I’ve got a yucky cold. One of those “stopped up head, can’t breathe, sore throat, coughing” kind of colds. I haven’t been sick in a while (thankfully), and lots of things are blooming in my neck of the woods, which doesn’t help. So here I sit nursing my cold.

On Monday morning, I’ll gather my strength so I can work.  For Fundraisers (and Fundraising Coaches), the “show must go on”.  Donors expect you to be in your office, right?  They want assurance that when they have questions or concerns, someone will be there to talk with them.

This doesn’t mean you can’t take a sick day.  Certainly, you need to take time off to take care of yourself when you aren’t well.  What it does mean is that you need systems or procedures in place to make sure donors are well-cared for when you aren’t in the office.  In practical terms, it means that the person who answers the phone has great customer service skills.  You might want to have a back-up person who can answer questions from donors in your absence.  Voice mail with a good, detailed message is another good option.

The bottom line is this: make sure your donors are taken care of at all times, not just when you’re in the office.