Talisman Philanthropy

Philanthropy OOO

October 31, 2020 at 8:56 am Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment

When you lead a philanthropic organization, can you really put an out of office (OOO) message on your voice and e – mail?

In this pandemic time off and away is hard to come by. And where do you go to safely for yourself and not bring something back to your friends and colleagues?

But away I go, in my car. To find a health and mental break.

Can I legit tune out and turn off in the midst of planning Giving Tuesday? Launching scholarships for Fall 2021? Almost ready to go live with a new website?

No.

I knew that.

But, while on vacation, I choose when I check in. And my team, Board and colleagues know when to text me.

And text me they did.

While on vacation there is nothing better than closing a six figure philanthropic gift. And concluding a process that released another mid six figures from restriction to allow for greater, immediate impact over the next two years. In the land of Covid both these gifts are critical to managing through the pandemic.

We celebrated by phone, email and text.

I returned to vacation mode smiling, satisfied and proud of the work we do.

My OOO messages are still on.

Entry filed under: Fundraising. Tags: cultivating donors, Fundraising, gratitude, philanthropy.