"...whatever you do, let your aim be goodness, goodness as it is rightly understood. Hold to this in every action..." This week, I am reading a quote from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, written around 171 AD. Reflection questions: Think about a recent setback in your campaign. What would it look like to tell your donors about it honestly, seek their advice, instead of quietly working around it? Where could a moment of openness with a donor actually deepen their trust in the project rather than shake it? Reflection on quote: Throughout this latest series, we've talked about how leading a capital campaign is like standing at the base of a mountain where the trail is obscured from view by the undergrowth of the forest and how we are called to lead that journey with integrity. Along the way, we've explored curiosity when facing scrutiny, honesty when sharing the campaign's impact, and clarity in how we communicate with our community. In this final episode, we're looking at how openness fits into that same leadership: what it means to be honest with donors about the challenges we meet along the way. On a hike, you cannot avoid every root, every loose rock, every stretch…

"...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…

"...Admitting uncertainties or limitations, for example, saying, 'We can’t help everyone, but here’s how we are trying,' can actually boost credibility..."  I am reading from Neurogiving. The Science of Donor Decision-Making by Cherian Koshy, published in 2025. Reflection question: As you're preparing your case for support or talking with donors, consider where can you be more honest about limitations instead of glossing over them or exaggerating the impact your campaign will have. Reflection on quote: Last week, we discussed how leading a capital campaign is like standing at the base of a mountain where the trail is obscured from view by the undergrowth of the forest and one key principles is to be curious when facing scrutiny. This week, we will be looking how honesty fits into leading with integrity when sharing the impact the capital campaign will have on the community.  When we're leading a capital campaign in a small town, we know our neighbors and we want to appear competent and confident to them. There's a temptation, when we're asking for significant donations for something as big as a capital campaign, to want to present a version of our organization that looks like it has everything figured out. As if,…

"...that which is a hindrance is made a furtherance to an act; and that which is an obstacle on the road helps us on this road..." This week, I am reading a quote from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, written around 171 AD. Reflection question: As we are facing scrutiny, is our posture one of defensiveness or invitation and curiosity? Reflection on quote: When we are at the beginning of a capital campaign, it is like standing at the base of a mountain where the trail is obscured from view by the undergrowth of the forest. It is a step of faith to stride ahead from the trailhead, but that is just the first step for a journey in building trust that is both exhilarating and challenging as we make our way to the mountain top.   Similarly, in capital campaigns, as leaders, our role is to lead both our organization and the community along the trail that begins obscured. This journey requires honesty, clarity, openness, and curiosity in our leadership. So, this month, we are starting a series on leading with integrity.  The first principle is to be curious when faced with scrutiny.  When the trail is obscured from view, it is…