Three Fold Cord Wraps The Gift!

First Cord: The Receiver...struggling, surviving, then surprised by the gift.
Second Cord: The Requester...fidgeting, fearful, then flooded with relief.
Third Cord: The Rewarder...judging, justifying, then joyous with generosity.

Everyone needed courage. The receiver to keep going, the requester to ask and the rewarder to release a hard earned asset.

It's a amazing journey that knits hands of courage and hearts of love!

The Undoable Becomes Doable!

Pledge;-noun...a solemn promise or agreement fulfilled over time.

You courageously sit across the table and ask: "Would you consider giving $12,000 toward making this difference?"

Then you wait (silence, attempts to change the subject, anything).

Then you say the phrase that can makes the undoable become the doable. "Of course that $12,000 can be pledged over 3 years at only $4,000 per year."

DO NOT Recruit Givers!

You are thrilled! You asked 10 people and they all gave $10 toward your charity walk. Best thing? You sit on a Capital Campaign Committee and at lunch you write a six figure check. Best thing?

Wrong. That's just addition.

It's a far, far better thing to ask a team of 10 folk who will walk with you, each getting $100. That's multiplication. And if you were asked to either give $1 million dollars or find 10 leaders who would each give $100,000 - which would you do?

Multiply yourself and you make a bigger difference. Recruit giving leaders, not just givers.

After The BUT!

All your listening senses are on high alert. What is it that the potential donor really wants?

To determine that direction there is one invaluable tip.

All the words before they say BUT, just ignore. That's just background noise. What they really want to say is what comes out of their mouth after the BUT!

Shut Up And Ask!

"Be careful what you ask for because you just might get it."

Guess what. When it comes to charitable giving, people tend to give when you ask and not give when not asked!

So...here is the priceless tip. Once you ask, put the tip of your tongue behind the back of your upper teeth and wait for the answer!

Buy What You Cannot!

Numerous times (including last week) I have seen a large gift handed over while eyes well up with tears.
Never are those tears there because the person was sad to part with her money. Never are the tears there from grief of not buying a 5 series BMW instead.
Here is why I think giving is emotional. You have just purchased something you realize you haven't been able to buy. The amazing joy of generosity has just landed in your heart and you are overcome with this amazing grateful response.
You cannot save for that. You cannot purchase that. You cannot beg God for that.
You receive it as a gift when you give a gift...and a little joy tear starts forming.

Refuse the Million!

So...if you had the choice of receiving a million dollars for your charity OR a great idea, which one would you choose?

I have had the thrill of helping to drive several new ideas into accomplishments that over time multiplied into many millions.

I would pick the great idea!

It's About the Cause Stupid!

Whenever I hesitate asking a friend to support me on a run, whenever I don't pick up the phone to ask someone to volunteer, or whenever I chicken out in "closing the ask" I am thinking about the wrong person.

To paraphrase...it's not about David stupid! It's about the cause. Thinking more of the cause and less about myself will result in a much better chance next time that I will pick up that phone!

Decades Of Discovery!

Over time I have tended to observe folk using 3 S glasses! Pursuit of Security (personal and family) is the hallmark of those in their 20's and 30's. Drive for Success defines those in their 40's and 50's and Search for Significance creeps in around the 60's and beyond.

I have seen that generally, discretionary and non-discretionary money decisions follow suit.

Chaitable Venture Capital!

For a charity to receive major gifts they need to have the following three things.

First they need to clearly show the investor that there is a significant market for what they offer. Second, they should have a solid business plan indicating how they will easily and effectively deliver to that niche. Third, they need to prove that they have the "horses" to get it done.

Have It All!

I saw a quote the other day that said: "Today I can either change the world or enjoy the world. I choose to enjoy it."

Those that get up in the morning with a heart to give do both!

I Want Your LIFE !

Even before lunch started a man I had just met asked: "OK, how much do you want?"  I replied that I didn't want his money, I wanted his very life:  L...his labor, would he volunteer some of his scarce time for me. I...his influence, would he open up his network to the cause. F...his finances, which may or may not come and its too soon to talk about.  E...expertise, would he offer some of his skills to help me grow the charity.  This man became a good friend and offered much...including his finances!

Faith, Hope and Anger?

People in my business get up in the morning with a measure of faith that their lives count.  The people that give, have hope that their gift will make a difference. So where is the love?  Follow the righteous anger and you find a love that changes things!

The Sweetest Journey!

Having lived in many places, traveled to many countries and seen the human condition in almost every configuration conceivable I now move to another city for the honor of helping another wonderful organization connect givers to receivers. In all this, the sweetest journey is where the heart of giving is, for that is where the home is!