One Visit Away
One Visit Away
#191 The Donor Slammed His Hands On The Table with Claire Keupen
This week's guest Claire Keupen was a babysitter for my kids when she was a student in college.
Now, she's a highly competent major gift fundraiser and shares some amazing stories from her time working in major gifts with Young Catholic Professionals.
Learn more about my training program Major Gift Millions here: onevisitaway.com/millions
And at the end of the meeting, we're kind of wrapping things up. And then the husband like slams his hands on the table and was like, well, what the heck? Most of the time I get these meetings and I get coffee with somebody or get breakfast with somebody and they ask me for a gift, right? What do you guys want? Peter and I, we're so startled.
SPEAKER_00:Welcome back to One Visit Away with your host, Kevin Fitzpatrick. This show focuses on true stories of philanthropy in order to understand what it takes to succeed in major gift fundraising. Listen to these stories and you'll realize you're just one visit away from a transformational experience for your benefactors and your organization. Well, welcome to the podcast, Claire. Thanks for being here.
SPEAKER_01:Thank you, Kevin. I'm honored.
SPEAKER_00:So I was thinking, I think you hold a special position of, I think YCP is the only organization I've had three people ever be a guest on the show from. I've had two multiple times from different organizations, but like you, Peter and Jen. And so this is a momentous occasion.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Lucky us. That's awesome.
SPEAKER_00:For sure. But yeah, this is a, Yeah, it's cool because you and I met, I mean, I'm trying to think how long ago that was. I guess when you were a freshman, probably. Yeah. At UD.
SPEAKER_01:Either freshman or sophomore.
SPEAKER_00:Okay. Okay. Yeah, I guess just tell everybody who you are and how the heck you got to doing what you're
SPEAKER_01:doing now. right after graduating college. And I started because of Kevin, so because of you. So, I first met you, Kevin, when I was a sophomore and babysitting your sister-in-law's youngest babe while she was pregnant with her now youngest, I
SPEAKER_00:think.
SPEAKER_01:So that's how I first met you, because at that point you were living next door and you still are living next door to them.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. So we were living at that time. We were in our old houses. So we were like. We were like a little less than a mile away. So we would still walk there all the time.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, which I thought was so cool. And I still do. I'm like, this is the best. But yeah, so I remember like looking at your LinkedIn and being like, I don't... What does he do? I had no idea about fundraising or nonprofit development throughout any of the time that I knew you until you sent me the job application. So... Basically, I had studied psychology at UD, didn't really know what I wanted to do, had some ideas. thought about maybe museum education work in an art museum. So I had an internship there and then realized pretty quickly that this wasn't what I wanted to do or in any way was being called to do. So it was like back to square one. And I was picking you and your family up from the airport and you're like, oh, what do you think? Like, I was like, I don't know. Like, I guess I'll just get a job and kind of field my way and figure out what I actually like to do. And your text was so funny. It's like, well, I have something, you know, no pressure. And you're like, just so you know, like this job does mean that you'll meet with me once a week. So if that's of no interest, don't worry. I thought that was so funny being like, if you don't want to meet with me, it's okay. Like, no offense taken. But I looked at it and... read through the job posting. I was like, okay, well, I love talking to people. So that's fun. And I'm not, I don't think I've told anyone at YCP this, but I read through it and I was like, well, you know, all my life, old people tend to like me. So like, is that a skill for
SPEAKER_00:this job? I don't know. Skills loved by old people. Yeah, exactly. So
SPEAKER_01:I was like, this may work out well. And then I just, applied and got the job and then started knowing literally nothing about fundraising actually um literally nothing and so i was so fun to take your course and i really loved the immediately the the approach of building a relationship with people and that's just been the highlight ever since
SPEAKER_00:yeah that's awesome so cool yeah yeah i love yeah it's so funny i i People ask me all the time, is this person going to be a good hire or whatever for a major gift role? It's like, I don't know. I have no idea. Until somebody does it, I have no idea how to tell. There's some things that I think I could make– I don't know. Like, there's definitely certain qualities that could tell you this is probably not going to be a good fit. But, like, you were a psychology major looking to do something in a museum. Like, definitely not. Like, probably not a lot of people would have been like, oh, Claire would be, like, she's destined to be a great major gift fundraiser. Yeah. But then you started doing it and you've done extraordinarily well. Thank you. And, you know, it is interesting, like the psychology background. I like I noticed early on, like people, especially with a lot of your first visits, like people just told you a lot of super personal stuff. And it's like that's kind of not that everything in psychology leads to therapy, but like a lot of what makes a good therapist is like. creating an environment that makes someone feel comfortable enough to share whatever's like really going on. And it's like, that's a lot of what fundraising is.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Actually, I hadn't put that together because I think with psychology, it made sense that I would like this job just given like, if you're interested in psychology, you're interested in people. And so like, I do not ever get bored with people's stories of their lives or moments in their lives or anything like that. It's like, Very quickly, I was like, this is so cool. It's almost like I get to read three memoirs a week or more and just hear it from the first person narrative. Yeah. Also throughout my life. So one, old people liked me. And then two, people would tell me that I should be a therapist. And my mom, I think, very quickly noticed because I'm like too young of age, like middle school, elementary school, just like my friends would tell me so much. Like she was like, you just people just open up around you. Yeah. Which I had never put that together with this job now about how that's still kind of a current theme. Yeah. But it is. It's a gift for sure, I think.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. That's awesome.
