“…And he will refrain from giving to anybody and everybody, that he may have something to give to the right people, at the right time, and where it is noble to do so…”

I am reading from Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle, written in 350 BC. 

Reflection questions:

• Where are you being vague in your conversations with donors or in your campaign materials?
• How will you lean into providing clarity to our donors in your leadership?

Reflection on quote:

This month, we are exploring what it means to lead with integrity during a capital campaign.  For this series, we are using the metaphor of standing at the base of a mountain where the trail is obscured from view by the undergrowth of the forest. Each step is a step of faith, but the journey is grounded in building trust with our staff, volunteers, donors, and the community.  It is both exhilarating and challenging as we make our way to the mountain top to complete the capital campaign.  This trust building requires honesty, clarity, openness, and curiosity in our leadership. This week, we are exploring the principle of clarity through ancient wisdom.  Note: Aristotle uses the word liberal to denote a donor of money from their wealth.

Aristotle points to a key principle for capital campaigns; that is, the importance of clarity when speaking with a donor about the campaign. He outlines that virtuous major donors will give to the right people, the right amount, and at the right time.  

In the capital campaign context, we lead with clarity when we define why we are most equipped to expand our programs and services now and how we can be trusted to sustain our essential services through our new building or renovation after the campaign is over.  We lead with integrity when we clearly explain the true costs of the campaign and the gift range the donor may consider themselves in.  And, we lead with clarity when we demonstrate why the campaign is needed right now and a gift will have the most effectiveness when given now.  

While it may seem more polite in our small towns to be vague in donor conversations, vagueness only leads to donor confusion, sending them back to the trailhead or lost off-trail.  Instead, it is more noble to lead with clarity that we are the right people for the right amount at this right time to receive a gift to the capital campaign.  

This work has entered the public domain.

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Music credit: Woeisuhmebop