Reflections on Generosity for Capital Campaigns

"...that which is a hindrance is made a furtherance to an act; and that which is an obstacle on the road helps us on this road..." This week, I am reading a quote from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius , written around 171 AD. Reflection question: As we are facing scrutiny, is our posture one of defensiveness or invitation and curiosity? Reflection on quote: When we are at the beginning of...

"...We must now consider what is the main cause of ingratitude..." This week, I am reading a quote from On Benefits by Seneca the Younger , published in 59 AD. Reflection questions: Have we noticed signs of excessive esteem, greed or jealousy slipping into our thinking when we are reviewing our campaign goals and what donors have given? What are ways you can lean into gratitude this week...

"...Hope is not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out..." I’m reflecting on this quote by Vaclav Havel from a series of interviews, published in the book Disturbing the Peace , translated to English in 1990. Reflection question: How are you cultivating hope in so...

"...this old man was one of the most useful citizens of the world in his humble way. He has made a greater contribution to our civilization than we realize. He has left a place that never can be filled. Farewell, dear old eccentric heart, your labor has been a labor of love, and generations, yet unborn, will rise up and call you blessed..." Let’s listen to the tribute from Sam Houston ar...

"...This we must shed; this we must cast away, or else remain in misery..." In this second episode in our series on developing discipline, we are discussing the the effects of indecision and procrastination and the necessity of prioritizing the essential tasks of a capital campaign. This week, I’m reading the words of Cicero as weaved through several of his works, published between 89 BC...

"..Consistent with social learning theory, individuals tend to carry beliefs about money and money skills learned in childhood into their adult lives..." This week, I’m reading selected quotes from Money Beliefs and Financial Behaviors by Bradley Klontz, Sonya Britt, and Jennifer Mentzer, published in 2011. Reflection Question: Which money script have you been operating in and how might...

"...Fancy is fruitful and promises fair, but, like the dog in the fable, we catch at a shadow, and when we find the disappointment, we are vexed, not with ourselves, who are really the impostors, but with the poor, innocent thing or person of whom we have formed such strange ideas..." This week, I am reading from Abigail Adams’ letter to Hannah Lincoln , written in 1761. Reflection quest...

"...The leadership of individuals or groups who can back their beliefs financially is particularly essential in the field of cultural amenities, in the fine arts, in education and research, in the preservation of natural beauty and historic treasures, and, above all, in the propagation of new ideas in politics, morals, and religion." This week, I’m reflecting on this quote by Friedrich H...

"...Books which it would have been impossible for me to obtain elsewhere were, by his wise generosity, placed within my reach; and to him I owe a taste for literature which I would not exchange for all the millions that were ever amassed by man. This is but a slight tribute and gives only a faint idea of the depth of gratitude which I feel for what he did for me and my companions..." Thi...

.."And then with a cry from his soul despairing,He bowed him down to the earth and wept. But a voice cried aloud from the driving rain;“Arise, old man, and plant again!” This week, I’m reading a poem, Disappointed , written by Paul Laurence Dunbar, published in 1913. Reflection question: Has there been a disappointment in the campaign where you need to stop and weep before moving forward? Ref...

"...Waiting, then, is not passive. It involves nurturing the moment, as a mother nurtures the child that is growing in her womb...” This week, I am reflecting on selected quotes from Henri Nouwen from the The Path of Waiting , published in 1995 and Bread for the Journey , published in 1996. Reflection questions: When you are meeting with donors, are you listening with full attention and waiti...

"...Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by the covering, Cast them away as ugly, or heavy, or hard." This week, I’m reading a poem written by Greville MacDonald to his father George MacDonald in 1930. Reflection question: Who on your list of donors who have already given can you call this week to hold onto joy in the midst of your stress? Reflection on the quote: Capit...

“Giving brings happiness in every state of its expression.  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 question: How might your follow-up conversations change if you viewed them as helping donors comp...

"...Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream...” This week, I am reading a quote from Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu and a quote from  A Theory of Guilt Appeals: A Review Showing the Importance of Investigating Cognitive Processes as Mediators between Emotion and Behavior , by Graton and Mailliez,...

"...Fund-raising must always aim to create new, lasting relationships...." This week, I’m reading a quote from The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen , originally presented in 1992. Reflection questions: Which campaign donors do you need to offer communion, belonging, and friendship to this week? Thinking about the case for support, is it just an ask for a donation or is it also...

"...Generosity cannot be counterfeited, and fake generosity does not make us happier, healthier, and more purposeful in life..." This week, I’m reading a quote from The Paradox of Generosity by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson. 2014 edition. Reflection question:  Are any of our fundraising activities and messaging encouraging self-interested, fake generosity?  If so, how can we tweak...

“When conventional economic and marketing assumptions shape and undergird the work of charitable fundraising, .... potential donors will often be approached with the expectation that they will be more interested in having their names in the program or on a plaque or in receiving a premium or a tax break than in giving to help others "out of the goodness of their hearts." This week, I am...

"...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...

"Where there is patience and humility, there is neither anger nor loss of composure. Where there is poverty borne with joy, there is neither grasping nor hoarding. Where there is quiet and meditation, there is neither worry nor dissipation." This week, I’m reflecting on Of the Virtues putting Vices to Flight by Francis of Assisi, first published in English in 1906. Reflection questions:...

"...No matter how it happens, the testimony of those who have shifted in their minds, spirits, and emotions from an imagined world of scarcity and insecurity to one of abundance, blessing, sufficiency, and overflow is almost always the same: it is liberating......" This week, I’m reading a quote from The Paradox of Generosity by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson. 2014 edition. Reflecti...

"Urgency triggers a distinctive neurobiological state. In fundraising terms, this means an urgent appeal can literally put a donors brain in “alert mode” prioritizing rapid action over careful deliberation." I am reading from Neurogiving. The Science of Donor Decision-Making by Cherian Koshy, published in 2025. Reflection question: How will you maintain a sense of urgent and hopeful inte...

"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 de...

"...Donors don’t just invest their money, they invest their trust. Admitting uncertainty or limitations can actually boost credibility...."  I am reading from Neurogiving. The Science of Donor Decision-Making by Cherian Koshy, published in 2025. Reflection question: How are you consistently updating donors, even when the capital campaign or construction is facing challenges? Reflection o...

"...If a donor donates regularly – even small amounts –they gather evidence from their own behavior that “I am a generous person.” Once someone embraces a donor identity, they naturally want to act consistently with it..." I am reading from Neurogiving. The Science of Donor Decision-Making by Cherian Koshy, published in 2025. Reflection questions: When you are talking with long-term dono...

As you know, this podcast highlights the transformative beauty of generosity. I will be taking a brief break until January, and in the meantime, I encourage you to reflect on the role of generosity within your own holiday traditions. As I consider the myriad of holidays during this season, I am reminded of the universal themes of generosity and connection that they all share. Yet, in the flurry of...