger donations, recruiting support for a new initiative or simply leveraging my business network to increase participation. In fact, I’m going to ask you to help me with something at the end of this blog.
I was introduced to supporting nonprofits and fundraising back in the mid 80’s when I started with Marco. I joined my first board of directors (New Beginnings) and chaired a successful new member drive for the St. Cloud Chamber in 1990. I went on to chair the board for the St. Cloud Family YMCA and led the campaign for the United Way of Central Minnesota, to name a few. Participating in nonprofit boards is something I have continued to do throughout my career and encourage others to do the same.
So, how can leaders achieve balance between running their business and answering the call to help their community? Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:
- Choose organizations that you personally believe in.
You’re going to be asked – many times – to help. So be proactive and find the causes that you can get behind. Then get behind them. It’s way more fun. I recently joined the Stearns-Benton Workforce Council because as a business leader, I understand the important role they play in getting displaced workers re-trained and back to work. A recent example in our community was the devastating fire at our local paper mill that put hundreds of people out of work and ultimately closed the plant. Because this is something I personally believe in, it was an easy decision for me to get involved. - Do your homework and play to your strengths.
When considering joining a board or fundraising activity, I do my homework to understand their strategy, the time commitment and how the organization is funded. It’s at this time that I often determine if I am a “good fit”. My sales skills would naturally lend themselves toward fundraising. As an example, I currently serve in a leadership role for the campaign to build a new St. Cloud Area YMCA Aquatics Center. At this point in my career, I am more interested in opportunities to help nonprofits with their strategy and planning to leverage my 30 years of experience running a successful business. - Get personally involved and make it fun.
That’s my philosophy and the way we approach charitable fundraising as a corporation. Most of the activities we do at Marco include an element of fun and raising money. A few examples are our annual employee car show, chili cook-offs and this spring, I am slipping on a t-shirt and bowling with a team of 19 employees to raise funds for Junior Achievement.
- Find your own replacement.
My first experience on a nonprofit board was when Marco co-founder Dave Marquardt was departing the board of directors of New Beginnings and asked me to be his replacement. Over the years, I have done the same as my tenure ended on a board. For that reason, many Marco leaders have been connected to nonprofits in our community and it almost has become a tradition with some organizations such as New Beginnings, the United Way, the YMCA and Junior Achievement. That was a good practice back in 1990 and it still is today.
As a leader, it’s only a matter of time before you’re asked to get involved with helping nonprofits raise money. It’s a responsibility that comes with the position and one I think we should all gladly accept. As the saying goes, “to whom much has been given, much is expected”.
Here’s where I need your help. I have been challenged by a long-time friend and client, Mark Krebsbach, managing partner at CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, to see who can raise the most money for Junior Achievement – a cause that’s dedicated to teaching youth about business and financial literacy. On Friday, April 25th, our teams will be participating in their annual JA Big Bowl Fundraiser.
Let’s see how much we can raise together for a good cause using our social networks (I promise I’ll never ask you to do this in my blog again). I have set a goal of $5,000, but I don’t know what my competition is going to do. I’d really like to see if we can break a record. Your participation would be greatly appreciated.
