Friday 12 October 2012

A truly surreal interaction.

A few weeks ago, an arts membership organisation lamented in Third Sector and on the BBC about the lack of funding available for its members, and announced the publication of a 15-page report which detailed its findings.

Being the proactive fundraising consultant that I am, I contacted the Chief Exec of this membership body, offering to explore options which might be available to him and his financially-squeezed.  There was no obligation.

Within 10 minutes of receiving my email introduction and offer to chat, I received an email in response.

He was not interested in discussing fundraising as an option for his organisation, or for his members.

Here is his entire response:

This is not for us thank you.  We do not fund or regulate and do not get involved in this level of operational detail.

It's more than a bit hypocritical to complain about funding cuts, and then avoid the conversation by claiming that "we do not get involved in this level of operational detail."

What say you?