Reflections on Generosity
Kick off your week with a 5-minute reflection on generosity to ground yourself in the right mindset for capital campaigns. Each reflection includes a question to ponder throughout the week to aid your work.
Reflections on Generosity
124: More than Asking and Thanking
"...No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted...."
For some ancient wisdom about donors who don’t give, this week, I’m reading a story from Aesop’s Fables, titled the Lion and the Mouse as told sometime between 620 and 564 BC.
Reflection question:
What kindness can you give to a donor who have previously said no to the capital project?
Reflection on quote:
Last week, we discussed building communities of donors during the campaign. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the relationship with donors is only about asking or thanking. A donor gives, and we thank them and report back on the impact their gifts has. What are those donors to your organization who aren’t interested in giving to the capital project? Relationships with donors must be more than just their status during the campaign.
When a donors chooses not to give to the capital campaign, it can feel like a personal rejection and there can be a pulling back from that donor, which can then feel like rejection to that donor. Instead, in that moment, it’s important to lean into kindness. It’s looking for the opportunities to give a kind word. It’s the giving space to the donor to find more meaning in their lives through the other aspects of our cause. It’s the time we spend getting to know them and showing them that we see them for who they are. A kindness is never wasted in our relationships with donors.
What do you think? Send me a text.
To explore small town capital campaign coaching deeper and to schedule an free explore coaching call, visit ServingNonprofits.com.
Music credit: Woeisuhmebop
Welcome back. This podcast isn't about fundraising best practices or techniques during capital campaigns. It's about the deeper wisdom of the beautiful space where generosity occurs through ancient and modern writings, a weekly five-minute reflection to ground you for the week ahead. If you like this podcast, please rate and review it in your favorite podcast app.
Last week, we discussed building communities of donors during the campaign. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the relationship with donors is only about asking or thanking. A donor gives, and we thank them and report back on the impact their gifts has. What are those donors to your organization who aren’t interested in giving to the capital project? Relationships with donors must be more than just their status during the campaign. For some ancient wisdom about donors who don’t give, this week, I’m reading a story from Aesop’s Fables, titled the Lion and the Mouse as told sometime between 620 and 564 BC.
Quote
A Lion lay asleep in the forest, his great head resting on his paws. A timid little Mouse came upon him unexpectedly, and in her fright and haste to get away, ran across the Lion's nose. Roused from his nap, the Lion laid his huge paw angrily on the tiny creature to kill her.
"Spare me!" begged the poor Mouse. "Please let me go and some day I will surely repay you."
The Lion was much amused to think that a Mouse could ever help him. But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go.
Some days later, while stalking his prey in the forest, the Lion was caught in the toils of a hunter's net. Unable to free himself, he filled the forest with his angry roaring. The Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net. Running to one of the great ropes that bound him, she gnawed it until it parted, and soon the Lion was free.
"You laughed when I said I would repay you," said the Mouse. "Now you see that even a Mouse can help a Lion.
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
Unquote
When a donor chooses not to give to the capital campaign, it can feel like a personal rejection and there can be a pulling back from that donor, which can then in turn feel like rejection to that donor. Instead, in that moment, it’s important to lean into kindness. It’s looking for the opportunities to give a kind word. It’s the giving space to the donor to find more meaning in their lives through the other aspects of our cause. It’s the time we spend getting to know them and showing them that we see them for who they are. A kindness is never wasted in our relationships with donors.
Let’s reflect on 1 question this week:
What kindness can you give to a donor who have previously said no to the capital project this week?
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.
