For the Love of Checklists

I don’t know about you, but somewhere along the line, I feel like checklists have picked up a bad wrap. Sure, they are among the most basic of organizational tools, but over time, they seem to have developed a more negative connotation inferring that those who rely on them embody some of the least desirable qualities a professional can possess in our high productivity, output- obsessed culture. 

In competitive environments, particularly in the world of fundraising, many already talented people feel the need to be the smartest in the room, the hardest worker, a literal productivity machine that can spit out solutions to challenges faster than Chat GPT. That pressure, self-imposed or otherwise, can make the mere thought of labels like “box ticker”, akin to the likes of “clock watcher” seem like you’ll be cast into the realm of a professional pariah within the blink of an eye. The very idea suggests one as committed to the bare minimum, is lackadaisical in nature and lacking creativity or strategic thinking. Who would want to be caught in this day and age with a notebook revealing scribbled to-do lists throughout, when clearly there is an app or software for that?

Well, you know what I think? To hell with that. As a fundraiser, who like you, has been on the frontlines of raising funds for the missions we care about, often in a very competitive and crowded landscape, the mighty checklist has been one of my winning strategies to stay focused, motivate my team, and engage in collaborative problem solving that ultimately has led to great successes. 

On my blog and throughout my practice as a fundraising coach and consultant, I’m holding space for checklists, and it will be my chosen framework for how I communicate with you, sharing ideas and strategies to support you in your work. Fundraising is hard enough without the added pressure. Let’s reframe the thinking around this humble tool together.

Here’s how I would like us to think about checklists as we move forward : 

• A clear and focused sum total of what we want to achieve

• A tool from which we work backwards, charting a path toward a specific goal

• A platform for asking ourselves key, strategic questions

• A roadmap that evolves into our actual plan

• The basis for good project management

• A motivator that supports and encourages forward movement

• A reward that imparts a satisfying sense of completeness and a reminder to celebrate the wins and milestones

As a fundraiser, my hope is that we can commit to a “keep it simple” philosophy in our work, ground ourselves in the simplicity of this tool, achieve a sense of confidence and calm, and dare I say it, make the checklist cool again.