SPEAKER_01:Interesting.
SPEAKER_00:Okay. Here's a curveball question. I'm going to put you on the spot. Okay. So major gift fundraising is probably one of the more intimidating jobs that you like could get out of school because a lot of things you're just– a lot of jobs, especially more, you know, first job out of college, you're not customer facing all the time. You're like in the organization or you've got like a lot of, you're doing stuff behind a computer, but like you're going out and like talking to all these older successful people. Um, I guess what, is there anything you can think of from your childhood or how you were raised that like gave you the confidence to like, I can do this.
SPEAKER_01:How interesting. Um, I think, shout out to my parents, I don't think they'll ever listen to this. Oh, they're listening. Yeah, no, now I'll send it to them.
SPEAKER_00:I'm going to mail them a
SPEAKER_01:cassette tape. Yeah, but they just always believed in me. And I think that goes for miles, you know, in what you can do and what you feel like you can do. But they always had... And still do have like way too much confidence in me. Undeserved confidence, 100%. But two, I think my mom really had us step up in some ways, especially socially, because we were like, I'm one of seven. So we were like a little family hub. And a lot of us were like, would talk everybody's ear off at home, but we're so shy in school. And around like middle school, she started making us make our own appointments and call people, which was horrible, horrible. I hated it so much. But like, for example, a hair appointment. If I wanted to get my hair cut, which like you need to get your hair cut. She was like, you need to call the lady. And I like rebelled for months. But then eventually I had to get my hair cut. And so I would call them. And it was the worst. I just like, yeah, it's so uncomfortable sometimes to pick up the phone and call people. But just having that in small doses. And I think that goes for, yeah, it's really, really helpful.
SPEAKER_00:Cool.
UNKNOWN:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that's awesome. That's really cool. Good. Okay, so yeah, what do you got in terms of stories when you think back on the last... I can't believe it's been almost two years, by the way. That's crazy.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, it is crazy. But at the same time, it feels like so much time has passed. And like you said, it is so intimidating to step into a role like this. But because it's so hands-on, I think you learn insanely fast. And like... Even with going back to my home, back to my parents, like we were at a kind of retreat type thing. And, of course, that means that you're sitting at tables with people you don't know, whatever. Yeah. at the end of the weekend, they were like, oh my gosh, like getting almost teary eyed. Like, Claire, I'm just so proud of you. You can like handle these conversations and start conversations so well. And like, you know, just commenting on like, wow, I see like this new confidence in you and like, um, lack, you know, not being afraid to sit down at a table and like really get to know people. And like also, um, make interesting conversation, you know, not just the kind of dry conversation. So you learn so many skills and gain so much confidence so fast, which is really exciting. But I was thinking about my very first meeting. That one, I would... I don't know what I would give to see myself from that poor man's perspective. He was so kind, so, so kind. And that's another beautiful thing of this job. Like, people are so kind and so understanding, which you told me that before going out to my first visit. Like, don't sweat it. Like, these people are not out to get you. On the contrary, they're, like, out to understand you and be kind. And so– but it was– It was a challenging meeting in some respects. I know we talked about this later, but he was one where he really opened up and it was so touching and so beautiful. And he talked a lot about kind of the pains that he's experienced in life. And his son had passed just maybe five or so years prior, but it was still very, very hard on him. And I think especially with a faith-based organization, or really any, you end up talking about those really vulnerable points. But his kindness, I think I did tell him, I was like, this is my, it came up slightly maybe, and I was like, well, this is actually my first time. He was like, oh, yeah, no, great. He was also like ginormous. He was like 6'5", but he was just so, so kind all around. And then... Eventually, I reached back out to schedule a following visit. And he just said, like, I'm sorry, but I can't, you know, this. young Catholic professionals being a group for young adults, it just reminded him so much of his son who was a young adult when he passed. And I still think about him so much because I wish I could write him a letter or something and thank him for his kindness towards me in that moment. Let him know that I'm still praying for him and his son. But it was beautiful and such an, I mean, kind of a crazy first visit, I think. I have never experienced anything like that again So it's interesting, but.
