Our energy speaks to people long before we we do. Our very presence translates
our true thoughts, without us ever saying a word.
In my opinion, the collective energy of our giving campaigns sucks. And that’s why they don’t work.
Instead of inspiring people toward our missions, we attempt to guilt them instead.
Instead of electrifying supporters around our aspirational aims, we whinge about making payroll.
Ironically, we most often complain about the lack of donations to people who have already given.
We don’t invest thinking time in our donor relationships.
We don’t share how their gift helped change the world.
When they do give, we never think about the person who wrote the check, at all. We pluck the money out of their hands and walk away without a backwards look, calculating how much left we need to raise.
And we wonder why we don’t have more support.
We essentially demand that people to donate their hard-earned money to us and we wonder why they don’t want to.
It’s time to get reflective.
As we put together our end-of-year campaigns, I’m inviting all of us all to pause and check our energy.
Our attitudes speak louder than our words.
If our inner disposition has been negatively focused on “these people don’t give,” we shouldn’t be surprised when they don’t.
No one owes us anything. We’re in the business of helping people, but our donors are people, too. They deserve the same consideration as the people we serve.
Before you write the email, post the message, or make a call, pause. Reframe your ask into a shared sense of accomplishment. Start with your why. Consider positive aspects of the person or group you’re contacting. Remind folks of the good you’re accomplishing together.
Keep that same energy throughout the year and watch your giving turn around.✨
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