Monthly Archives: August 2023

"...When we don’t give the opportunity - especially to someone who is new to the journey of generosity, we encouraging the donor to throw a stone in the hole and cover it up.  Whereas, instead, we could let the donor make use of the treasure for good in our communities..."This week, I’m reading a story from Aesop’s Fable, titled the Miser.Reflection Question:Do you struggle with the fear of offending someone as it relates to fundraising? What would it take to shift to a mindset of letting the donor give their treasure for good? Copyright expired.What do you think?To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

".... Help your brother’s boat across and your own boat will reach the shore..."This week, I’m reading a quotes from three different cultures to help us reflect on our mentality of scarcity.Reflection questions:What ways can you cultivate joy for other nonprofits when they receive generous donations?When you know that a potential donor has a passion for a different cause, how will you encourage them to be generous to that different cause?  To bless them and release them to be generous to a different organization?Copyright expired.What do you think?To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

"...the paradox of generosity also seems to entail this relevant truth: generosity cannot be faked in order to achieve some other, more valued, self-serving end. Generosity itself needs to be desired..."This week, I’m reading a quote from The Paradox of Generosity by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson. 2014 edition.Reflection questions: Are any of our fundraising activities and messaging encouraging self-interested, fake generosity?  If so, how can we tweak them to reflect authentic generosity?How can we share the stories of genuine generosity with our community?To purchase this book: The Paradox of Generosity by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson. Copyright: Oxford University Press 2014. Reproduced with permission of the Licensor through PLSclear.What do you think?To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

I was asking others to be generous - even sacrificially generous, yet I had never stopped to reflect on my own generosity. This week, I’m reading a quote from the Jewish wisdom on generosity from Proverbs 11.Reflection questions:If you were to receive an unexpectedly large financial windfall to you personally, how much would you spend, save, and give?How are you leading this week in your daily life with the intention of generosity in your own life?This work has entered the public domain.What do you think?To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop