The Role of the Fundraiser: Building Bridges for Impact in a World of Uncertainty
As we look out at the world, it is impossible to ignore the mounting forces of uncertainty and crisis. We are living in a polycrisis – a time of overlapping global challenges, from economic instability to climate change, and from social unrest to rising poverty. These moments can feel overwhelming, frustrating, and even terrifying. The road ahead can seem unclear and progress often feels slow.
But even in this complex environment, there is a force within us – within you – that holds the power to create real change. You, the fundraiser, the campaigner, the changemaker. We must remain not just hopeful, but actively hopeful. Hope that is rooted in action. Hope that isn’t passive, but that compels us to build, to connect, and to co-create solutions for a better world.
Here’s where the beauty of community comes in. The Resource Alliance community includes over 30,000 fundraisers, campaigners, and changemakers across the globe, representing a diverse range of organisations, from small grassroots initiatives to large international networks. We share a common goal: to create change, to drive impact, and to provide the resources needed to fulfill our collective mission. What unites us isn’t just the work we do, but the commitment we have to learning from each other and with each other. We share our successes, but we also share the things that didn’t work. We seek new solutions, forge new partnerships, and explore how we can collaborate to amplify our impact.
And this is where the fundraiser’s role becomes vital.
A recent study conducted with our community showed that the best job title for a fundraiser is actually not fundraiser but diplomat. We are diplomats in the truest sense – bridging gaps, building partnerships, and linking the people and organisations that will bring about change. It doesn’t matter whether we are connecting donors with programmes on the ground, uniting networks of volunteers, or creating joint proposals to funders. As fundraisers, we understand the power of bringing people together, creating networks of change, and working towards a common goal.
Yet, we must also acknowledge the challenges. The work we do is not easy. The sector is facing mounting pressure and there are moments when we wonder if we are truly making progress. We look at the indicators – poverty rising instead of declining, climate disasters happening with alarming frequency – and we can feel the weight of it all. It’s okay to be frustrated. It’s okay to feel disheartened at times. But remember this: you are not alone. You are part of a community of like-minded individuals who understand that frustration and are driven by a shared purpose to make a difference.
This brings me to another point: the need to build bridges. The work we do as fundraisers is about much more than securing donations. It’s about creating connections – connecting people to causes, connecting organisations to resources, and connecting voices to power. We are experts in building those bridges. It doesn’t matter if we are linking high-value donors to people in programmes, or uniting different sectors to advance a shared agenda. As fundraisers, we have the skill to connect and collaborate. And if we can do this within our organisations, imagine what’s possible when we expand these bridges together, locally, even globally.
The truth is, we have the potential to make a real impact. When we consider the vast network of people we represent – those we work with, the donors who support us, the volunteers who stand with us – and if we combine that with the networks of other organisations in the social impact sector, we are looking at a reach that spans millions or perhaps even over a billion individuals. If we harness that collective power, there is nothing stopping us from creating the change we want to see.
But to do so, we need a new narrative. Not a naive hope, but an active hope. A hope that is rooted in reality – the reality of the work we are already doing. The heroes in our impactful programmes, the personal stories of transformation and change. These are the stories we need to amplify. We are already seeing the difference that is possible today. We have the results, we have the impact, and we have the heroes on the ground making it happen. The question is: can we amplify their voices? Can we make their impact felt far and wide? I believe we can. We have to.
As part of the Resource Alliance, we are amplifiers of this change. We are here to showcase the work of our community, to lift up those voices that are already creating real impact, and to connect them with the world. With a global community of 30,000, we can reach billions. And we must.
As fundraisers, campaigners, activists, and changemakers, we are a determined and stubborn bunch. When we set our minds to something, we get it done. And today, more than ever, the world needs us to rise.
So, as we embark on this journey together, I invite you to reflect: What is your role in this moment? What will you do this to collaborate, to build bridges, and to amplify the impact we are already seeing? I encourage you to connect with others, to share ideas, and to take action. Together, we can make the change we seek. Together, we will rise.
Let’s make it happen.
Willeke van Rijn, CEO