Reflections on Generosity

"This disposition to admire, and almost to worship, the rich and the powerful, and to despise, or, at least, to neglect persons of poor and mean condition... is... the great and most universal cause of the corruption of our moral sentiments. That wealth and greatness are often regarded with the respect and admiration which are due only to wisdom and virtue; and that the contempt, of which vice and folly are the only proper objects, is often most unjustly bestowed upon poverty and weakness, has been the complaint of moralists in all ages..."This week, I’m reading a quote from The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith. Published in 1759.Reflection question:How are you reminding yourself, as you lift up the neglected and the vulnerable, that you are taking the road of character of wisdom, virtue, and justice?To read: The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith.Copyright expired.What do you think?To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

"...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

"...actually living generously results from an existential confrontation with what is ultimately humanly valuable and important in life and the world."I’m reading a quote from the Paradox of Generosity by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson. 2014 edition. Reflection question:How are we giving space and the opportunities for the donor to reflect and discuss what is humanly valuable and important to life and the world as it relates to the cause we are asking them to join?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