Reflections on Generosity

"...Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by the covering,Cast them away as ugly, or heavy, or hard.Remove the covering and you will find beneath it a living splendor,Woven of love, by wisdom, with power..."This week, I’m reading a poem written by Greville MacDonald to his father George MacDonald in 1930.Reflection question:When will you take time to pause, wait, and look deeper to glimpse joy, beauty, and living splendor? Reflection on quote:In our work, it is easy to become overcome by the immediate needs we face.  Unlike for-profit organizations, our goal is to put ourselves out of business by tackling challenges outlined in our mission and vision.  Because of this, the immediate needs can lead to burnout and stress.  But, if we pause, we can glimpse something else.Yes, our days are often full of trial, sorrow or duty. Yet, though our work we bring life, meaning, and purpose.  And, within that, we can glimpse joy, beauty, and living splendor. As MacDonald writes, could we but see.  That seeing takes time.  Time for us to pause and waiting and look deeper beneath the covering and the shadows.This work has entered the public domain.What do you think?To explore fundraising coaching…

"...To think and to will without doing, when there is opportunity, is like a flame enclosed in a vessel and goes out; also like seed cast upon the sand, which fails to grow, and so perishes with its power of germination. But to think and will and from that to do is like a flame that gives heat and light all around, or like a seed in the ground that grows up into a tree or flower and continues to live..."This week, I’m reading a quote that sums up Johnny Appleseed’s beliefs from Heaven and Hell by Emmanuel Swedenborg, published in 1758.Reflection questions:How many of your fundraising goals are outcome goals and how many are process goals?How would your conversations with donors be different if you focused on process goals?Reflection on quote:Earlier this week, I read an article about goals and whether to envision the process to reach the outcome or the outcome. The article referenced the life and work of John Chapman; otherwise known as Johnny Appleseed.  Like many, I pictured Johnny Appleseed as wandering aimlessly around the countryside, randomly sprinkling seeds that grew into trees and, against all odds, orchards.  But that wasn’t the case at all.  Instead, Johnny Appleseed,…

"...The first and the simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind is curiosity..."This week, I’m reading a quote from On the Sublime and Beautiful by Edmund Burke, published in 1756.Reflection questions:What is your personality like:  do you prefer the new and novel or the familiar and dependable?What do you think your donor base needs right now?  And, based on what you know about your personality, are you willing to step outside your comfort zone to adapt to your donors’ needs? Reflection on Quote:In my work reviewing materials from fund development professionals, I often see two ends of the spectrum.  Either the work is completely new - every story, every word, every way to invite the donor to join in the mission is new.  On the other end the work is recycled year after year - the same story, the same words, the same call to action.  Honestly, there are times where either one of those is appropriate - the new and the novel or the recycled and the dependable. We are, our donors are, naturally curious.  We want to know the new, novel information, novel stories about the work we are supporting.  For this reason, we start with blank screens to write…

"...Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity..."This week, I am reading quotes from Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu from his various works.Reflection questions:Are you watering your fundraising appeals with worry and desperation?  Or, are you watering them with kindness and optimism?During a busy fundraising season, how are you embracing the saying, “do your work, and then step back. The only path to serenity”?Reflection on Quote:In the United States, we have trained our donors to give between November and December, which means that a prepared fund development professional has already finished their year end letter.  Or maybe not.  Yes, when we enter a busy season of fundraising, it can be very stressful and that stress can leak out into the appeals we send.How we write our appeals to donors does affect the outcome.  We can approach the writing with worry, fear, desperation.  And, our appeals will reflect that fear and worry.  And, our donors will react - some by giving out of fear, but others will choose not to give at all.  Or, we can approach the writing with confidence, kindness, optimism, and solutions.  And, our appeals will reflect that kindness and optimism.  These appeals attract donors because they give…

"...Consistent with social learning theory, individuals tend to carry beliefs about money and money skills learned in childhood into their adult lives..."This week, I’m reading selected quotes from Money Beliefs and Financial Behaviors by Bradley Klontz, Sonya Britt, and Jennifer Mentzer, published in 2011.Reflection Questions:Have you spent time thinking about your childhood and the beliefs around money you were raised with?Which money script have you been operating in and how might you break those patterns?Reflection on Quote:Earlier this week, I was talking with a person with new fund development responsibilities.  She talked about her fears with asking for money.  Like almost everyone I’ve met in the field, her fears were directly related to her childhood.  It’s a reminder that often we have to unpack our own beliefs around money before we can discuss generosity with our donors. As I read this research, I immediately recognized correlations to fundraising.  Those with money avoidance scripts can struggle to ask for donations. Those with money worship scripts tend to engage in magical thinking around one major donation.  Those with money status scripts can find crossing wealth classes intimidating when building a relationship with a more wealthy donor.  Those with money vigilance scripts may find fundraising…