The Generosity Gaps
Do you think your generosity could be different than it is today? If something is holding you back, you could be in one of three Generosity Gaps. Are you ready to close the gaps and connect your generosity to your heart’s desire?
John's Blog
Read More +My Dream Visit with a Fundraiser
I’m having a “too soon old, too late smart” moment. For 25 years as a YMCA director I had the privilege of engaging donors in our work. Now, for the last 18 years I’ve been on the other side of the table as a donor listening to many pitches. I wish I would have known what makes for a mutually gratifying donor conversation. I talked too much and listened too little.
I find it interesting, after someone pointed it out to me recently, that the words “LISTEN” and “SILENT” have the same letters in them. Bear with me here.
Today, this is the way my dream solicitation would go. First the fundraiser would ask these seven questions:
-How are you?
-What are you celebrating?
-Where are you winning?
-What challenges are you facing?
-How will you tackle those?
-How can I help?
-How …
Where Will I Start?
*Artist: Mariah Hope – use by permission of Leadership Network
I spend much of my strategic thinking and effort on culture, not pop culture, although this is a dimension of it, but rather matters of civil society in general. And some time ago I remember thinking, “Everything looks like it needs fixing. Where should I start?”
This was the question I asked a prominent three generation farm family recently. The first generation had a longing to leave a legacy of generosity and wondered the same thing; the needs are so vast, where shall we start?
For me and the friends I help it depends on what one believes. Here’s what I mean. Since I am concerned about our culture I could choose to back solutions in the marketplace creating …
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“Thank you for the reminder to always “give thanks.”
– Gary Rosberg
America’s Family Coaches Co-founder