Yearly Archives: 2024

"...You have heard people say, “Love your neighbors and hate your enemies.” But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you..."This week, I am reading the words of Jesus and His approach to opponents from Matthew 5 and 6.Reflection questions:If you were to give your fundraising appeal to an opponent to read, how would they respond?  Would the letter be consider fair?  Considerate?  Even loving?When you are speaking with a donor about an opponent of your mission, are you portraying the opponent in the best possible light even if you are outlining policy or tactical disagreements?  View the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon about Enmity and Fundraising Letters from July 7, 1995.The text of Matthew 5 and 6 have entered the public domain.Send me a Text Message.To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

"...Ninthly, that meekness is invincible, where it is genuine, and sincere without hypocrisy. For, what can the most insolent do to you, if you stedfastly persist in kindness to him, and, upon occasion, mildly admonish and instruct him thus, at the very time he is attempting to do you an injury?.."This week, I am reading a quote from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, written around 171 AD.Reflection questions:How do you approach donors with opinions that are different to your own?How can you be intentional about showing kindness and gently instructing while being secure in your cause?This work has entered the public domain.Send me a Text Message.To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

"...many of our disappointments and much of our happiness arise from our forming false notions of things and persons. We strangely impose upon ourselves; we create a fairy land of happiness..."This week, I am reading from Abigail Adams’ letter to Hannah Lincoln, written in 1761.Reflection questions:Where are you experiencing disappointments with donors?  Can you release the donor and not the vision?As you create a fairy land of happiness, that is a vision of impact, how will you hold the list of donors as changeable?This work has entered the public domain.Send me a Text Message.To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

"...In which class are you? Are you easing the load     Of overtaxed lifters, who toil down the road?Or are you a leaner, who lets others share     Your portion of labor, and worry and care?"This week, I’m reading a poem, The Two Kinds of People by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, published in 1896.Reflection questions:Is there a new fund development professional in your network that you can reach out to in order to encourage?Or, do you feel like you are drowning a bit and need a lift from a colleague who is a bit wiser in the field?  Can you take a moment now and reach out by text or email?To read: The Two Kinds of People, aka, Which are You?This work has entered the public domain.Send me a Text Message.To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

"...Suppose someone standing by a clear, sweet spring were to curse it: it just keeps right on bringing drinkable water bubbling up to the surface. Even if he throws mud or dung in it, before long the spring disperses the dirt and washes it out, leaving no stain..."This week, I am reading quotes from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, written around 171 AD.Reflection questions:Are we holding onto ugliness from a past interaction with a donor?How can we let go of the ugliness and turn to kindness, simplicity and morality, as Marcus Aurelius states, or can we turn to generosity?This work has entered the public domain.Send me a Text Message.To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop