"...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?

Reflection on quote:

In our final episode on developing discipline during capital campaigns, we are discussing ongoing stewardship and the mindsets that can block gratitude. Throughout this series, we used the metaphor of riding a wild stallion without a saddle. Previously, we discussed developing disciplines with money beliefs, prioritizing tasks, planting seeds of awareness, and the fear of rejection.

During capital campaigns, we can fall into one of these mindsets that block ongoing gratitude and stewardship because we are confident in the necessity of our work and this campaign project. As a result, we might believe that donors are duty-bound to give to our campaign. We might continually expect donors to give more and more to the campaign. Or, we might be jealous of other campaigns where a donor gave more.

It is easy for us to slip into these root causes of ingratitude, especially when we are faced with the pressures of a campaign. When we do, to paraphrase Seneca, we become unworthy of what we have received. And, in small towns, our ingratitude is often discussed among donors. The reality is that donors do not have to fund our campaigns or fund them at a greater extent than other campaigns. Instead, we develop a discipline of gratitude for every donation.

Next week, we will start a series on leading with integrity during a capital campaign.

This work has entered the public domain.

What do you think? Send me a text.

To explore small town capital campaign coaching deeper and to schedule an free explore coaching call, visit ServingNonprofits.com.

Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

"...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 something good, even if your follow-up call results in a no?

Reflection on quote:

If capital campaigns are like a riding a wild stallion without a saddle, then facing rejection is like being bucked off and being afraid to ride again. This week, we will discuss how to develop the discipline of facing rejection. Previously, we discussed developing disciplines with money beliefs, prioritizing tasks, and planting seeds of awareness. In this episode, we’ll discuss how to develop the discipline of hope when facing rejection.

I am convinced that the moment we close the car door or we hit end on a call with a donor, the doubts begin to creep in. And, slowly or quickly, we wonder if we will be rejected when we make the follow-up call or visit we promised to the donor. That’s where the hope Vaclav Havel describes comes in. It’s the hope in something good, regardless of how the follow up turns out. Hope can be following up, only to find out that the donor can no longer give what they intended and yet bringing grace and humanity into the relationship. And, hope can be following up for 6 months at a donor’s request, wondering if the follow-ups are badgering the donor, then to receive with joy a major gift that is twice the amount the donor was originally considered. And, hope can be following up and sometimes feeling the sting of rejection and yet knowing that an answer, even if it is no, is better than the anxiety of not knowing for us and the anxiety of sharing hard news for the donor. This type of hope keeps us above water and moving forward during a capital campaign.

What do you think? Send me a text.

To explore small town capital campaign coaching deeper and to schedule an free explore coaching call, visit ServingNonprofits.com.

Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

"...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 around 1847 upon Johnny Appleseed’s death.

Reflection questions:

• What approach are you taking: scattering seeds or planting seeds with intentional outcomes in mind?
  
  If you are in the pre-campaign readiness stage, have you considered the more effective ways to raise awareness in your community and brought in community leaders and potential donors to help you determine and implement those ways?

Reflection on quote:

Capital campaigns are like a riding a wild stallion without a saddle and one key to success is developing discipline. This series unpacks those disciplines. We’ve discussed how understanding our beliefs around money can assist us in creating the necessary disciplines around asking for donations. We’ve discussed how indecision and procrastination can steal opportunities and the importance of prioritizing tasks. In this episode, we’ll discuss the discipline necessary to successfully raising awareness for our capital campaigns through the life and work of John Chapman; otherwise known as Johnny Appleseed. Like many, I pictured Johnny Appleseed as wandering aimlessly around the countryside, randomly sprinkling seeds that grew into trees and, against all odds, orchards. But that wasn’t the case at all.

Johnny Appleseed had a purpose for apple trees. He believed that apple trees were important to cultivate as cider to be an alternative to unsafe drinking water. He then planned the process for planting seeds to grow into trees near villages and towns in Ohio. His labor of love had an intentional process with both immediate and generational impacts. In the same way, during a capital campaign, we too must be intentional in how we are raising awareness. We do not simply scatter seeds and hope our communities are paying enough attention. Instead, we consider the audiences, the people, who need to hear about our vision first. Then, we determine how we engage those community leaders, connectors, and potential donors in the planning process for the campaign. Further, we are intentional in what information we share with the community, information that creates confidence and excitement in the goal, and when we share that information. When we are disciplined in raising awareness, those seeds will have a greater contribution to the success of the capital campaign and a greater contribution to the small towns and rural communities we serve.

What do you think? Send me a text.

To explore small town capital campaign coaching deeper and to schedule an free explore coaching call, visit ServingNonprofits.com.

Music credit: Woeisuhmebop