It’s Not Enough to Say Thanks
You know that when a donor gives a gift, your first job is to say thank you, as quickly as possible. Amazingly, colleagues in our industry (including...
One thing that’s difficult for me to do is to focus on the positive things people do. Jeff and my wife both tell me regularly that I am too problem-oriented. There is good and bad news to this reality.
The good news is that I am always focusing on what needs to get done and what needs to get fixed. The bad news is that I have a harder time noticing what has been done well or spending any time praising and thanking others for it.
Those who know me well are, thankfully, forgiving and understanding.
This truth about my inner wiring helped me understand how to “repair the problem,” meaning figure out ways to improve in this area.
On this journey, I find myself processing two things:
All of this is often very subtle. You may not perceive it is going on. You mean well; your heart is right. But your behavior is more money-oriented than donor-oriented. I know – that is what I have been doing personally. I truly am a caring and thoughtful person, but my behavior shows that my predominant need is to show value and to self-express. This excludes others over time, which is not a good conclusion.
Are you really focused enough on the donor and what she needs? Are you expressing thankfulness and gratitude at the level and frequency you need to?
Jeff and I have said repeatedly that “the major giving thing” is not about the money, is not about goals and is not (fundamentally) about anything we teach about strategies and technique. It is about helping donors do what THEY want to do with their gifts and talents. All the strategies and techniques are means to that end.
Ask yourself these questions:
Regardless of how you answer the two questions above, my suggestion to you is to make a commitment to express gratitude to one or more donors on your caseload every day.
Yes, EVERY day. This kind of commitment will force you to remember that all of your efforts are about the donor. And it will have the positive effect of wrapping each of your donors in the love, respect, and thankfulness they deserve at a level of frequency that truly fills their hearts.
Try it, and see how it affects them and you!
Richard
This post originally appeared on the Passionate Giving Blog on September 6, 2017.
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