The Universe is full of laws that in essence make things right in the world. There is the Law of Gravity, Newton’s Laws of Motion, and the Law of Attraction. One such law that applies well to fundraisers is the Law of Opposites. Imagine how the Law of Opposites can help your group bring in more donors, more money, more adopters, and more volunteers!

We’re surrounded by opposites every day. Light and dark, on and off, in and out, left and right, up and down, male and female… Everything that happens in your life today will either appear as a negative or positive event. Keep in mind, whatever happens must have a positive side to it. For every negative, there is a positive. Optimists will tell you that every cloud has a silver lining. This is the Law of Opposites.

There are people all around you who are negative thinkers, and I’m sure you can think of several right off the bat. A large portion of the population seems to be mentally programmed to focus on the negative side of life and completely ignore the positives. Is this happening in your group? Do your board members or volunteers only see the negative side? Unfortunately, so do your donors.

Introduce your donors, volunteers (and perhaps your board members!) to the positive side of your group! Highlight recent successes, an increase in adoptions, reduction in number of animals euthanized at a shelter, more spays at the clinic this month than last, or an increase in donations at an annual event. Train your members to see the successes of your organization along with the needy side that requires more time commitments, more donations and more work. By combining these two in a balance, you’ll be showing the success that has been brought about by hard work and devotion. Then, you can show that there is so much more that can be done to help the animals in your care, and that your group will most definitely succeed in your goals. You are showcasing your proven track record, and noting that the ‘negative side’ of asking for donations in your community and for more help from volunteers produces a ‘positive side’ of more animals being safe, happy and in loving homes!

If you only highlight the negatives, your group becomes a depressing, melancholy, hopeless organization that is somehow not functioning properly, and does not deserve donor dollars or volunteer time. Who would want to board a sinking ship?

Obviously, working in rescue is not going to be all uplifting and positive. There are still going to be more animals that need rescuing, or more animals who need special surgeries. It’s how you deal with these circumstances and how you perceive them which will ultimately make the difference. If you see each new rescued animal as yet another mouth to feed, you are neglecting the other side of the equation. You have not focused on the fact that you have saved another life, had the opportunity to get to know another amazing creature, and find the perfect fit with a family for that animal. Imagine that for each medical case that you take on, you now have the opportunity to work with some fabulous volunteers to host a fundraiser, engaging local businesses and donors with a well-planned event that proves to be a great time and successful fundraiser. Look for the positive side of the situation. It’s there, as that is the Law of Opposites which prevails in our universe.

Make a decision right now that, regardless of what happens in your rescue group, you are going to look for the positive aspect of each situation. Remember… every cloud has a silver lining. Do this exercise again tomorrow and again the next day until it becomes a habit to see the positive in everything. You will feel better about your situation, more optimistic about your group’s future, and you will be more productive in your fundraising efforts. These simple steps will make your group more appealing to donors and volunteers alike!