SPEAKER_00:Wow. Yeah. And I mean, just to, yeah, that one's particularly difficult for a variety of reasons, but it's interesting. Like a lot of times people will, like one of the biggest shifts for me was changing my understanding of what success looked like on a visit. Like I used to think success was you get the gift, like that's it. Like if you get the gift successful, if you don't fail. Yeah. But learning that success is did I serve this particular donor well. And in like that instance, like there's no money. There's uniquely like no further relationship whatsoever. But like I would classify it successful because, yeah, like you respected, like you learned what you needed to learn. They shared with you what was going on. in, in their heart and their mind. And then you were able to respect that. And so like, not the outcome that we hope for maybe in like a perfect world, but like, it was still like, that is what success looks like is serving the donor. Well,
SPEAKER_01:yeah. Yeah. I definitely learned a lot and learn to like, that it's a, how would I, how do I word this? Kind of like, Hmm. Just a little bit of like, it's okay to get to know people and like allow them to get to know you in this setting. Because if you approach it as strictly kind of transactional in that respect of, all right, I'm going to talk about this organization and get a donation, then you're never going to get to know that person. Yeah. And it's going to be. so much more shallow and like they pick up on that too, I think, and you can risk making them feel used and using them too, so. Yeah,
SPEAKER_00:lots learned. bigger than some people's apartment. It was huge. And he was sitting at his desk, and then he had these two chairs that were on the other side of the desk, but it was a good... 10 feet away from him so it's just like and they're very these massive but super uncomfortable like fancy chairs and it was just so awkward I
SPEAKER_01:yeah I hate that desk setup where it's like you feel like like I can't I physically can't move this chair it's too heavy for me to move like this will just look ridiculous if I do that but also I feel like I'm like on the edge of my seat trying to get close so you can hear me but yeah I don't know So funny. They're funny.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I have the opposite here. Tiny office with not enough room. It's personal. Yeah, exactly. Cool. Okay, well, that's awesome. What other stories come to mind?
SPEAKER_01:Let's see. So there's a lot of, like, I feel like anyone who is listening to this who works in fundraising will understand, like, just the outlandish stories you meet. Like, it's just hilarious to me. Just amazing. hilarious people in a very wide range of ways, but there was one gentleman who, this was such a big win this year, So YCP, the structure is we have 42 chapters across the US and each chapter has 12 events a year. Most of those are like maybe half of those, a little over half are speaking events. So he had spoken at a YCP event in Orlando. And I looked at his bio and I was like, oh, this guy, if he liked this experience and thought this was cool, could really support us. And that would be super exciting. So I, like he was CEO of like this real estate development company too, which like you quickly learn like, oh, that is, that can be very profitable. And so I was like, nice, this is gonna be great. I made a trip to Orlando, scheduled some other meetings around it. And one of my other coworkers was there too. So he was kind enough to like drive me there, but it was like so out of the way and the office building ended up being like almost like those office buildings that have dentist offices in them you know and I was like oh no like this is not like a big shiny office like oh I really talked this one up this is gonna be really bad like oh okay well like we'll see um And even like Santi, who was driving me, was like, are you sure this is the right place? Because I had also been like, yeah, I'm really excited about this meeting. I go in and he's just so kind and talked about his family, his kids, his two daughters who are young adults and how inspiring it was to see so many young adults who were so serious about listening to him and so serious about taking some. pointers from his story and also to just simply so serious about growing in their faith. And so we were talking and then eventually at the end of the visit, he had done the the classic um well great you know i yeah love to support you guys like i'm planning on supporting you all just send me the information and i this is my weakness i'm getting over this like now i'm getting a little bit better but i frog in my throat every single time where i know you're supposed to say that is so great i actually have something in mind um but i was just like Yep. Great. Wonderful. Thank you. I was kicking myself afterwards. And so you were like, you should just call him. And so then I called him at like 8 a.m. one morning on my way to... I was early to a meeting, quite a bit early. So then I was like, okay, I'll just call him now. And I ended up asking him... for apologize and said, is it okay? I had actually had something in mind and kicking myself for not asking you, is it okay if I ask you for a specific amount over the phone? And he was like, yeah, sure, sure, sure. And then I was like, okay, great. Would you consider a gift of$5,000 because we're doing this? And I was like, we're doing this and we're doing that and we really need this and we're doing so much good and you've seen it and like, whoa. There's like silent for a second. Then he was like, well, I was actually planning on giving you guys$7,500. I was like, another frog in my throat. Oh, my gosh. And he's just... He was... And you could tell that he was laughing while saying it. And I started crying. Immediate tears. Because I feel like you do... you try and like prepare so much and like make these like, oh, you know, can you do this? Yeah, exactly. And so often it's like, oh man, I wish I could, but you know, maybe I can do this. Or like, oh man, catch me in two years. And you're like, oh. And so for him to, yeah, it was just so exciting for him, for me to have not even asked for a specific number at all. And him to just think, yeah, I'm going to give them,$7,500. I was so, so touched. And you said this later where you had said that really speaks to the integrity of that person, that man, because he could have so easily have been like, oh, Oh,$5,000. Yes. Sure. I will happily give it. I can make that work. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:You're
SPEAKER_01:going to owe me one. Exactly. Yeah. It was just so, so cool.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. That's amazing. It was a great day.
