Roots of Growth

Hello everyone,

I hope you are enjoying summer!  Summer is when I really start noticing the trees that are not going to make it.  I always get bummed when I see trees dying.  It is interesting that many times they are dying due to things that happened a few years earlier, such as drought cycles, nutrient loss, etc.  It is not always due to what is happening right now.  I see this with organizations as well.  Often when organizations are stagnating or going backwards (really in my mind there is no difference as they are the same), it is not typically due to what is happening right now, but what has been happening.  Are they casting the vision and connecting people to it? Are they building life advocates for the cause?  Is the board the heart beat of the organization and the cause?   Do they see relationships as multi-decades long? 

These things have tremendous impact on how we build the future.  As you go forward this summer, ask yourself some of these questions:

1. What are you doing to build your board into a passionate team?
2. What are you doing to empower your board members to discover their potential and passion as a leader in your organization?
3. Do you know the greatest philanthropic desires of your closest donors?
4. Are you clear on what groups should know about you, but who you are not connecting with yet?
5. Are you living out the mission and vision?  Do you see it in your team, your board, your donors?  
6. Are you the only one who is awake at night concerned about your impact?

Just some food for thought.  Relationships change the game. Let's empower them to win. 
 
Thank you for your relationship and being part of our vision of philanthropy.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jamie