Fundraising can stir up complex feelings of shame, vulnerability, and even failure. It’s not uncommon to feel like you’re begging or that the mere act of asking for money is an admission of inadequacy—that you don’t already have the resources you need. For some, fundraising can also feel like leveraging relationships inappropriately, making it seem as though you are imposing on friends or colleagues. On top of this, there’s often the nagging feeling that other causes are more deserving or in greater need. However, all of these feelings are rooted in toxic myths of scarcity, failure, and competition that we must actively work to dispel.
Fundraising, at its core, is an invitation. Rich people engage in mutual aid for each other all the time, without shame or hesitation. Large organizations and political campaigns ask for donations as a routine part of their operations, understanding that people want to invest in causes that align with their values. Why should individuals, grassroots movements, or smaller organizations feel any differently about asking for support? If anything, asking for support within a community is a practice of mutual aid and solidarity. It allows others to contribute to something meaningful, something bigger than themselves.
Instead of viewing fundraising as a burden or an uncomfortable task, it’s helpful to reframe it as an opportunity. I love it when people invite me to invest in what they are doing. It’s a sign of trust—they respect me enough to believe that I might care about what they care about. So, why should I say no on behalf of my friends or colleagues? Why should I deny them the chance to consider supporting me in return? Asking for support is an invitation, not an imposition, and it allows people to align their resources with the values and movements that matter most to them.
The reality is, we are constantly being asked to spend our money—on goods, services, entertainment, and more. Often, we don’t think twice about these requests. In contrast, when you ask someone to support a cause or a community project, you’re giving them the chance to put their dollars into something deeply meaningful. Sending your money to something that matters to you is not only a gift to the recipient but also a gift to yourself—an act of aligning your resources with your values.
We must also resist the myth of scarcity. There is enough to support all of us. There will always be more causes, projects, and people who need help, but this is not a competition. Each effort is valuable, and every act of support contributes to the creation of a better world. By letting go of the idea that asking for money somehow detracts from other causes, we can shift into a mindset of abundance. There is enough generosity, passion, and money to go around if we trust in the value of our work and invite others to share in that belief.
Shame around fundraising is a product of societal beliefs that suggest that needing help is a sign of weakness or failure. But in reality, asking for help—whether financial or otherwise—requires courage. It is an acknowledgment that we are interconnected and that no one can, or should, achieve anything of lasting significance entirely on their own. Fundraising is not a personal failing; it is a critical act of community-building, trust, and investment in the collective good.
When we let go of shame, we allow ourselves to see fundraising as a deeply relational process. We are not simply asking for money; we are inviting others into our vision, giving them the chance to participate in something bigger than themselves. By shedding the discomfort and guilt around asking for money, we create more space for the generosity, abundance, and connections that are so vital to sustaining meaningful work.
In the end, fundraising is about more than just money. It’s about building relationships, aligning resources with values, and creating opportunities for collective impact. Letting go of shame and embracing the power of asking invites us to trust in our work and the people who support us, fostering a sense of shared purpose and abundance that transcends the transactional nature of fundraising.