126: Do Not Lose Courage

"...Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving!.."

This week, I’m reading from Give, an essay from Anne Frank, published in 1959.

Reflection questions:

• Pick a task on your to-do list this week and imagine others in the campaign doing the same task.  What impact does your combined efforts have on the campaign?
  
  
• Where are you lacking in courage? To whom can you turn in our organization or the campaign committee to receive support in that area?

Reflection on quote:

Capital campaigns are huge endeavors. However, each successful campaign is made up of hundreds, if not thousands of small acts by staff and volunteers.  Each of those small acts are an act of courage. When we step back and look at the progress we are making, each of those acts are combining together to create a more beautiful, just, and caring world.  

What is on the to-do list for the campaign this week?  It might be writing thank you notes. It could be meeting with a donor or preparing for the next visit. It could be sending a follow up text.  Each of these tasks may seem insignificant; however, each task builds a foundation for a successful capital campaign.  Those tasks are then combined with the tasks done by other staff and campaign volunteers.  Together, each day, we are creating a lasting change in our small towns together, even when our work feels insignificant.  As Anne Frank wrote, give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving.

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 wisdom of generosity, from ancient to modern, and the beautiful space where generosity occurs during small town capital campaigns. If you like this podcast, please rate or review in your favorite podcast app.

Capital campaigns are huge endeavors. However, each successful campaign is made up of hundreds, if not thousands of small acts by staff and volunteers.  Each of those small acts are an act of courage. When we step back and look at the progress we are making, each of those acts are combining together to create a more beautiful, just, and caring world.  This week, I’m reading from Give, an essay from Anne Frank, published in 1959.

Quote

How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment; we can start now, start slowly changing the world! How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make their contribution toward introducing justice straight away! Just as with so many things, most people seek justice in quite another quarter; they grumble because they receive so little of it themselves. Open your eyes. First make sure that you are always fair yourself! Give of yourself, give as much as you can! And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness! If everyone were to do this and would not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world. Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible. Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving! If you do this, then in a few generations no one will need to pity the beggar children any more, because they will not exist!

Unquote

What is on the to-do list for the campaign this week?  It might be writing thank you notes. It could be meeting with a donor or preparing for the next visit. It could be sending a follow up text.  Each of these tasks may seem insignificant; however, each task builds a foundation for a successful capital campaign.  Those tasks are then combined with the tasks done by other staff and campaign volunteers.  Together, each day, we are creating a lasting change in our small towns together, even when our work feels insignificant.  As Anne Frank wrote, give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving.

Let’s reflect on 2 questions this week:

Pick a task on your to-do list this week and imagine others in the campaign doing the same task.  What impact does your combined efforts have on the campaign?

Where are you lacking in courage? To whom can you turn in our organization or the campaign committee to receive support in that area?

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.