72: Generosity or Transaction

"...the potentially world-changing and life-giving power that may be present in or working through the goodness of the donors' hearts and souls; if only someone would acknowledge it, call it forth, and nurture it!"

This week, I am reading a quote from Growing Givers’ Hearts: Treating Fundraising as Ministry by Thomas Jeavons and Rebekah Burch Basinger. 2000 edition.

Reflection questions:

• Where are there areas that we are failing to recognize the world-changing and life-giving power that resides the donors’ hearts and souls?

• How are you giving space for donors  to share their desire to be world changing and life giving?

Reflection on quote:

As we prepare for year-end giving or any fundraising campaign, how we message matters.  Are we selling a transaction or inviting generosity?

This quote reminds me of a conservation nonprofit client and their experience with a donation.  The donor planned to give appreciated stock for their donation.  When the donor was told how to avoid capital gains tax, they refused and instead insisted on selling the stocks, paying the capital gains tax, and donating the proceeds. This donor cared more about the world-changing and life-giving power that was present in or working through the goodness of his heart and soul than the tax break.  When we consider our fundraising messages in our fundraising materials, we should avoid focusing on the tax deductions and other transactional benefits and instead we invite and nurture the generosity of donors who want to be a part of our missions.

To purchase this book:  Growing Givers’ Hearts: Treating Fundraising as Ministry by Thomas Jeavons and Rebekah Burch Basinger.

Copyright permissions granted for use of this quote.

To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.

Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

Transcript

Welcome back. Fundraising can be lonely with seemingly endless to-do list. This podcast isn't about best practices or trends. It's about the deeper wisdom of the beautiful space where generosity occurs, a weekly five-minute reflection to ground you for the week ahead.

As we prepare for year-end giving or any fundraising campaign, how we message matters.  Are we selling a transaction or inviting generosity? This week, I am reading a quote from Growing Givers’ Hearts: Treating Fundraising as Ministry by Thomas Jeavons and Rebekah Burch Basinger. 2000 edition.

Quote.

“When conventional economic and marketing assumptions shape and undergird the work of charitable fundraising, whether for Christian organizations or others, potential donors will often be approached with the expectation that they will be more interested in having their names in the program or on a plaque or in receiving a premium or a tax break than in giving to help others "out of the goodness of their hearts." When this happens, fundraisers often fail to recognize or help donors see the potentially world-changing and life-giving power that may be present in or working through the goodness of the donors' hearts and souls; if only someone would acknowledge it, call it forth, and nurture it!”

Unquote.

This quote reminds me of a conservation nonprofit client and their experience with a donation.  The donor planned to give appreciated stock for their donation.  When the donor was told how to avoid capital gains tax, they refused and instead insisted on selling the stocks, paying the capital gains tax, and donating the proceeds. This donor cared more about the world-changing and life-giving power that was present in or working through the goodness of his heart and soul than the tax break.  When we consider our fundraising messages in our fundraising materials, we should avoid focusing on the tax deductions and other transactional benefits and instead we invite and nurture the generosity of donors who want to be a part of our missions.

Let’s reflect on these questions this week:

Where are there areas that we are failing to recognize the world-changing and life-giving power that resides the donors’ hearts and souls?

How are you giving space for donors  to share their desire to be world changing and life giving?

Share this podcast if you enjoy these five-minute reflections and subscribe to receive these reflections released every Monday. To explore fundraising coaching deeper, visit Serving Nonprofits dot com. See you next week.