113: The Joy Cycle

Reflections on Generosity

"We experience joy in forming the intention to be generous; we experience joy in the actual act of giving something; and we experience joy in remembering the fact that we have given."

This week, I’m reading 3 quotes from the Buddha.

Reflection questions:

• When you approach potential donors this week, are you apologizing for an interruption or celebrating an invitation to experience joy?

• How might your follow-up conversations change if you viewed them as helping donors complete their joy cycle rather than simply maintaining relationships?

Reflection on quote:

There's something beautiful about discovering that ancient wisdom and modern science keep arriving at the same truths. The writers from centuries ago understood things about human nature—about giving, receiving, and gratitude—that we're just now proving with brain scans and research studies.

These quotes show something we in the nonprofit world often forget—giving isn't a burden we place on people. It's a gift we offer them.

Think about your own experience. Remember the last time you gave something meaningful? That warm feeling you got? That wasn't just sentiment—that was your brain releasing actual joy chemicals. The quote reveals this beautiful truth: we experience joy when we decide to give, joy when we actually give, and joy when we remember giving. Triple joy.

But here's where we mess up. We work so hard to capture that first moment—getting someone to say yes—then we disappear into our urgent program work. We forget about joy number three. We abandon our donors before they can fully experience what they've done.

When we follow up, when we share impact, when we help donors remember their generosity—we're not just being polite. We're completing their joy cycle. We're helping them access that third happiness that makes them want to give again.
So stop apologizing for fundraising. Start celebrating it. You're not asking for money—you're offering transformation. For your community, and for every generous heart who joins you.

This work has entered the public domain.

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Music credit: Woeisuhmebop