Why Do People Give?

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Through the resource of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), I have had the opportunity to engage in phenomenal, relevant ongoing education covering fundraising and philanthropy through a combination of prescribed formal classes and local chapter programs. 

If you're not already connected to your local AFP chapter, drop me a line here and I will help you make that connection. I highly recommend their programs!

One example of how AFP education has helped me is in understanding why people give to nonprofit causes. Since it isn't logical to just give money away, understanding motivations makes for more effective fundraising. This list represents my summary of the most important reasons people give, enabled by my AFP education:

1. First and foremost, people give because they were asked. What asking do you have planned for your fundraising? Are you asking people you've already built relationships with?

2. People give to make a difference and make the world a better place. Nonprofit donations enable mission progress. How are you communicating that gifts to your organization make the world a better place?

3. People give to causes they are predisposed to support based on family history and personal experience. How is your list of people predisposed to your cause coming along? For more details on that list opportunity, click here. 

What are your thoughts on why people give? Please share them in the comments section below.

Take a Trip Back to Your Well

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Recently, I received the great blessing of catching up with a wonderful, longtime friend I hadn't seen in far too long.  The visit felt like a trip to a well of inspiration and joy that was long overdue. I didn't know how thirsty I was until the visit refreshed me! 

The experience and the joy that visit brought me reminded me  of the value of taking trips back to the well  in the nonprofit mission work we do. 

How can you take a trip back to the well of your nonprofit work? Here are just a few ideas:

1.  If possible, visit your organization's founder(s). Ask him or her to share what makes them proud of their role, as well as any favorite memories.
2. Visit your longest standing donor. Ask them why your work has been blessed enough to receive their investment.
3. Visit recipient(s) of your program(s). Ask him or her to share what the impact was of your services on their lives.
4. Visit your longest standing volunteer. Ask him or her to share what has made your organization lucky enough to grow through their gift of time.
5. Visit a long standing board member,community member or other contact with an historic connection to or affection for your organization. Ask that person what he or she thinks makes your work important to the community.

You might also ask all of these contacts to share a favorite memory or two of their relationship with your organization.  Most importantly, use this experience to thank those critical to your organization for the unique difference they've made through their gifts of time and treasure.

Especially for smaller, all-volunteer nonprofits, a realistic goal might be to make three of these visits in the next three months.

Prepare to have your batteries recharged on these visits! I also highly recommend making immediate notes after these visits on the stories that might be incorporated in your future fundraising. If those wells you visit would be willing, it would be powerful to quote them directly in future fundraising communication. 

Try taking a trip back to your well. You, too, might be surprised at how thirsty you are.