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134: Neuroscience and Giving - Volunteering Feels Good
"Volunteering can satisfy psychological needs: the need to belong to a community, to see one’s values an action or to develop skills and purpose."
I am reading from Neurogiving. The Science of Donor Decision-Making by Cherian Koshy, published in 2025.
Reflection question:
- How are you showing gratitude to your campaign volunteers?
Reflection on quote:
We are exploring how generosity is deeply embedded into what it means to be human and how that impacts capital campaigns, using insights from a book recently released by my friend and colleague Cherian Koshy. This week, we are looking at volunteering as it relates to capital campaigns.
When I am discussing with the Executive Director the number of campaign volunteers that will be needed for a capital campaign, I often hear two concerns. How can we ask someone to give so much of their time, often months and even years to the campaign? And, secondly, how can ask them to donate financially as well?
As Cherian points out, we can ask because it’s inherent to being human. We desire social connection and meaningful work that shows progress. Joining a campaign committee or being the campaign chair provides immediate social connections and meaning. Further, as the committee raises funds together, they see the progress towards the goal and the actual building going up. Further, campaign volunteers naturally want to give to the campaign because of their engagement. They want to give both their time and money to be a part of the progress. They are doubly invested. In small towns, their passion about the project will then draw others to join in. And, as result, when we keep sharing the progress of the campaign and show gratitude for their engagement, campaign volunteers will keep volunteering because it makes them feel good.
Here's how to purchase Neurogiving from Wiley or Amazon.
Quote used by permission.
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
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By Small Town Capital Campaigns"Volunteering can satisfy psychological needs: the need to belong to a community, to see one’s values an action or to develop skills and purpose."
I am reading from Neurogiving. The Science of Donor Decision-Making by Cherian Koshy, published in 2025.
Reflection question:
- How are you showing gratitude to your campaign volunteers?
Reflection on quote:
We are exploring how generosity is deeply embedded into what it means to be human and how that impacts capital campaigns, using insights from a book recently released by my friend and colleague Cherian Koshy. This week, we are looking at volunteering as it relates to capital campaigns.
When I am discussing with the Executive Director the number of campaign volunteers that will be needed for a capital campaign, I often hear two concerns. How can we ask someone to give so much of their time, often months and even years to the campaign? And, secondly, how can ask them to donate financially as well?
As Cherian points out, we can ask because it’s inherent to being human. We desire social connection and meaningful work that shows progress. Joining a campaign committee or being the campaign chair provides immediate social connections and meaning. Further, as the committee raises funds together, they see the progress towards the goal and the actual building going up. Further, campaign volunteers naturally want to give to the campaign because of their engagement. They want to give both their time and money to be a part of the progress. They are doubly invested. In small towns, their passion about the project will then draw others to join in. And, as result, when we keep sharing the progress of the campaign and show gratitude for their engagement, campaign volunteers will keep volunteering because it makes them feel good.
Here's how to purchase Neurogiving from Wiley or Amazon.
Quote used by permission.
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