"...No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted...."

For some ancient wisdom about donors who don’t give, this week, I’m reading a story from Aesop’s Fables, titled the Lion and the Mouse as told sometime between 620 and 564 BC.

Reflection question:

What kindness can you give to a donor who have previously said no to the capital project?

Reflection on quote:

Last week, we discussed building communities of donors during the campaign. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the relationship with donors is only about asking or thanking. A donor gives, and we thank them and report back on the impact their gifts has. What are those donors to your organization who aren’t interested in giving to the capital project? Relationships with donors must be more than just their status during the campaign.

When a donors chooses not to give to the capital campaign, it can feel like a personal rejection and there can be a pulling back from that donor, which can then feel like rejection to that donor. Instead, in that moment, it’s important to lean into kindness. It’s looking for the opportunities to give a kind word. It’s the giving space to the donor to find more meaning in their lives through the other aspects of our cause. It’s the time we spend getting to know them and showing them that we see them for who they are. A kindness is never wasted in our relationships with donors.

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

..."It is the most beautiful, the most noble side of neighbourly love, wherein the word has fully become deed...."

This week, I’m sharing quotes from The Untapped Power of Jewish Fellowships and Forgotten Approaches to Care to connect the practice of hevrot to our work in fundraising.

Reflection questions:

• How are you "thinking in relationship" to avoid depersonalizing our donors to goals or metrics?
• How are you bringing groups of donors together during the capital campaign to create communities of care?

Reflection on quote:

As we plan and implement our capital campaigns, it's easy to forget the purpose of fundraising. At its core, fundraising isn't just about securing donations—it's about fostering genuine human connections built on care and mutual recognition. The Jewish practice of hevrot underscores this. The article, The Untapped Power of Jewish Fellowships, defines hevrot as small, local voluntaristic groups of individuals who join together to do good works or promote piety. The practice dates to at least the second century. The research in Forgotten Approaches to Care further explores this practice.

Rather than seeing donors simply as a means to reach our campaign goals, we recognize them as partners in a shared mission. When we frame our work through an ethics of care, we acknowledge the interdependence that exists between all members of our community.

Think about what makes our campaigns truly meaningful—it's not just the transaction but "the most beautiful, the most noble side of neighbourly love, wherein the word has fully become deed." When we approach donors with this mindset, we invite them into a relationship built on genuine care rather than mere obligation. During a capital campaign, we have the privilege of weaving these networks of care that strengthen our small towns. When we face challenges, we return to this fundamental truth: we're not just raising money—we're connecting people to purpose and to each other.

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

"Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs."

This week, I’m reading from the Analects by Confucius, written sometime between 551 and 479 BC.

Reflection questions:

• Is there any hesitancy among your leaders about giving first and publicly to your campaign? What are ways you can address that hesitancy?
• Are you willing to have the necessary conversation to ask a leader to give a gift meaningful to them or leave the Board or campaign committee for the success of the campaign?

Reflection on quote:

As we consider capital campaigns during times of uncertainty, what are ways to increase trust and giving within the community? The first step is for the leaders of the nonprofit and the campaign to give first and be public about their giving. This is not a new principle; instead it comes from ancient wisdom.

Over twenty-five hundred years later, this wisdom still holds true. When your Executive Director, board members and campaign leaders make their gifts first and let the community know about it, something powerful happens. They're sending a signal that goes way beyond the donation.

They're showing confidence despite uncertainty. Think about it. There's never a perfect moment to launch a campaign. But when your leaders step forward with their own money, they're saying, "We believe in this. We believe in it enough to invest our own money, right now, even when we can't predict everything that's coming." That kind of confidence is contagious.

Board members and campaign volunteers are also demonstrating they're willing to put their own money at risk. This isn't someone else's problem to solve. They're not asking others to do something they're unwilling to do themselves. We notice this in small towns. Who talks a good talk but doesn't back it up? Versus, who leads despite the risk?

Those donations signal a commitment to work hard no matter the obstacles that will inevitably come. For example, when the Executive Director makes a significant gift early in the campaign, they've just told everyone, "I'm all in. I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure we reach this goal." Because nobody wants to see their own investment fail.

The second part of this ancient wisdom flows from the first: "be laborious in their affairs." Leadership giving only works when it's connected to genuine care for community needs. Your campaign leaders need to be present and engaged. They need to show up, have conversations, listen to concerns, and demonstrate through their actions that this campaign matters because the community matters.
So, during times of uncertainty, don’t skip this first step. Don't ask others to give first. Start with your Executive Director, your board, your staff leadership, your campaign committee. Ask them to give at levels that are meaningful for them, and then share those stories publicly. Let your community see the example. Let them feel the confidence. Let them know that their leaders are going first, working hard, and deeply connected to the needs you're trying to meet.

Because when you do, you're not just raising money. You're building trust during uncertainty.

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