122: When Failure Sparks Generosity

"All that happens, happens right: you will find it so if you observe narrowly..."

This week, I am reading a quote from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, written around 171 AD.

Reflection questions:

• When you think about a failure during the campaign, how are you observing narrowly for the right things that came out of it?

• How are you using failures to spark deeper conversations with donors?

Reflection on quote:

In working with capital campaigns, it’s not surprising that I’m well-acquainted with failure as well. A donor event that no one shows up to. A campaign stewardship update that has hardly any opens. A direct mail campaign that goes out later than expected.  As much as I want every activity during a capital campaign to be successful, that’s not real life. When failure happens during a time of economic uncertainty, it can feel even more overwhelming. A wise campaign volunteer once told me that a capital campaign is like a riding a wild stallion without a saddle.  There is a lot that is out of our control and that can bring failure. 

All that happens, happens right.  Notice that Aurelius didn’t say, all that happens, happens perfectly.  Or, successfully.  But, he says “right if you observe narrowly.” We can get stuck in embarrassment or paralysis.  We can fear that donors and prospective donors will stop giving to the campaign because of our failure. This fear can be particularly damaging during economic uncertainty.  Instead, we need to have a different mindset about failure. A failure can help us have more honest interactions with donors. For instance, ask donors for suggestions on keeping them updated with the campaign.  Or, a failure can lead to the right conversations with the right donors.  For example, a smaller-than-hoped-for event can open up a more in-depth conversation that wouldn’t have been possible if the event was larger. Failures can lead to growth when we have the right attitude, which is the second half of the quote.  Let your aim be goodness in every action.  We don’t fail in fundraising because we want to fail.  But we will fail because failure is a part of life. So, we don’t aim for perfection or status.  We aim for goodness.  Goodness for the cause that we serve. And, remember, donors don’t give to us. They give to the cause through us. They want to see the expansion succeed for the good of the community, which is their community too.

This work has entered the public domain.

To explore small town capital campaign coaching deeper and to schedule an free explore coaching call, visit ServingNonprofits.com.

Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

Transcript

Welcome back. This podcast explores the beautiful space where generosity occurs through ancient and modern writings from all cultures and religions, seeking deeper wisdom for capital campaign work in small towns. If you like this podcast, please rate or review in your favorite podcast app.

In working with capital campaigns, it’s not surprising that I’m well-acquainted with failure as well. A donor event that no one shows up to. A campaign stewardship update that has hardly any opens. A direct mail campaign that goes out later than expected.  As much as I want every activity during a capital campaign to be successful, that’s not real life. When failure happens during a time of economic uncertainty, it can feel even more overwhelming. A wise campaign volunteer once told me that a capital campaign is like a riding a wild stallion without a saddle.  There is a lot that is out of our control and that can bring failure. This week, I am reading a quote from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, written around 171 AD.

Quote

All that happens, happens right: you will find it so if you observe narrowly. I mean not only according to a natural order, but according to our idea of justice, and, as it were, by the action of one who distributes according to merit. Go on then observing this as you have begun, and whatever you do, let your aim be goodness, goodness as it is rightly understood. Hold to this in every action.

Unquote

All that happens, happens right.  Notice that Aurelius didn’t say, all that happens, happens perfectly.  Or, successfully.  But, he says “right if you observe narrowly.” We can get stuck in embarrassment or paralysis.  We can fear that donors and prospective donors will stop giving to the campaign because of our failure. This fear can be particularly damaging during economic uncertainty.  Instead, we need to have a different mindset about failure. A failure can help us have more honest interactions with donors. For instance, ask donors for suggestions on keeping them updated with the campaign.  Or, a failure can lead to the right conversations with the right donors.  For example, a smaller-than-hoped-for event can open up a more in-depth conversation that wouldn’t have been possible if the event was larger. Failures can lead to growth when we have the right attitude, which is the second half of the quote.  Let your aim be goodness in every action.  We don’t fail in fundraising because we want to fail.  But we will fail because failure is a part of life. So, we don’t aim for perfection or status.  We aim for goodness.  Goodness for the cause that we serve. And, remember, donors don’t give to us. They give to the cause through us. They want to see the expansion succeed for the good of the community, which is their community too.

Let’s reflect on 2 questions this week:

When you think about a failure during the campaign, how are you observing narrowly for the right things that came out of it?

How are you using failures to spark deeper conversations with donors?

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