This blog is the start of a multi-part series on shifting attitudes in our society and how we, as fund development professionals, continue to thrive.
Recently, I got a quick car wash so that I could use the vacuums to clean up the needles from Christmas decorations. After the car wash, I pulled into the parking space in front of the vacuums. I intentionally hugged the left line so that the car on my right could continue to use “my” parking space to lay out her floor mats. Because, boy, so much dirt collects under those floor mats and I understood her predicament. As I was vacuuming the needles, I left the left passenger car door open, going back and forth. Up pulls a large truck. In spite of several empty parking spaces, the driver demanded that I close my car door so she could park next to me. I gestured to the other empty parking spaces and that I was still vacuuming. The driver parked in the spot, barely avoiding hitting my car, and came up to me, yelling at how stupid I am over and over again. I reminded that her that there were other empty spaces and that I was still vacuuming. She stated again that I am stupid and that she wanted that space. She paid for that spot. (And, before you think I acted saintly, I then proceeded to passive-aggressively vacuum out my whole car – every nook and cranny.)
I was raised with the value of neighborliness. It is a harsh environment in Montana and you never know when you will need to rely on your neighbors for life or limb and vice versa. For most of the people around the world, life is harsh and neighborliness matters.
What happens to fund development when neighborliness, as a value, begins to disappear as a wide-accepted civic value?
We can see the effects in our fundraising techniques. Generosity becomes a transaction. You, superhero donor, are saving the world! You gain influence and benefits you deserve! Ethics aside, we need to raise the most amount of donations in any way we can because fund development is competitive and our mission matters more than others. And so on.
What about how we perceive donors when their giving shifts? Do we see them through the lens of neighborliness? Here are a couple of questions to check our attitude:
- Do we grouse when a donor starts giving significantly to another organization?
- Do we bemoan political giving season because politically active donors are shifting their charitable dollars temporarily?
If we have connected with these donors through our relationship with them to understand their shifting giving habits, we can bless and release them to be generous to others and be grateful for the impact they had on our work when they were giving to our organization. After all, that is what it means to be neighborly.