How much is too much? How much is enough? These questions are relative.

What I have learned in more than 20 years working in the nonprofit sector – there are always people who are less fortunate than me, less fortunate than our donors.

The key to our success as fundraisers is sharing stories of the people we serve with those who can provide the financial support to make a difference. When our focus is donor-centric, we can share the right stories, at the right time. I have always said my job as a fundraiser is to offer education (stories) and opportunity – it is up to the donor to make the decision that is right for them. When we connect the donor to a beneficiary’s story, how we change lives and save lives and invite them to join us in the work, they get it.

We can’t make people give us money. Someone who is not generous – does not become generous overnight. Those who think they never have enough, can’t understand how giving is better than keeping. We will never convince them otherwise.

Focusing our time and effort on generous people is more than RFM and donor behavior – generosity is a state of mind. (Yes, of course, donors need to have capacity.) Understanding that giving is better than receiving. Knowing the more you give, the more you will receive. Working with these donors is so much fun! They get it. They want to do good and make a difference through philanthropy.

We can identify the people who care about our work.
We can determine how and when they like to give.
We can engage them in our work.
We can ask them, invite them to support our work.

Generous people understand having enough means giving to others.