Series 1: Navigating Uncertainty (Episodes 117-122)

As we wrap up Season 4 of this podcast, we're re-airing one episode from each of our nine series—a chance to revisit the foundational wisdom on capital campaigns, from navigating uncertainty to leading with integrity. Next season, we're turning our attention to the specific context of rural giving, exploring what makes small-town fundraising different, how deep relationships shape generosity, and how to build capital campaigns that honor the unique dynamics and constraints of rural communities.

Episodes in the Navigating Uncertainty series:

117: Navigating Uncertainty - Growing Generosity

118: Navigating Uncertainty - A Trusted Leader Makes the Case

119: Navigating Uncertainty - Avoid Rage Giving in a Campaign

120: Navigating Uncertainty - Hope in Giving

121: Navigating Uncertainty - Leaders Give Confidence

122: Navigating Uncertainty - When Failure Sparks Generosity

To explore small town capital campaign coaching deeper and to schedule an free explore coaching call, visit ServingNonprofits.com.

Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

Transcript

0:00

Every capital campaign is built on a foundation of courage. In this re-airing of one episode of the Navigating Uncertainty series, discover why your personal generosity is one of the most powerful signals you can send during uncertain times. Listen to the rest of the series using the links in the show notes. Welcome back. This podcast explores the wisdom of generosity from ancient to modern, and the beautiful space where generosity occurs during small town capital campaigns. If you like this podcast, please rate or review it in your favorite podcast app. As we consider capital campaigns during times of uncertainty, what are ways to increase trust and giving within the community? The first step is for leaders of the nonprofit and the campaign to give first and to be public about their giving. This is not a new principle. Instead, it comes from ancient wisdom. This week I am reading from the Analects by Confucius, written sometime between five fifty-one and four seventy-nine BC. Quote, "Go before the people with your example and be laborious in their affairs." Unquote. Over twenty-five hundred years later, this wisdom still holds true. When your executive director, board members, and campaign leaders make their gifts first and let the community know about it, something very powerful happens. They are sending a signal that goes way beyond the donation. They are showing confidence despite uncertainty. Think about it, there is never a perfect moment to launch a campaign, but when your leaders step forward with their own money, they are saying, "We believe this. We believe in this. We believe in it enough to invest our own money right now, even when we can't predict everything that's coming." That kind of confidence is contagious Board members and campaign volunteers are also demonstrating that they're willing to put their own money at risk. What I mean by this is that this is not somebody else's problem to solve. They're not asking others to do something that they're unwilling to do themselves, and we certainly notice this in small towns. Those donations signal a commitment to work hard no matter what obstacles that will inevitably come. For example, when the executive director makes a significant gift early in the campaign, they've just told everyone, "I'm in. I'm gonna do whatever it takes to make sure we reach this goal," because no one wants to see their own investment fail. The second part of this ancient wisdom flows from the first: be laborious in their affairs. Leadership giving only works because it's connected to genuine care for community needs. Your campaign leaders need to be present and engaged. They need to show up, have conversations, listen to concerns, and demonstrate through their actions that this campaign matters because the community matters. So during times of uncertainty, don't skip these steps. Don't ask others to give first. Don't ask others to give their time first. Start with your executive director, your board, your staff leadership, your campaign committee. Ask them to give at levels that are meaningful for them and then share those stories publicly. Let the community see the example. Let them feel the confidence. Let them know that the leaders are going first, working hard, and are deeply connected to the needs that you're trying to meet. Because when you do, you're not just raising money, you're building trust during uncertainty. Let's reflect on this question: Is there any hesitancy among your leaders about giving first and publicly to your campaign? What are the ways that you can address this hesitancy? And second, are you willing to have the necessary conversation to ask a leader to give a meaningful gift or to leave the board or the campaign committee for the success of the campaign? Share this podcast if you enjoy these five-minute reflections and subscribe to receive these reflections released every Monday. To explore Small Town Capital Campaign Coaching deeper, visit servingnonprofits.com. See you next week