"...Fancy is fruitful and promises fair, but, like the dog in the fable, we catch at a shadow, and when we find the disappointment, we are vexed, not with ourselves, who are really the impostors, but with the poor, innocent thing or person of whom we have formed such strange ideas..." This week, I am reading from Abigail Adams’ letter to Hannah Lincoln, written in 1761. Reflection questions: Have you become too firmly attached to the capital project you have envisioned and formed false notions of things and persons? Have you invited donors hear your wishes for the project and then listened to their input to make the project better? Reflections on quote: During the strategic, pre-development, and construction planning, we have grand wishes of what the project will be.  We dream about our mission and how this building will further that dream. It is a beautiful element in every capital campaign. Unfortunately, we can move too quickly from the construction planning to the quiet phase of asking donors.  And, in doing so, we can form false notions about things and persons; that, about the project and the donors who will fund the project. Then reality and disappointment will suddenly confront us…

"...The leadership of individuals or groups who can back their beliefs financially is particularly essential in the field of cultural amenities, in the fine arts, in education and research, in the preservation of natural beauty and historic treasures, and, above all, in the propagation of new ideas in politics, morals, and religion." This week, I’m reflecting on this quote by Friedrich Hayek from The Constitution of Liberty, published in 1960. Reflection question: As you plan for your small town capital campaign, how are you reaching out to potential donors, not to ask, but to persuade them to become a partner in the vision? Reflection on Quote: Today is our second in the series on having patience in the planning process of a capital campaign.  Last time, we looked at the role of strategic planning and envisioning the future.  This week, we will look at the relationship building and persuading partners.  In my rural community, a local nonprofit was building a beautiful arts and culture building and, in the middle of the campaign, the building costs spiked, adding millions to the cost.  I can only imagine the initial despair.  But, that despair only lasted for a moment.  This nonprofit went back to their…

"...Books which it would have been impossible for me to obtain elsewhere were, by his wise generosity, placed within my reach; and to him I owe a taste for literature which I would not exchange for all the millions that were ever amassed by man. This is but a slight tribute and gives only a faint idea of the depth of gratitude which I feel for what he did for me and my companions..." This week, I’m quoting a story from the Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie. Published in 1920. Reflection questions: If you are in the strategic and facility planning phase, ask — whose future are we designing this building or renovation for? Like Andrew Carnegie, are you sharing personal stories of your constituents to show the vision for the future? Reflection on quote: The strategic planning phase of the capital campaign is in my opinion often one of neglected phases.  I’ve observed two opposite approaches to strategic planning prior to the capital campaign.  Either, it is focused on the new facility details for projected growth without articulating the impact to clients as a part of the vision.  Or, the strategic planning happens after the capital campaign is completed. This week, we…