Reflections on Generosity for Capital Campaigns
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 for Capital Campaigns
141: Authentic Giving - An Approach for Belonging
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"...Fund-raising must always aim to create new, lasting relationships...."
This week, I’m reading a quote from The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen, originally presented in 1992.
Reflection questions:
- Which campaign donors do you need to offer communion, belonging, and friendship to this week?
- Thinking about the case for support, is it just an ask for a donation or is it also an offer for authentic giving and belonging?
Reflection on quote:
Last week, we discussed the scenario when the donor treats their donation as a transaction. Often times, the root of transactional giving by donors is loneliness. In an authentic giving approach, we offer donors a relationship and an opportunity to belong. Henri Nouwen spoke about this approach and his words have shifted the mindset of many working in capital campaigns across various mission types and not just faith-based organization.
When donors approach us with a transactional gift, we offer an opportunity for friendship and belonging in return. The real, person to person opportunity to belong and to make a difference. Instead of seeing the conversation as a transaction, we invite donors to belong and seeing their money as a way to join with others to create a vision and life together that is fruitful beyond just the building that will built. The building itself changes to a place of community for both the donor and the constituent.
To purchase: The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen
Used with permission from Upper Room Books.
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. Every week, we pause to reflect. Because capital campaigns — especially in small towns — aren't just about buildings and budgets. They're about people choosing to be generous. 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. Whether you're just starting out or deep in the middle of a campaign, these five-minute reflections will ground you, encourage you, and remind you why this work matters.
Last week, we discussed the scenario when the donor treats their donation as a transaction. Often times, the root of transactional giving by donors is loneliness. In an authentic giving approach, we offer donors a relationship and an opportunity to belong. Henri Nouwen spoke about this approach and his words have shifted the mindset of many working in capital campaigns across various mission types and not just faith-based organization. This week, I’m reading a quote from The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen, originally presented in 1992.
Quote.
Asking for money is a way to call people into this communion with us. It is saying. “We want you to get to know us.” Gathered together by our common yearning, we begin to know this communion as we move together towards our vision. How does spiritual communion manifest itself concretely? When fund-raising as ministry calls people together in communion with God and with one another, it must hold a real possibility of friendship and community. People have such a need for friendship and for community that fund-raising has to be community-building.
If we ask for money, it means that we offer a new fellowship, a new brotherhood, a new sisterhood, a new way of belonging. We have something to offer - friendship, prayer, peace, love, fidelity, affection, ministry with those in need, and these things are so valuable that people are willing to make their resources available to sustain them. Fund-raising must always aim to create new, lasting relationships.
When compared with new freedom and new friends in a new communion, the money is the least interesting things. Spiritual communion also reveals itself in a new fruitfulness. Here is the radical nature of fundraising as ministry becomes clear. In the world [in other words, where community is lacking in fundraising], those who raise funds must show potential donors a strategic plan that convinces donors their money will help to increase the productivity and success of the organization. In the new communion, productivity and success may also grow as a result of fund-raising. But it’s a byproduct.
Every time we approach people for money, we must be sure that we are inviting them into this vision of fruitfulness and into a vision that is fruitful.
Unquote
When donors approach us with a transactional gift, we offer an opportunity for friendship and belonging in return. The real, person to person opportunity to belong and to make a difference. Instead of seeing the conversation as a transaction, we invite donors to belong and seeing their money as a way to join with others to create a vision and life together that is fruitful beyond just the building that will built. The building itself changes to a place of community for both the donor and the constituent.
Let’s reflection on two questions this week:
Which campaign donors do you need to offer communion, belonging, and friendship to this week?
Thinking about the case for support, is it just an ask for a donation or is it also an offer for authentic giving and belonging?
Share this podcast if you enjoy these five-minute reflections and subscribe to receive these reflections released every week. To explore small town capital campaign coaching deeper, visit Serving Nonprofits dot com. See you next week.
