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
127: Expand the Horizons for Donors
"...And expanding one's horizons in such ways, being exposed to new information and new possibilities in life, tends to enhance human well-being..."
This week, I’m reading a quote from The Paradox of Generosity by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson. 2014 edition.
Reflection questions:
- What unique stories can your program staff share about the necessity of the capital campaign?
- How can you best include their stories in the campaign?
Reflections on quote:
At the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference earlier this fall, I had the opportunity to meet Clay Buck, a consultant who has done significant work in helping organizations with more abstract missions connect donors to that work. One of his key insights is the importance of bringing the stories of program staff to donors. For all types of missions, the stories of program staff have a role in capital campaigns, especially in small towns.
Capital campaign donors are used to meeting with the Executive Directors, CEOs, Board chairs, and Campaign chairs. Donors capable of making major gifts expect to see the organizational vision, building renderings, case statements, and beneficiary stories. Yet, when we consider the research into generosity, we see that donors want to expand their horizons. That’s where the stories of program staff, in their own words, can come in. Their stories can make the vision for the building or renovation more real and concrete for the donors. They can more credibly paint a before and after picture of the day to day impact that the donor’s gift to campaign will have. Whether it’s a recorded video with a program staff or the inclusion of a program staff on a donor tour, their involvement in the storytelling for the capital campaign stretches the imagination of the donors in greater ways.
To purchase this book: The Paradox of Generosity by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson.
Copyright: Oxford University Press 2014. Reproduced with permission of the Licensor through PLSclear.
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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 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.
At the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference earlier this fall, I had the opportunity to meet Clay Buck, a consultant who has done significant work in helping organizations with more abstract missions connect donors to that work. One of his key insights is the importance of bringing the stories of program staff to donors. For all types of missions, the stories of program staff have a role in capital campaigns, especially in small towns. This week, I’m reading a quote from the Paradox of Generosity by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson. 2014 edition.
Quote
Living generously not only introduces people to new social settings and communities of people, which expands the breadth and density of their social networks; it also often provides new learning experiences and exposure to sides of life and society that would have otherwise remained unknown. That is educational and generative. And expanding one's horizons in such ways, being exposed to new information and new possibilities in life, tends to enhance human well-being. Boredom is replaced by fresh stimulation. Repetition is displaced by new challenges. Stasis is pushed aside by further insights and understandings. The brain is stirred. The emotions may be provoked, desires clarified, the imagination stretched.
End Quote
Capital campaign donors are used to meeting with the Executive Directors, CEOs, Board chairs, and Campaign chairs. Donors capable of making major gifts expect to see the organizational vision, building renderings, case statements, and beneficiary stories. Yet, when we consider the research into generosity, we see that donors want to expand their horizons. That’s where the stories of program staff, in their own words, can come in. Their stories can make the vision for the building or renovation more real and concrete for the donors. They can more credibly paint a before and after picture of the day to day impact that the donor’s gift to campaign will have. Whether it’s a recorded video with a program staff or the inclusion of a program staff on a donor tour, their involvement in the storytelling for the capital campaign stretches the imagination of the donors in greater ways.
Let’s reflect on 2 questions this week:
What unique stories can your program staff share about the necessity of the capital campaign?
How can you best include their stories in the campaign?
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.
