I’ve started watching the Winter Olympics and I’m reminded that Olympians are a breed apart. It’s not just their physical ability; they have a single-minded commitment to winning.
Reaching that level requires years of disciplined sacrifice. Many elite athletes devote roughly 10,000 hours to training before they ever compete on the world stage.
Of course, this pattern holds true far beyond sports. Anyone who achieves sustained excellence — in medicine, academia, the arts, or leadership — has invested enormous time in learning, practicing, refining, and executing. Fundraising is no different.
If you want to pursue fundraising excellence, think like an Olympian.
Go for the (fundraising) gold:
- Olympians train relentlessly. They don’t go it alone or think they know everything. Commit to professional training this year. What skills do you need to learn or improve upon?
- Olympians are disciplined. They show up prepared and ready to work. Take time to plan so you can hit the ground running each day.
- Olympians value their team. They take pride in individual achievement while encouraging their teammates to excellence. Fundraising success depends on collaboration across leadership, board members, and staff — not heroic solo efforts.
- Olympians keep trying. There are countless falls before perfecting that quadruple axel. Shake off the inevitable “no’s” in fundraising and move confidently to the next donor relationship.
- Olympians cultivate a winning mindset. They believe in themselves and their talents. The importance of your mission gives you the confidence to ask for a gift.
Excellence is not accidental. It is built deliberately, day after day. Good luck and go for the gold!
Photo credit for Featured Image: SpiritedMichelle, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Edited from “Ilia Malinin – 2026 United States Figure Skating Championships 01”.
