121: Leaders Give Confidence

Reflections on Generosity

"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