In the 1992 SNL-produced movie Wayne’s World, the main characters Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) find themselves hanging out with legendary shock rocker Alice Cooper in his dressing room after a concert. As they chat about the history of Milwaukee, Wisconsin with Alice and his bandmates, Wayne and Garth suddenly are overcome with the realization that a musical icon has graciously welcomed our two heroes into his environment. In an intense moment of humility, Wayne and Garth drop to their knees and repeatedly bow before their idol while hilariously pleading “We’re Not Worthy! We’re Not Worthy!” in unison.
Wayne and Garth had succumbed to an overpowering case of imposter syndrome – a psychological condition when a person possesses and/or expresses an elevated sense of self-doubt about their skills, talents or accomplishments. Many have difficulty accepting praise or accolades from others because they feel any success they achieve is undeserved or illegitimate.
Imposter syndrome is not limited to individuals since charities unfortunately are often hindered by an organizational culture that is based on it. Grassroots non-profits sometimes downplay the need for their services and the impact they produce because they aren’t a large children’s hospital or a major university. Board members lament how their cause is mundane by comparison and does not tug at the heartstrings as effectively.
Leaders of small charities bemoan their lack of “star power” of a celebrity spokesperson to champion their mission. As a fund development consultant, the most troubling imposter syndrome symptom I encounter are board and staff members who are convinced that nobody beyond their immediate circles is interested in supporting their charity. According to this perspective, no person would donate to a charity if they were not directly and extensively affected by the issues or challenges its programs address. Since no logical reason exists why “outsiders” should give, inviting them to support the cause is a pointless exercise.
Fundraising people from larger charities with established annual giving programs have a tough time understanding why non-profit leaders would deliberately trivialize their organization’s work and sabotage the pursuit of its mission. Yet it does happen with an alarmingly high level of frequency.
Believing one’s charity is not a worthy recipient of gifts from new donors is a sad and potentially tragic state of affairs. Failure to acknowledge the importance of a non-profit by its leaders hamstrings its ability to raise the money or obtain the resources necessary to create positive change. In essence, they are denying help to the people who need it the most.
Strong charities are not defined by the size of its budget, the location of its head office or what Hollywood actors endorse it. The effectiveness of a non-profit is determined by its programs’ impact on the wellness and vitality of the communities it serves. Understanding this notion is the primary step its leaders must take towards conquering imposter syndrome.
Progress towards fulfilling its mission and enhancements in the lives of its program participants are outcomes to be celebrated, not minimized by an organization’s board and staff. Knowing they were instrumental in generating impact that made people healthier, happier and more productive must be a source of pride and inspiration for organizational gatekeepers. Impact must serve as the basis for the stories and reflections non-profits share to increase the affinity its donors, prospects and volunteers with its mission and vision.
Charities of ALL sizes and types deliver meaningful outcomes that positively affect different parts of the population in ways ranging from a slight improvement to transformative change. The key for non-profit leaders is precisely identifying which outcomes resonate the most with what specific community groups. Within these groups is where organizations will find the people who care the most about the cause. Getting to know and feeling the passion that these donors and prospects harbour for their charity’s work is certain to boost the collective pride, enthusiasm and self-worth of the board, staff and volunteers.
If non-profits wish to attract new donors and renew current supporters, its leaders must exude an abundance of devotion to its mission, empathy for the people they serve, and communal gratification in its accomplishments. Organizational environments where self-doubt, apathy, ambivalence, and negativity dominate repel generosity and altruism.
Inviting people to transform their communities by investing in programs and amenities that create positive change is and must continue be viewed as a cherished privilege. Removing every trace of imposter syndrome within the fabric of charities is vital to preserving the sacredness of the act.
Extra care and attention must be absolutely employed by non-profits to guard against the presence of imposter syndrome on Giving Tuesday (November 29th, 2022) – an international day of philanthropy where everyone can be a changemaker by financially supporting their favourite charities. For the past decade, Giving Tuesday has been regarded as the beginning and the catalyst of the “Giving Season” which concludes with the arrival of the New Year.
Naturally, charity leaders should take every step to showcase the impact of their programs on the vibrancy of their communities and motivate others to join their winning solution. Yet they should also seize the occasion to extinguish every detectable symptom of imposter syndrome. Amplifying the stories, thoughts and reflections of those who have benefitted from its programs through social media and established communication channels is an effective way of fulfilling this objective.
Raising money allows an organization to obtain the skills, knowledge, space and resources that are required to plan, organize and deliver the solutions that improve people’s lives. Imposter syndrome severely impairs an organization’s ability to generate any revenue and needs go unaddressed.
The bottom line is no board member, executive director, program manager, volunteer or anyone involved in the charitable sector should ever make light of their charity’s work. Positive change and social impact that enable communities to thrive are glorious triumphs from which each charitable representative should derive a shared sense of achievement. Every attempt should be made to share the news with the world.