SPEAKER_01:Great day for sure.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. And that's like stories like that. And it's part of the reason I do this podcast is because Like what you did with that particular donor, it's not like you did something necessarily better in that situation than in a situation where someone didn't give a gift. It was just– he was the right person. It was the right time. Like you can't control those things. You can just control how many people you go see. And so it's like the more opportunities you have, the more times it's just, everything's going to line up. And it's like, you've got somebody who loves the mission. Who's clearly got some money. Isn't like over committed in a bunch of areas. And it's just like, here it is.
SPEAKER_01:It just lines up so well. And that's when you're just, that's when you cry.
SPEAKER_00:Right. Yeah. Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_01:That was so
SPEAKER_00:good. That's awesome. Oh, Oh, that's great.
SPEAKER_01:There was another kind of fun story like that too. So there was another husband and wife who had, oh, we had hosted a fundraiser cocktail evening event. at a really great person's house here in Dallas. And the bishop here, Bishop Burns, is super supportive of YCP. And so he was going to come out. And so it was like, oh, come have an evening with Bishop Burns. And we invited a bunch of people. And then the gentleman who was hosting also invited some folks too. And so there was a husband and wife who... I think I had seen that they had given a pretty significant gift to maybe a school or to the diocese. So I was like, oh gosh, okay, they have high capacity. And that's when it's like the pressure is on a little bit. It's like, okay, I want to make sure that I'm presenting YCP in the best way, et cetera, et cetera. And so I had Peter, our executive director, come with me and we had coffee and whatever. They're a super nice couple. And I had, because they have pretty solid capacity, I was like, okay, well, I'll explicitly take this slow. Just invite them into the organization, give them the information, get to know them, and then continue that conversation. And at the end of the meeting, we were kind of wrapping things up, and then the husband slams his hands on the table and was like, whoa. What the heck? Most of the time I get these meetings and I get coffee with somebody or get breakfast with somebody and they ask me for a gift. What do you guys want? Peter and I were so startled because it was like the, oh yeah, you know, like kind of like winding down conversation. And he was almost like, cut the crap. What do you guys want? And he was like, and he was again, like just, the right person at the right time. Like we found out that his, he was like, I don't know, my daughter goes to your events. She loves it. And, you know, we've been eyeing you guys for a while. And actually they had met with Jen years ago, but at that point was not the right time. It was just simply not the right time. And then things kind of like fell away a little bit or like fizzled or, you know, the, the, Who knows? And so at this point, when we met with him again, he had just gotten a different job and was doing well there. And like I said, his daughter was super excited about the meetings and things. And so we asked him... So again, I made this like elaborate thing. So I was like, I need to do my best here. So then it was kind of like, okay, plus like my boss is next to me. Like I really need to do my best here. So I was like, okay, well, and like spit out this whole long thing, like alluded to the elements they had mentioned and how that coincided with our work and stuff. And I was like, you know, for this reason, I love, like, I want to ask you all to consider a gift of, I think it was like 15,000 or something. And they were like, And we'll do 10.
SPEAKER_00:Okay, it's so funny. Now I'm remembering who this was. Oh, yeah, yeah. I don't know them super well, but now seeing the, like, hands slamming down seems so out of character for that person that it makes it, like, way funnier. Like, super reserved, doesn't really say a lot, so to come out.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, and he had, like, it was basically, it was exactly like that. Like, he was really reserved with, like, interject and, like, correct something that his wife had said at one point and then kind of, like, zone out a little bit and then he was zeroing in at the end. Like, cut the crap. Come on, let's get to it.
