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
138: Cultivating an Abundance Mindset - With Our Messages
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"...true charity is given, not with what is left over, but with what we need..."
This week, I’m reading from the former Pope Francis and his homily from November 8, 2015.
Reflection question:
- Are you asking for leftover generosity? Or, are you asking for true generosity in your messages to donors?
Reflection on quote:
In our series on cultivating an abundance mindset, we discussed how that mindset affects donors and we discussed how we have to build that mindset within our ourselves. As we end this short series, and there is so much more to say, let’s discuss how we encourage our capital campaign teams and volunteers to ask out of an abundance mindset.
As we have discussed in this series, true generosity creates a personal and life-giving transformation for donors. Donors thrive in an abundance mindset. Unfortunately, however, our capital campaign messages take on a scarcity mindset. Instead of sharing messages about giving from fullness, we beg for leftovers. Can you spare a dollar? Every bit counts. Would you just fill the gap? Remember us in your will. If you don’t have other commitments. All of these phrases give the impression that the donor would only want to give to the capital campaign from their leftovers. That wording deprives donors of true, sacrificial generosity. As we train our staff, Board, and campaign volunteers, we must model an abundance mindset in our campaign materials and in messaging, wording, and scripts we use in building relationships with donors.
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. 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. If you like this podcast, please share it within your network.
In our series on cultivating an abundance mindset, we discussed how that mindset affects donors and we discussed how we have to build that mindset within our ourselves. As we end this short series, and there is so much more to say, let’s discuss how we encourage our capital campaign teams and volunteers to ask out of an abundance mindset. This week, I’m reading from the former Pope Francis and his homily from November 8, 2015.
Quote.
Today Jesus also tells us that the benchmark is not quantity but fullness. There is a difference between quantity and fullness. You can have a lot of money and still be empty. There is no fullness in your heart. This week, think about the difference there is between quantity and fullness. It is not a matter of the wallet, but of the heart. There is a difference between the wallet and the heart.... There are diseases of the heart, which reduce the heart to the wallet.
Allow me to tell you a story, which happened in my previous diocese. A mother and her three children were at the table, the father was at work. They were eating Milan-style cutlets.... There was a knock at the door and one of the children — they were young, 5, 6 and the oldest was 7 — comes and says: “Mom, there is a beggar asking for something to eat”. And the mom, a good Christian, asks them: “What shall we do?” — “Let’s give him something, mom…” – “Ok”. She takes her fork and knife and cuts the cutlets in half. “Ah no, mom, no! Not like this! Take something from the fridge” — “No! Let’s make three sandwiches with this!”. The children learned that true charity is given, not with what is left over, but with what we need. That afternoon I am sure that the children were a bit hungry.... But this is how it’s done!
Faced with the needs of our neighbours, we are called — like these children and the halved cutlets — to deprive ourselves of essential things, not only the superfluous; we are called to give the time that is necessary, not only what is extra; we are called to give immediately and unconditionally some of our talent, not after using it for our own purposes or for our own group.
Unquote.
As we have discussed in this series, true generosity creates a personal and life-giving transformation for donors. Donors thrive in an abundance mindset. Unfortunately, however, our capital campaign messages take on a scarcity mindset. Instead of sharing messages about giving from fullness, we beg for leftovers. Can you spare a dollar? Every bit counts. Would you just fill the gap? Remember us in your will. If you don’t have other commitments. All of these phrases give the impression that the donor would only want to give to the capital campaign from their leftovers. That wording deprives donors of true, sacrificial generosity. As we train our staff, Board, and campaign volunteers, we must model an abundance mindset in our campaign materials and in messaging, wording, and scripts we use in building relationships with donors.
Let’s reflect on one question this week:
Are you asking for leftover generosity? Or, are you asking for true generosity in your messages to donors?
Next week, we will be starting a series on authentic giving.
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.
