Lost in nonprofit jargon? Here’s how to learn key fundraising vocabulary

Tip 1: Keep and share a living glossary

Have you ever sat in a meeting and had no idea what your colleague was going on about with LYBUNTs, capital campaigns, annual giving metrics, DAFs, or soft credits? While I’m never one to discourage asking questions, I also understand the feeling of not knowing what every other word said in a meeting means, and not wanting to interrupt with a question every five seconds and disrupt the flow of the conversation. 

When this happens, just jot the word down in a spreadsheet or other easily shareable format to keep a running list. You can use it just for yourself, or share with anyone joining your nonprofit as a new hire. When I was a fundraiser and switched to a subsector that I wasn’t familiar with, I kept a Google Sheet of unfamiliar words and terms, and asked my colleagues to add to it. They responded enthusiastically, and it turned out that a lot of us went through meetings feeling confused and overwhelmed by our own terminology! 

Users can add words they’re unfamiliar with and leave the definitions blank, and more experienced users can fill in definitions and meanings of acronyms and other jargon that’s specific to your nonprofit. It’s a quick and easy way to share knowledge and create a common vocabulary among your team. 

Want a head start on your glossary? Here’s a sample of our essential nonprofit sector terms and definitions, with more included in the free Nonprofit Growth Kit. Request your kit today!

Tip 4: Treat yourself

This may sound silly, but it works: as you notice yourself learning new words, adjusting to your nonprofit’s unique jargon, and generally feeling more comfortable in your environment, give yourself a little treat. By “hacking” your brain’s reward system, you’re setting yourself up for future learning success, since you’re building an active connection between learning the essential language for your job and a nice hit of the feel-good chemical dopamine. 

I like to keep small treats on hand, like individually wrapped chocolates, for whenever I need to remind my brain that when it learns the things I need to know, it’s doing a good job. You could use treats like a quick break outside, a happy hour at the end of the week, or any other activity that makes you feel good. It’s a great trick for motivating yourself through tedious tasks, too!