SPEAKER_00:That is so awesome. That is great. Cool. Man. And yeah, that's an interesting thing that I would tell bosses to be aware of as well. Because a lot of times I'm working with CEOs or executive directors and they've got some gift officer that reports to them. And the gift officer is doing super well. If you just look at their numbers, they're kicking butt. But then the executive director will go on a visit with the gift officer. And the gift officer doesn't do that well sometimes or is really awkward. And a lot of times I remind... the boss, because you are observing them and you have the ability to give them raises or fire them or whatever, you're not observing them as they would normally act. You're observing them as they act, knowing that they're being watched, which is like, The more you do it and the closer you get with people, the less that happens. But it's just a good thing for supervisors to be aware of. If somebody's numbers are good but they act weird when you're there, it might just be because they're kind of nervous because it's normal.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, definitely. It's also really hard to have a feel for– when that person is gonna talk and when you're gonna talk. And who's gonna answer this question. Because also you recognize like you wanna be respectful of them. But if you don't have a flow down of who best tackles these kind of questions and who best tackles these, it's so hard. Like the first visit I went on with Peter, I think I was silent the entire time.
SPEAKER_00:And I was like, oh my God, I'm going to
SPEAKER_01:get
SPEAKER_00:fired. Claire keeps going on these visits and they only last like five minutes. People are just like, is she okay? Yeah, exactly. I just cower.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, it is. I'm glad you're saying that because it shifts the dynamics so drastically that it's really hard to like just... go forward, you know, and like be your normal kind of self.
SPEAKER_00:So yeah, for sure. For sure. Cool. Well, yeah. What else you got?
SPEAKER_01:Hmm. Okay. Let's see. There was, and that this is kind of a similar story. Um, I think you had mentioned this with one of your, your donors who you like met him on a McDonald's or something like that. But it's always funny to me when, um, Oh my gosh, this gentleman is so funny. He, um, lives kind of in a little bit of a rural area. And they had just opened a chicken salad chick. Is that the restaurant? And that was groundbreaking for them. And so we met there at 1145 AM for some chicken salad. He was telling me all about, oh my gosh, so much. And He really was interested in YCP, but hadn't had any hands-on experience of it or anything. And that usually kind of takes their interest to the next level, kind of like the gentleman who ended up giving$7,500, where they're just like, you don't need to tell me. I've seen it. So I was telling him all about it. He was super interested. But he also just was talking about he had sold his business, I think. Yeah. And essentially word had gotten out that he has donor advised fund has a given amount and he's going to give that away and he gives to Catholic organizations. He was like, oh, my mailbox. I can't even open it. It's so full. I was like so angry. So I was like, oh, geez. Well, he's certainly not going to like what I have to say. But then again, like you make clear why you want to meet with them and like they do want to give. It just can be stressful sometimes. You want to be respectful of that. But he... Oh, this was so cool. It's like an aside. He had he had decided that he wants to leave almost nothing. But he wants to leave enough to have a foundation for his kids to run. But it was so funny talking to him because he was like, I don't want my kids to have any of this. Like, I don't want them to be lazy. He was like, all right, right on, okay. And so he'd set up this foundation. He'd put like X amount he was telling me. And then he was hoping to put, I think it was like 5 million. by like this time. But I had not gotten capacity questions are really hard for me. I'm getting better at them slowly and surely, but I had not gotten a feel for what his capacity was and what he gives to, you know, organizations, you know, each one, you know, it's like, okay, you've got this much, but also he's in this process of setting it up. So it's not like he's like, all right, now it's all done. Yeah. About a hundred K a year or something like that. Um, and then he is similar thing of like, all right, well, um, What do you think? And I was like, oh, yeah, yeah, okay, great. And then was asked, so right before leaving, I was like, asked if you'd be interested in supporting YCP, you know, like, okay, wanting to also be respectful. Like, it sounds like you've got a lot of people reaching out to you. But it also is so wonderful to hear of your excitement for YCP. And you, you know, mentioned this about young adults, whatever, like, it is very important. And we need support. Would you be interested in that? considering YCP to include YCP in your charitable giving. He was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. I can consider that. It's like, great. Would you consider a gift of$15,000 this year? And he leans forward. He was like, what'd you say? And then like point, like, you know, like cups his ear. And I was like, oh gosh, I've probably just like, oh no. Like you second guess everything in that moment. So with my like little voice, I was like,$15,000. And he was like, oh, That number doesn't scare me. And then pats the table and stands up and leaves. So I was like, yes. That was awesome. And he's just, he's so funny. It was just so cool to be like, oh, thank God. Like, you know, to see that. excitement to support still in the midst of like, okay, it can be overwhelming. It's a really hard decision to make. And knowing he like chose and saw this mission as, you know, something he cared about was so
SPEAKER_00:good. Yeah, that's awesome.
