Reflections on Generosity for Capital Campaigns

"...If you don’t know what harbour you sail for, no wind is favourable. Because we live by chance, chance necessarily has great power over our lives..."

In our series on uncertainty during small town capital campaigns, This week, I’m reading from Seneca’s Letter 71, first published in 65 AD.

Reflection questions:

• How trusted is the Executive Director or CEO among your donors and the community?
• Is the vision for the capital campaign being communicated clearly, consistently, and with courage amidst uncertainties?

Reflection on the quote:

Continuing with the theme of economic or societal uncertainty during a small town capital campaign, I’ve been reflecting on the role of the Executive Director or CEO.  While the trust of Board and the Campaign Chair matters, it’s the Executive Director that matters most in terms of the success of a capital campaign. 

When an Executive Director is trusted in the community, the community is more open to hearing the vision. Then the vision must be communicated clearly, consistently, and with courage.  The community has to know which harbor the nonprofit is directing the community to fund under the leadership of that Executive Director. Otherwise, trivial circumstances and chance events will blow the capital campaign off course. However, when there is trust and a clear vision from the leader, the vision becomes steeped into the community and the community embraces the vision and generosity towards that vision despite uncertainty.

This work has entered the public domain.

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

"...for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs..."

This week, I am reflecting a quote from George Eliot’s Middlemarch, published in 1871 to ask the question, "will donor give during uncertainty?"

Reflection Questions

• When was the last time you did a temperature check with your donors? Asked them how they are feeling in the uncertainty?  Asked them how they are keeping the darkness at bay? And, just listen.
• Then consider, will your vision inspire donors to give to a capital campaign?
  
  

Reflection for Capital Campaigns

One common question I receive is “is this the right time for a campaign because of … the fill-in-the-blank economic or societal uncertainty?”  Will donors give?

During uncertain times, the ordinary people who are our donors often feel overwhelmed.  When there is increased division, enmity, and strife, it’s easy to feel powerless and to focus inward. We begin to feel as though nothing will change and, for some, this can lead to a decrease in their giving. 

And, yet, neuroscience has proven that the act of giving boosts a donor’s mood and their feelings of agency.  When we give donors a concrete way that they can help their community, they no longer feel as powerless.  Their donations become the small acts of kindness and love that they can do to push back against the enmity.  Through giving, we empower them to partner with us to keep the uncertainty in check.  We empower them to grow the good in each of our communities through these unhistoric acts.  

A well-planned capital campaign can cast a vision that becomes a visible reminder of the good they can do in the community.  

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

Over the past two years, we've begun each week together with a meaningful reflection on the beautiful space where generosity occurs, paired with coaching questions designed to ground you for the week ahead.

Starting next week, this podcast will take on a slightly different focus. Each reflection will center on cultivating a generosity mindset specifically for capital campaigns, complete with coaching questions to ground you for the week ahead in your capital campaign planning and work.

Here's what I want you to also know: the principles that drive successful capital campaigns apply to all fundraising work. The generosity mindset essential for capital campaigns is the exact same mindset needed for flourishing in any fundraising endeavor—regardless of the size of your campaign or activities.

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

"...had bequeath to his executors for charitable purposes his personal clothing and nought else..."

This week I am re-reading "The Ethics of giving: The Ratio of Generosity to Income" by "a Drafter of Many Appeals" from the Hospital Magazine, published in 1915.

Reflection question:

• When will you take the time to find the humor in our fundraising work through  humorous videos or cartoons focused on fundraising or, maybe, have conversation with a colleague about their funniest moments in this profession?

Reflection on the quote:

As we enter into fall and preparing for year-end giving season, I thought that I would re-share a bit of humor from a fundraising colleague who toiled in our profession over a hundred years ago.  This professional was obviously the chief writer of many year-end fundraising appeal. 

To the drafter of many appeals.  We still hear you.  There are days when we too want to throw up our hands and ask why.  Why did they only donate used clothing as this donor did?  Or the sailboat that is not water worthy?  Do they not know that generosity should not cost the nonprofit?  And, yet, in the midst of the weird moments of fundraising, we also see the sacrificial donors who wish to join us in the work of our missions and wish that they could give more.

This work has entered the public domain.

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

"...It is not the critic who counts..."

This week, I am sharing a musical version of the Man in the Arena from Citizenship in a Republic, a speech given by Theodore Roosevelt in 1910 and with original music written and performed by Deidre Corson.

Reflection questions:

• Imagine with the ending of your current campaign will look like.  What joy will you feel?  

• How can you encourage the donors and volunteers who are with you in the arena that the horizon of joy is coming?

Reflection on the quote:

This evening, I have the joy of celebrating the grand opening of a music school.  The Executive Director of this music school had reached out to me for a one-time coaching call during a challenging season of the capital campaign. A few months later, after I released a podcast with this quote, this Executive Director sent me a musical version of the Man in the Arena.

In the middle of any challenging campaign, it can seem like the sweat, blood, and failures are unending.  Like this Executive Director who continued to be in the arena, fund development is making effort after effort without knowing how each effort will turn out. Yet, by pressing to the end, there is a celebration when we have invited donors and volunteers into the arena to strive with us valiantly and to dare greatly. 

The Man in the Arena has entered the public domain.

Musical version was written with original music and performed by Deidre Corson and 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

"We experience joy in forming the intention to be generous; we experience joy in the actual act of giving something; and we experience joy in remembering the fact that we have given."

This week, I’m reading 3 quotes from the Buddha.

Reflection questions:

• When you approach potential donors this week, are you apologizing for an interruption or celebrating an invitation to experience joy?

