Which Stage Are You In?

Instructions: Read each statement and select the response that most accurately describes your current experience with fundraising. Be honest—this assessment is most valuable when you answer based on your actual feelings and behaviors, not what you think you should feel.

Scoring: Each answer has a point value. Add up your total points at the end to

determine your stage.

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Section 1: Your Emotional Response to Fundraising

1. When you think about asking someone for a major gift ($5,000+), you feel:

Physically sick, anxious, or panicked

Annoyed that you have to do this

Accepting that it's part of your role

Prepared and strategic

Excited about the partnership opportunity

2. How do you sleep the night before important donor meetings?

Poorly or not at all—your mind races with worst-case scenarios

Restlessly—you're irritated about having to do this

Normally—you've accepted this is part of the job

Well—you're prepared and ready to execute

Great—you're looking forward to the conversation

3. When board members bring up fundraising goals, you:

Feel your heart rate spike and look for ways to change the subject

Internally roll your eyes and think "here we go again"

Engage in the conversation as a leadership responsibility

Contribute strategic insights and next steps

Lead the discussion with enthusiasm and vision

Section 2: Your Fundraising Behaviors

4. How often do you proactively schedule donor cultivation meetings?

Rarely—you avoid scheduling them

Only when pressured by board or staff

Regularly, because you know you should

Consistently, as part of your strategic plan

Constantly—it's integrated into your weekly routine

5. When preparing for donor conversations, you:

Procrastinate and do minimal preparation

Prepare reluctantly and focus on getting it over with

Prepare adequately because it's your responsibility

Prepare thoroughly with research and strategy

Prepare excitedly, thinking about partnership possibilities

6. After donor meetings, you:

Feel relieved it's over and avoid thinking about it

Check it off your list and move on to "real work"

Follow up appropriately because you should

Reflect on what worked and plan next steps

Feel energized and immediately think about deepening the relationship

Section 3: Your Relationship with Money and Donors

7. When you walk into a wealthy donor's home, you think:

"I don't belong here—what am I doing?"

"I can't believe I have to ask these people for money"

"This is part of connecting resources with mission"

"I'm here to explore a potential partnership"

"I'm excited to share how they can make a difference"

8. When a donor says no to your request, you:

Take it personally and feel rejected

Feel frustrated and annoyed

Accept it as part of the process

Analyze what you can learn for next time

See it as information about timing or fit, not rejection

9. Your attitude toward wealthy people is:

Intimidated and insecure

Resentful that they have money when you need it

Neutral—they're people with resources

Strategic—they're potential partners

Grateful—they're partners in transformation

Section 4: Your Organizational Approach

10. Your fundraising strategy is:

Nonexistent or constantly changing due to avoidance

Basic and reactive—you do what you have to

Adequate—you have a plan you follow

Sophisticated—you track and optimize systematically

Exemplary—other organizations study your approach

11. Your team's attitude toward fundraising is:

They avoid it or see it as your problem

They help reluctantly when asked

They understand it's necessary and participate

They're engaged and see their role in donor cultivation

They're excited ambassadors who actively support donor relationships

12. When you think about your organization's fundraising future, you:

Feel overwhelmed and hopeless

Wish you didn't have to deal with it

See it as a necessary part of sustainability

Have clear plans for growth and improvement

Envision becoming a model for other organizations