SPEAKER_01:He's funny.
SPEAKER_00:And he did wind up giving, right?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, he did. He did. And he'll give again this year. I need to ask him for a certain amount. So I need to get those capacity questions out and say, oh, this is the, we were talking about this. So like your question of... great, you gave this gift. That's awesome. I'm curious. What does a gift of this size, how does that fit into, you know, your, your giving each year? So.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. One thing specifically I would think of for him is I would bring him back to, uh, that moment when, like I would tell him like, so, you know, the first time I asked you for a gift, I asked you for 15,000 and you said, ah, that number doesn't scare me. I've been thinking like, What number would scare
SPEAKER_01:you?
SPEAKER_00:And see what he says about that.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, yeah. Yeah. I'll have to ask. Yeah. He's so funny.
SPEAKER_00:It's funny,
SPEAKER_01:too, because when I do take your advice and. get the courage to ask questions like that, that are almost like a little bit playful like that.
SPEAKER_00:It's
SPEAKER_01:so fun to see their responses. Like when I do call people and I'm like, oh gosh, I'm really kicking myself. Like I wanted to ask you this. And they always kind of giggle. Like it's only been twice, but both of the times I can hear them like chuckling a little bit and they're like, what do you have in mind? So
SPEAKER_00:it's a fun dynamic. Yeah, there's something about like when... When you ask a question with like a little bit of humor, like when you bring up like, hey, you said this, like I was listening and I want to know what you think about that. Like people always– yeah, people just respond to that. And they– I think a lot of times especially the thing with like when you let somebody know I'm kicking myself or I chickened out, like I should have done it. Like people– everyone knows what that feels like. They've all been there where there was like some– some chance they should have taken, some question they should have asked, like some whatever that they didn't do. And it's like the worst feeling in the world. So like when they see that, oh, like she, like this is obviously a super important thing. in her career. Like she messed it up. She realizes she messed it up, but she's like trying to make a second chance for herself. It's like, everybody wants, wants to help somebody in
SPEAKER_01:that. Yeah. Yeah. And I think, yeah, you totally see that, that just that chuckle just gives it away.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Right. Yeah. For sure. Yeah. It's funny. It reminds me of, I haven't told this, I haven't told this full story on the podcast yet because people could figure out who this is if I told the full thing. I won't tell the whole thing, but there was a doctor. One of our doctors when I was a kid, he used to call me Diablo because he said I always had a devilish smile.
SPEAKER_01:Really? Oh my gosh, that's so funny.
SPEAKER_00:That
SPEAKER_01:makes sense.
SPEAKER_00:But yeah, there's something about that just like... somewhat mischievous question asking that like people people seem to enjoy
SPEAKER_01:yeah i feel like you just brings the humanity back in right now like you're just two people you have similar senses of humor like i love people when people have a similar sense of humor yeah it's so fun um just two people being people
SPEAKER_00:yeah it's the best yeah um yeah cool okay what about okay so If you want to tell this one, you had someone who had given a gift a while ago, and then it was kind of radio silence for several years, and then you reignited things magnificently. Do you want to tell that one? Well, I say it because this is like a notoriously difficult person to get in front of, just one who's like super successful.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah. Well, first and foremost, this is also just a story that– is a testament to... getting in contact with the right people. There are so many people, like actually there was, I'm thinking of a different gentleman who, similar giving patterns, similar years, and I found both of them at the same time. I'm still trying to get a hold of the other one. And I got a hold of him, and then we chatted on the phone, and then radio silence again. So it's just, you know, people and their interests, and you just, like you said, got to get the numbers out there. outreach as much as possible and educated you know in an educated way and you will find people who if you're lucky you're like this but he so he had given in like 2016 to 20 or 2015 to 2017 or 2018 yeah and he had given i think two five thousand dollar gifts and then one ten um but you know years prior almost 10 years prior five or seven and so you were like, oh my gosh, you definitely need to reach out to this guy. So I did. And classic, I didn't have his phone number. So email outreach, which that's so easy to get lost. We continued just reaching out a few times. And it wasn't even anything crazy. Like it was maybe... four times or so that I reached out to him, that he responded. And he is like the CEO of a very, very large company. Like definitely has hundreds, if not over a thousand people working for him at this company. But he responded and was like, yeah, sure. Would love to have a conversation with you. How is this time? And then I get to his office. You have to go through a bunch of security. So it was the kind of office that I was imagining. Yeah, not like you. I was like, oh, no.