• How might your follow-up conversations change if you viewed them as helping donors complete their joy cycle rather than simply maintaining relationships?

Reflection on quote:

There's something beautiful about discovering that ancient wisdom and modern science keep arriving at the same truths. The writers from centuries ago understood things about human nature—about giving, receiving, and gratitude—that we're just now proving with brain scans and research studies.

These quotes show something we in the nonprofit world often forget—giving isn't a burden we place on people. It's a gift we offer them.

Think about your own experience. Remember the last time you gave something meaningful? That warm feeling you got? That wasn't just sentiment—that was your brain releasing actual joy chemicals. The quote reveals this beautiful truth: we experience joy when we decide to give, joy when we actually give, and joy when we remember giving. Triple joy.

But here's where we mess up. We work so hard to capture that first moment—getting someone to say yes—then we disappear into our urgent program work. We forget about joy number three. We abandon our donors before they can fully experience what they've done.

When we follow up, when we share impact, when we help donors remember their generosity—we're not just being polite. We're completing their joy cycle. We're helping them access that third happiness that makes them want to give again.
So stop apologizing for fundraising. Start celebrating it. You're not asking for money—you're offering transformation. For your community, and for every generous heart who joins you.

This work has entered the public domain.

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

"...It is only the spirit of giving that counts, and the very poor give without any self-consciousness..."

This week, I’m reading from Random Reminiscences of Men and Events by John D. Rockefeller, published in 1909.

Reflection question:

• Do you celebrate and promote the generosity of Board members, especially those at the lowest income levels? 

Reflection on quote:

I had a conversation with a colleague on whether the requirement to give to prevents lower income Board members from serving. This is a bit of a soapbox for me and I have some strong feelings. When we assume that lower income Board members can’t give, we are making an assumption that has been easily contradicted for generations.

When we assume that a lower income Board member can’t give and therefore don’t allow them to participate in a Board giving requirement, we are making the decision for the Board member.  We are removing agency from that Board member.  We are asking for their opinions, advice, and expertise as a Board member and at the same time, we in essence don’t believe they have the ability to make giving decisions.  Eek.  That smacks of privilege. Professionally and personally, I believe and wisdom from ages past shows us that the poor can teach us the true spirit of generosity. Lower income Board members have the right to choose whether their passion for the cause extends to giving. Spoiler alert.  If they are giving their time, they will give their money as well.  In a time of abundance and luxuries among most Board members, the lower income Board members can model generosity and the importance of obligations to others on the Board.  

This work has entered the public domain.

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

Fundraising work can feel isolating, with endless tasks pulling you in every direction. But what if you stepped back from the techniques and trends to discover something deeper?

Welcome to Reflections on Generosity — a weekly five-minute pause to explore the beautiful space where generosity occurs. Drawing from ancient wisdom to modern insights across all cultures, we'll ground you with thoughtful reflections and coaching questions for the week ahead.

This isn't another podcast for your to-do list. It's a moment to reconnect with the profound, timeless work you're already doing.

Join me each week for Reflections on Generosity. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

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

"...O let us live in joy, although having nothing! In joy let us live like spirits of light!.."

This week, I’m reading a quote from the Dhammapada, written down in the 1st century BC. 

Reflection questions:

• First, when was the last time you stepped back to view the greater horizon of your mission? Maybe it's time to do that again—to reconnect with the love, health, peace, and joy of what you get to fundraise for.

• Second, think about your donors. Who are the people you could share that joy with—not to cultivate, ask, or steward them, but simply to have a conversation filled with genuine excitement about your mission? Who's coming to mind right now?

Reflection on quote:

I read a reflection on generosity from various world religions and science.  One insight comes from Buddhism in how we show up in the spaces where we work.

Working with nonprofits across every sector imaginable—from arts and culture to human services, conservation to animal welfare—never gets old. My reaction is always the same: "You get to do what and raise money for that? Your mission is incredible!" When people ask what I do for work, I find myself talking about the amazing missions I get to support rather than fundraising tactics or strategies.
Here's what I've noticed: we get so laser-focused on the next campaign deadline or goal that we lose sight of the bigger picture. That tunnel vision weighs us down and leads straight to burnout. But when we step back and look at the greater horizon of our work, something shifts. We remember that we're bringing love, health, peace, and joy to our communities.

Think about it—you're living out love through arts, culture, or historic preservation. You're creating health for clients, communities, and people in your care. You're building peace for those in conflict or helping people find safety. And you're cultivating joy through the abundance of generosity, giving donors the chance to experience that same deep satisfaction.

This work has entered the public domain.

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

"...We must not consider how great presents are, but in what spirit they are given..."

This week, I am reading a story and quote from On Benefits by Seneca the Younger, published in 59 AD.

Reflection questions:

• Consider the volunteers you interact with, how are you going beyond thanking them for their time and instead honoring the gift of their own self?

• How are we giving them an opportunity to grow and restore themselves into better versions of themselves?

Reflection on quote:

In the nonprofit world, we frequently use some form of the saying, Work, Wisdom, and Wealth, to refer to the various forms of generosity. With that first gift, work, we are seeing a decline in volunteerism.  So, let’s consider how to care for the generosity of time.  

From Seneca’s perspective, time is a gift of one’s self and of great price. In fundraising, we discuss the donor’s journey and how we are stewarding them. What is the donor journey for volunteers?  We have an opportunity to recognize these volunteers as some of our greatest donors.  We give them the circumstances to expand their sense of belonging, their community, and their knowledge. The circumstances for self growth. Finally, as our volunteers show up with joy, we can allow that attitude to permeate our organization’s culture.

This work has entered the public domain.

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