You Can Run, But You Cannot Hide: Availability as a Value Proposition
Jerry has a humorous but pointed rule:
“You can run, but you cannot hide.”
He is talking about availability. Development officers are on the front lines, and that comes with a simple reality: you have to be reachable.
In a time when everyone is overloaded with messages, it might be tempting to protect yourself by becoming harder to reach. But for donors, reasonable access is not a luxury. It is part of what they expect when they are investing in your mission.
Availability signals respect
When a donor reaches out – by email, phone, or through another staff member – they are not just asking a question. They are testing something:
“How important am I to this organization, really?”
Your response time and tone answer that question:
A same‑day or next‑day reply communicates, “You matter.”
A week of silence suggests, “You are not a priority.”
A quick, honest “I do not know yet, but I will find out” beats a long delay every time.
Jerry is not advocating burnout or 24/7 access. He is reminding us that development is a people business, and people remember how quickly and kindly you respond.
Setting healthy but donor‑friendly boundaries
Availability does not mean you are constantly on call. It does mean you are intentional about being reachable in a way that feels responsive to donors and sustainable for you.
A few ways to strike that balance:
Set and honor a response standard. For example, “I respond to donor emails and calls within one business day whenever possible.” Make that your norm, not your exception.
Use out‑of‑office messages wisely. When you are traveling or truly offline, set clear, friendly messages with alternate contacts when appropriate. Do not just disappear.
Channel your communication. If your organization has multiple ways donors can reach you, guide them to what works best: “Here is my direct line and email. This is the fastest way to reach me.”
Batch internal vs. external time. Protect chunks of your day for donor‑facing communication and chunks for internal work. That way, you are not constantly toggling but you are also not leaving donors hanging.
Availability in a digital age
Today’s donors might not always want a phone call. They may prefer:
A quick text confirming a meeting.
A concise email with the answer they need.
A short video message thanking them for a gift.
However you structure it, the principle remains: they should not feel like they are chasing you.
If a donor has to ask multiple times for an answer or update, they are far less likely to trust you with a stretch gift.
Being present when it counts
Availability is not only about speed; it is about presence at key moments:
Before and after a significant ask.
When a donor is navigating a complex gift (stock, DAF, estate).
When something goes wrong internally and they deserve a candid explanation.
In those moments, being reachable is part of your stewardship.
You cannot be everywhere for everyone all the time. But you can design your habits and systems so donors never feel like you are hiding.
Because if they sense you are hard to reach now, they will wonder:
“What happens after I make the gift?”