Alia and I get asked this question every day. And yet I never fail to be stunned by it.

  • Can you guarantee that it won’t rain tomorrow?
  • Can you guarantee that the business will make a profit?
  • Can you guarantee I’ll catch a fish on this fishing trip?
  • Can you guarantee my stocks will go up?

A fundraising program is analogous to a small business. You do everything right, but the outcome is never certain, and it’s devilishly hard to predict.

If you want certainty, stick with death and taxes.