SPEAKER_00:The other one's like, I wish I had security here.
SPEAKER_01:Exactly. Yeah, yeah. And... I remember the security guards were so friendly because, of course, I was lost because I'm practically a child and getting cases. So I'm finally getting there. Also, like, running across this, like, building compound place trying to find where I'm supposed to go and also not be late because this is a very important person. And, like, you know, I'm pretty sure he's probably pretty busy. So every minute counts.
UNKNOWN:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:got there and it was a Friday and he came down to get me, which was so kind and like walked me up and the entire office was like empty because now Fridays and a lot of huge companies, everyone works remotely. So he was like, you know, commenting on that, but he was just so, so kind and like so normal. Like I had all these, you can, it's so easy to get so worked up about people who are, are in very high positions like that. And so worried about like, if you slip up once, like
SPEAKER_00:they're gonna be so
SPEAKER_01:offended or they're gonna like think you're stupid or something or like, ugh, whatever. But he was just so kind and so normal and so, so friendly and He, you know, a little bit businesslike, wanted to know how things have been going, how things are going now. He did ask a challenging question. He asked, let me see if I can remember. So he has a daughter who went to Catholic school and has stayed very, very close with her friend group since then. Yeah. And so she's got a tight-knit friend group, and his woe is that... So they've got the girlfriend group and then the counterpart guy friend group, right? But she's already crossed them all off. She doesn't want to date any of them, let alone, of course, marry any of them. And he's like... obviously thinking about that because she's in her like mid twenties, you know, he's like, you really got to get on this. Like, where are you going to meet this person? If you're only hanging out with the guys you don't want to date. And so he asked, he was like, how would my daughter end up there? And you know, what is going to bring her in? And that was really challenging. And after some thought I realized, Because in the, you know, I brought like this folder and filled it with a couple different testimonies. And more often than not, there are testimonies of, you know, people who are very alone, very alone, faith wise, and or just very alone, period, you know, move to new cities, they don't have anybody they don't know. anyone don't know the first step in getting connected and finding a community. I mean, some people are just very alone in like their corporate job and their faith and they have this really deep longing to share their faith and have that friendship. But for her, she's got 10 girls who she's incredibly close with. So going to a social event, you know, it's not super appealing to her. And I think he had mentioned she's a little bit like introverted or just not want to like go to a social event just for the sake of going to a social event right and I ended up writing him back and I can't remember if I wrote him back or just kind of said in the moment of you know why CP isn't necessarily for her yeah it's for those people who don't weren't lucky enough to have gone to a Catholic school and to have had made amazing friends and to live with three of them now and to share their entire lives with them. Like it's not, it may be of interest to her and it may not be, but like ultimately it's for those who I think it's, you know, most impactful for, for those who don't have anyone and need that first step in getting, getting some friends, having some people around them, having some guidance too. And I guess that didn't make him mad, thankfully. So then I asked for, with your guidance, thank you. Again, capacity questions are not my expertise. For 25,000 and sent him like a proposal and followed up with him a few times. And then he said, yeah. we'll do it.
SPEAKER_00:Wow.
SPEAKER_01:And that was so cool.
SPEAKER_00:So cool. So cool. Yeah. And I love that. Like the, yeah, I mean just the honesty of like,
SPEAKER_01:yeah,
SPEAKER_00:yeah. Like it's probably not for her. And instead of creating some elaborate, uh, you know, semi truthful story of how this could, could impact her so that you could hope he would give money. She was like, actually it's not really for her. Would you still consider it? Yeah. It was like, Oh yeah, for sure. Um, so I think that's awesome.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Yeah. It was cool. And I think to your point, people obviously can tell when you're being honest or not. Yeah. And when you, it doesn't work when you're trying to like twist things into fitting the answer in any time where people have asked challenging questions, just being as honest as possible. I mean. And honesty is always possible. Just being honest.
SPEAKER_00:When they ask easy questions, I like to lie. Where were you born? Alaska. Okay. So this is funny. The first time I met this person you're telling the story about, I don't know. I can't, I might've told you this before, but it was funny because I was waiting at a La Madeline for him to show up. So I'm just like sitting there and I'm like I'm working on my computer or something. And there are these two women who were there like having some sort of business meeting. And they worked for this like custom men's clothing company or whatever. So it's so funny sitting there. sitting at the table is Kevin, who just started working at this nonprofit and makes$35,000 a year. And they came up to me and were like, you know, gave me their business cards and were like, you know, all this stuff. And then they left. And as they held the door open for that guy who walks in and, you know, like, I mean, you know, it was just so funny. It's like, you got the information of the person who makes, you know,$35,000 a year and definitely is not the right person for your custom clothing. And then like the guy who could buy the whole company, you know, they just had no idea he was there.
