Arnold of Torroja, Master Fundraiser
Arnold of Torroja was the Ninth Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1181-1184.
Born and raised in Catalonia, it was unusual that he would rise to the top post in the Knights Templar because unlike most Templars, he spent most of his career in Spain, fighting the Reconquista, not in the Levant, fighting for Jerusalem. How did he make it to the top spot?
While certainly skilled on the battlefield, Arnold of Torroja’s true talent was in fundraising. He could meet with the crowned heads of Europe, tell an impactful story of how they could contribute to expanding God’s kingdom against the unbelievers, then get them to open their wallets. Their gifts bought soldiers, armor, horses, provisions - whatever was needed.
After spending a few years in Jerusalem, in 1184, he headed back to Europe for a huge fundraising drive. This was not a one-off ask for cash. He joined forces with the Patriarch of Jerusalem and Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller to create a fundraising supergroup.
They were aiming to meet the kings and dukes of France and England, or really anybody with a few gold hyperpyrons to rub together, and get them to fund what would become the Third Crusade. They carried the keys of the city of Jerusalem and other holy relics to show they were serious, not only to collect money, but to recruit nobles (and their armies) to come fight.
Fortunately for the Crusading Movement, this call was picked up by many of the top nobles in Europe, and the Third Crusade would get underway a few years later. Unfortunately for Arnold, he got sick and died in Verona, Italy on the way there. He was buried in the San Fermo Maggiore church, a fact which, sadly, is not even noted on its Wikipedia page.
If you want to make it to the top in nonprofit management, there’s only one way to go: be the best at raising money.
Everyone joins not-for-profit firms because they want to make a difference, want to do good in the world, want to help people, and want to advance their chosen cause. Once you’re inside the organization you learn that 90% of your time will be spent raising money so that you can spend the remaining 10% of your time working for your cause.
Schmoozing donors and cranking out emails soliciting donations may not be why you got into this line of work, you might take comfort in knowing it’s always been this way. Arnold of Torroja might have preferred to be fighting on a dusty battlefield, but he delivered more value to his cause by dining in a rich lord’s great hall.
The glory might go to the knights on the front lines, but they wouldn’t be sitting in their saddles in the field if it weren’t for you sweating it out in your cubicle back at headquarters. So if you really care about your cause, it’s time to work the phones.
