Philanthropy Begins With Relationship

Hello Everyone,

How is it February already?!? Time is flying, but that means spring is just around the corner.

This month's article is about donor relationships and sustainability. While we all dream of finding major donors, research shows how important it is to have more and diverse people engaged in your cause.

Lately I have been pondering a lot about serving--the idea of shared citizenship as opposed to consumerism in meeting people’s needs. And not just what it means to serve, but what it means to allow ourselves and our organizations to be served. For me this evaluation takes on a physical and spiritual meaning. There's a balance in giving and receiving. In regard to philanthropy, I believe it becomes part of the bedrock. In thinking about the three pillars of philanthropy--giving of our gifts through volunteering, giving of our treasures through giving of money and stuff, and giving of our spirit through advocacy for what we care about--this question has much meaning as well. While we are all probably more comfortable with the idea of serving others, allowing others to serve us is a critical part of developing healthy relationships. Personally, I am realizing there are times when I need to do a better job of allowing those who care to express that care and make sure my pride does not get in the way.

I encourage you to think about how you are allowing your organization to be served by those who care for the common cause. How are they serving? Are you building an organizational culture that seeks to engage people because they want to serve as part of their own growth journey and fulfillment, or just because we think we need them for survival?

I hope and pray 2017 is a beautiful year for all of you.

Sincerely, 
Jamie