flourishing

"...On the psychological level, precommitment could induce a preference for avoiding inconsistency, leading people to act in line with their past or committed behaviour. Our study provides behavioural and neural evidence that supports the link between generosity and happiness..."This week, I’m reading quotes from A neural link between generosity and happiness by S. Q. Park and several researchers, published in 2017 in Nature Communications.Reflection questions:How do we perceive donors who insist on a public pledge? Do we perceive these donors as acting out of ego or, as this research shows, acting a way that increases happiness and consistency?To read this research: A neural link between generosity and happinessThis article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution.Send me a Text Message.To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

"...Kind hearts are the gardens, Kind thoughts are the roots, Kind words are the flowers, Kind deeds are the fruits...."This week, I’m reading a quote, often attributed to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, published in 1873.Reflection questions:In our fundraising materials, are we guard them from weeds of hatred and strife?Related, do we seek to fill the metaphorical garden of donors with sweet sunshine and blossoms of good words and kind deeds that reflect the work we are doing?This work has entered the public domain.Send me a Text Message.To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

"....Once we have learned to love the rich for who they are rather than what they have; and once we believe that we have something of great value to give them, then we will have no trouble at all in asking someone for a large sum of money...."This week, I’m reading a quote from The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen, originally presented in 1992.Reflection questions:When I meet a donor at their home, am I jealous or envious?  Or, am I grateful for their generosity?Also related to this week’s quote, do I assume the worst about a donor and their wealth? Or, am I grateful that they have been blessed with the opportunity to give?To purchase: The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri NouwenUsed with permission from Upper Room Books.Send me a Text Message.To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

"But sometimes our concern for the poor may carry with it a prejudice against the rich." This week, I’m reading a quote from The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen, originally presented in 1992.Reflection questions:Am I falling into either extreme of begging or entitlement?With our donors, how am I prioritizing the relationship over the request?To purchase: The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri NouwenUsed with permission from Upper Room Books.Send me a Text Message.To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

"...The waves beside them danced; but they [daffodils]Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:A poet could not but be gay,In such a jocund company:I gazed—and gazed—but little thoughtWhat wealth the show to me had brought:..."I'm reading two reflections on nature, abundance, and generosity: On Benefits by Seneca published in 59 AD and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth published in 1807.Reflection questions:When will you take time this week to be outside and reflect on something abundant in nature?How will your reflection help you move from a mindset of scarcity to abundance?To read: On Benefits by Seneca and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William WordsworthThese works have entered the public domain.Send me a Text Message.To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

"...Those of us who ask for money need to look carefully at ourselves. The question is not how to get money. Rather, the question is about our relationship with money. We will never be able to ask for money if we do not know how we ourselves relate to money...."This week, I’m reading a quote from The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen, originally presented in 1992.To purchase: The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri NouwenUsed with permission from Upper Room Books.Send me a Text Message.To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.Music credit: Woeisuhmebop