SPEAKER_01:That's so funny. You got the wrong
SPEAKER_00:guy. I know. It's like you should have talked to him. Yeah. But yeah.
SPEAKER_01:We can totally do that all the time too.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, exactly. Exactly. You have no idea until you start talking to people. But yeah, so cool.
SPEAKER_01:This is kind of irrelevant, but this was, I just felt so horrible. Cause like, well, Okay, thank God for LinkedIn because you can find pictures of what these people look like. You walk into a coffee shop and it's like crowded and you're like, you know, like thankfully you do have a sense. Sometimes people don't change their profile picture since they were like 22. And I'm like, what are you doing? This is so hard to tell now, but you can still get a sense. There was one man, so sweet. He was emailing me back and forth, and then he sent me this selfie so I could know what he looked like.
SPEAKER_00:That is awesome. It was
SPEAKER_01:hilarious, like straight-faced, super close to his face selfie. I was like, thank you. I'll be in a box. Get it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Please send one
SPEAKER_01:back. But there was this gentleman that I met with, actually, this was just a few weeks ago. And when you search his name, his son has the same name. And he, you know, those people who like they, most of their career, they were already at a point where like they didn't need LinkedIn by the time LinkedIn became big. So like he didn't really have one, but his son had a company. And so obviously there's a lot of promotions on that So all of the posts and pictures about this with this name, were of his son. And so I plowed straight past this man when I was meeting him. And made eye contact with him. I was like, nope, looked away. Yeah,
SPEAKER_00:not
SPEAKER_01:you. And then he was like, Claire? I was like, oh, yeah. I felt so bad. But I didn't know what to say. I thought you were your son. I totally could have said that. Again, with honesty and just being normal. I was like, oh.
SPEAKER_00:Didn't expect someone so old.
SPEAKER_01:Exactly, exactly. I was like, I thought you were younger. Like that's the sentence. And
SPEAKER_00:I was like, no. You look terrible.
SPEAKER_01:You can't say that, Claire.
SPEAKER_00:Right. Yeah. Oh, so funny.
SPEAKER_01:Man. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Yeah. Any other stories you want to share?
SPEAKER_01:Let's see. Let me see if I'm forgetting.
SPEAKER_00:It's funny. I've got all these things written down. Normally I have like stories that I want to ask people about, but I have things that have nothing to do with that written here. So I keep looking at it and I'm like, that's not
SPEAKER_01:helpful. Oh, yeah. I think those were all the stories I... I had written down more specific, but I think just like generally it's such a cool job. Like the aspect of getting to know people's lives. And I think, I don't know how many faith-based organizations you work with, but I think we have a special, it's a special opportunity too. I was telling someone who just started at YCP and he was asking me about my work, et cetera. And it's like, it's just so cool. Like you get to hear people, about the highs and lows and the wonders of people's lives, of everyday life. And when you're approaching it from the perspective of faith, I've heard so many stories of small and like super large miracles that are just like happening to people that I'm sitting at a coffee shop with, you know, like Mr. Joe Blow from Texas or from Chicago or something who like had this like life changing experience in magic warrior and then came back and did this, you know, and or like these small things of. Okay, that's not going to go in the Vatican's miracle book, but it kind of goes in mine. It's just such a blessing and it's made me appreciate my own faith and kind of opened my eyes to who God is and how he works so. so closely in everyone's lives and like how he's just waiting for you to kind of open up and then he's ready to like totally change your life. And it's so, it's so, so cool to see that. And always like everyone's unique, you know, they all have their very, very unique stories of like what brought them to the faith and what keeps them there. They're kind of like why and why they give, you know, why do you care about this? That's a good question to ask. And maybe you can word it better, but getting to the heart of like, why do you care about this? and it opens up like beautiful stories of people's just humanity yeah
SPEAKER_00:for sure that's awesome yeah so glad you took the job
SPEAKER_01:then yeah glad you could send me the job posting that's awesome really grateful
SPEAKER_00:that's awesome yeah you've done such an amazing job and yeah excited to see see where the next few years go
SPEAKER_01:yeah yeah well all with a lot of help thank
SPEAKER_00:you guys yeah for sure well yeah thanks so much for coming on the show and we'll talk soon
SPEAKER_01:of course it was super fun thank you for having me