--- title: How Your CFO (and Other Leaders) Can Build and Strengthen Authentic Donor Relationships description: Have you ever considered your CFO as a key donor relationship builder? Maybe you should and here’s why. image: https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hubfs/A%20Greater%20Cause_How%20Your%20CFO%20(and%20Other%20Leaders)%20Can%20Build%20and%20Strengthen%20Authentic%20Donor%20Relationships.jpg --- ![www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI Logo (New)DGI Logo - Landscape-1](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png?width=200&height=93&name=www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png) ![www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI Logo (New)DGI Logo - Landscape-1](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png?width=200&height=93&name=www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png) ![www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI Logo (New)DGI Logo - Landscape-1](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png?width=200&height=93&name=www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png) - [ABOUT US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - What is Process Consulting? - [MEET US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Areas of Specialty - Meet Our Process Consultants - Meet our Partners and Senior Consultants - Meet our Consultants - [Maestro-level leaders](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Society for Process Consulting](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Culture Change Leadership](https://www.acausegreater.org/) - [BE A CONSULTANT ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Explore Process Consulting - Community of Practice - Shared Platform - [BE CREDENTIALED](https://linktr.ee/MaestroSuiteAdvisors) - [RESOURCES ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Blog Library - Books - Podcasts - Cohorts - Case Studies - [ABOUT US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - What is Process Consulting? - [MEET US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Areas of Specialty - Meet Our Process Consultants - Meet our Partners and Senior Consultants - Meet our Consultants - [Maestro-level leaders](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Society for Process Consulting](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Culture Change Leadership](https://www.acausegreater.org/) - [BE A CONSULTANT ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Explore Process Consulting - Community of Practice - Shared Platform - [BE CREDENTIALED](https://linktr.ee/MaestroSuiteAdvisors) - [RESOURCES ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Blog Library - Books - Podcasts - Cohorts - Case Studies Get Started # How Your CFO (and Other Leaders) Can Build and Strengthen Authentic Donor Relationships ![Lon L. Swartzentruber](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hubfs/Consultant%20Headshots%20(NEW)/Lon%20L.%20Swartzentruber%20Headshot%20(300x300).png) by [Lon L. Swartzentruber](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/author/lon-swartzentruber) April 16, 2019 ![LS April Blog Staff Leader Image](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LS%20April%20Blog%20Staff%20Leader%20Image.png?width=300&name=LS%20April%20Blog%20Staff%20Leader%20Image.png)Raising money isn’t always about asking for money. It is, however, always about making a meaningful connection with a donor. **CFO to CFO; a Non-development Development Conversation** A few years ago, I was working with an organization that had run a deficit for several years and was embarking on a strategic plan to help them pull themselves out of it. The new CFO had a huge role to play in this effort. With her team, we developed several strategies and tactics to address the deficit going forward. One of the organization’s donors was also a like-minded CFO who my client’s CFO knew. This person wondered how my client’s organization had gotten themselves into this situation. We reached out to the organization’s CFO for help and asked if she would be willing to share, from her perspective, what had happened and to review with the donor some of her plans. There was to be no request for funds, not even a hint, at our meeting. Over lunch they started using CFO terms, laughing at each other’s jokes, and poking fun at administrators who never seem to understand things like depreciation and its impact on cash flow. **Development is Based on Connection ** A whole new side of the donor came out that day, and so did a new side of the organization’s CFO. The mystique about fundraising and building relationships with donors also evaporated that day for the CFO. It was an unexpected twist that brought incredible benefits. If you’re a CEO or development director who is hesitant to involve others in developing your organization’s donor relationships, you’re not alone. Yes, this is part of your role, but you don’t have to do it alone. The stories I’ve shared over the past three months testify that inviting your board members, volunteers, and even the CFO into the donor relationship-building process can be a very rewarding and transformative experience for you, your organization, and your donors. **Questions or comments? Let’s connect!        ** Have a thought, question or example you’d like to share? Please use the comments area below. If you’d like to discuss ways to engage your senior staff in building authentic donor relationships, please reach me [lons@designgroupintl.com](mailto:lons@designgroupintl.com) or call me at 616.516.9870. ![LonSwartzentruber_ front page 190 230](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LonSwartzentruber_%20front%20page%20190%20230.jpg?width=140&name=LonSwartzentruber_%20front%20page%20190%20230.jpg)   ###### Tags: [deep dive, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/deep-dive) [nonprofit, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/nonprofit) [fundraising and campaign consulting, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/fundraising-and-campaign-consulting) [stakeholder engagement, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/stakeholder-engagement) [A Cause Greater Blog](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/a-cause-greater-blog) ![Lon L. Swartzentruber](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hubfs/Consultant%20Headshots%20(NEW)/Lon%20L.%20Swartzentruber%20Headshot%20(300x300).png) Post by [Lon L. Swartzentruber](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/author/lon-swartzentruber) April 16, 2019 I walk alongside leaders, listening to understand their challenges, and helping them lead healthy organizations that flourish. 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