Reflections on Generosity for Capital Campaigns

Small Town Capital Campaigns
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Kick off your week with a 5-minute reflection on generosity to ground yourself in the right mindset for capital campaigns.  Each reflection includes a question to ponder throughout the week to aid your work.

  1. 5D AGO

    137: Cultivating an Abundance Mindset - With Joy Within Ourselves

    "Where there is patience and humility, there is neither anger nor loss of composure. Where there is poverty borne with joy, there is neither grasping nor hoarding. Where there is quiet and meditation, there is neither worry nor dissipation." This week, I’m reflecting on Of the Virtues putting Vices to Flight by Francis of Assisi, first published in English in 1906. Reflection questions: Where do you see evidence of a scarcity mindset within yourself?Which virtue do you want to cultivate this week?Reflection on quote: Last week in our series on cultivating an abundance mindset, we discussed how that mindset affects donors.  As we continue this series, for most organizational leaders, the amounts that must be raised during a capital campaign can be shocking and overwhelming, leading to a mindset of scarcity. In those overwhelming moments, we have to start the process of cultivating an abundance mindset within our team, the Board, the staff, and the campaign volunteers. And that process starts with ourselves. In the face of leading the organization through the most significant fundraising effort likely in the organization’s history, what do these virtues do?  When we lean into patience and humility as leaders, we react calmly to the extensive time the campaign will take, knowing that cultivating an abundance mindset among our team and donors requires more intentional efforts. When there is poverty borne with joy, we as leaders communicate the reality that this capital campaign is larger than we can accomplish on our own and we invite volunteers and donors to join in the joy of accomplishing it together.  When we pause for quiet and meditation, even during the busiest seasons of the capital campaign, we calm the frantic efforts and worry that feeds into a scarcity mindset within us. As we keep practicing these abundance-building virtues, we will more quickly  escape the scarcity mindset and return to the abundance mindset.   This work has entered the public domain. 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

    3 min

  2. FEB 2

    136: Cultivating an Abundance Mindset - A Gift to Donors

    "...No matter how it happens, the testimony of those who have shifted in their minds, spirits, and emotions from an imagined world of scarcity and insecurity to one of abundance, blessing, sufficiency, and overflow is almost always the same: it is liberating......" This week, I’m reading a quote from The Paradox of Generosity by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson. 2014 edition. Reflection question:  Do you believe that when you are asking, you are giving abundance, blessing, sufficiency and overflow to the donor?Reflection on quote: This week, we are starting a series on cultivating an abundance mindset during capital campaigns. When we cultivate an abundance mindset, the act of generosity from donors actually changes. During capital campaigns, we will encounter donors who give out of a believed world of scarcity and we will encounter donors who give out of a believed world of abundance.  When we approach prospective donors to our capital campaign out of a mindset of abundance, we offer donors the opportunity to shift their imagined world from scarcity and insecurity to a world of abundance, blessing, sufficiency, and overflow.  In small towns, we are giving a great blessing to our neighbors even as we are asking. To purchase this book: The Paradox of Generosity by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson. Copyright: Oxford University Press 2014. Reproduced with permission of the Licensor through PLSclear. 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

    5 min

  3. JAN 26

    135: Neuroscience and Giving - Generosity During Emergencies

    "Urgency triggers a distinctive neurobiological state. In fundraising terms, this means an urgent appeal can literally put a donors brain in “alert mode” prioritizing rapid action over careful deliberation." I am reading from Neurogiving. The Science of Donor Decision-Making by Cherian Koshy, published in 2025. Reflection question: How will you maintain a sense of urgent and hopeful intentionality while being strategic during a sudden crisis?Reflection on quote: This is the last installment in exploring how generosity is deeply embedded into what it means to be human and how that impacts capital campaigns, using insights from a book recently released by my friend and colleague Cherian Koshy.  This series has only looked at a handful of insights from this book; you can purchase his book using the link in the show notes.  This week, we are looking at emergencies as it relates to capital campaigns because during capital campaigns in small towns there will be at least one crisis. Next week, we will look at abundance. When the capital campaign hits a sudden crisis—maybe the Executive Director or Campaign Chair steps down mid-campaign, or construction costs jump significantly, or a major pledge falls through—our instinct might be to send out a panicked fundraising appeal. While these messages will help donors prioritize quick action, the key is finding the right balance where we're honest about the challenge without overwhelming donors and we also include hope to inspire confidence and action. But here's the caution: we can’t cry wolf repeatedly. If donors feel manipulated or exhausted by constant emergencies, they will start tuning the capital campaign out.  To avoid this, we must be strategic.  Not every donor needs to be asked for every crisis.  Instead, we are honest about the challenge. We share the plan to solve the crisis. Finally, we are intentional in determining which segment of funders we will ask to fill the gap.  Here's how to purchase Neurogiving from Wiley or Amazon. Quote used by permission. 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

    5 min

  4. JAN 20

    134: Neuroscience and Giving - Volunteering Feels Good

    "Volunteering can satisfy psychological needs: the need to belong to a community, to see one’s values an action or to develop skills and purpose." I am reading from Neurogiving. The Science of Donor Decision-Making by Cherian Koshy, published in 2025. Reflection question: How are you showing gratitude to your campaign volunteers? Reflection on quote: We are exploring how generosity is deeply embedded into what it means to be human and how that impacts capital campaigns, using insights from a book recently released by my friend and colleague Cherian Koshy. This week, we are looking at volunteering as it relates to capital campaigns. When I am discussing with the Executive Director the number of campaign volunteers that will be needed for a capital campaign, I often hear two concerns.  How can we ask someone to give so much of their time, often months and even years to the campaign?  And, secondly, how can ask them to donate financially as well?   As Cherian points out, we can ask because it’s inherent to being human.  We desire social connection and meaningful work that shows progress.  Joining a campaign committee or being the campaign chair provides immediate social connections and meaning.  Further, as the committee raises funds together, they see the progress towards the goal and the actual building going up.  Further, campaign volunteers naturally want to give to the campaign because of their engagement.  They want to give both their time and money to be a part of the progress.  They are doubly invested. In small towns, their passion about the project will then draw others to join in. And, as result, when we keep sharing the progress of the campaign and show gratitude for their engagement, campaign volunteers will keep volunteering because it makes them feel good.  Here's how to purchase Neurogiving from Wiley or Amazon. Quote used by permission. 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

    5 min

  5. JAN 12

    133: Neuroscience and Giving - Maintaining Trust

    "...Donors don’t just invest their money, they invest their trust. Admitting uncertainty or limitations can actually boost credibility...."  I am reading from Neurogiving. The Science of Donor Decision-Making by Cherian Koshy, published in 2025. Reflection question: How are you consistently updating donors, even when the capital campaign or construction is facing challenges?Reflection on quote: We are continuing exploring how generosity is deeply embedded into what it means to be human and how that impacts capital campaigns, using insights from a book recently released by my friend and colleague Cherian Koshy.  This week, we are looking at donor trust as it relates to capital campaigns. One challenge during capital campaigns is maintaining and growing trust after the donor give a pledge or donation.  From the time the donor gives to capital campaign, it can be months and sometimes years before the construction actually starts or the building project is completed. It’s easy to fall into the trap of waiting to give an update.  However, admitting uncertainty or limitation boosts credibility. This is especially essential in small towns where a vacuum of information can be filled with false speculation about the viability of the building project. We build, maintain, and grow trust by giving ongoing updates to donors. In turn, those authentic updates give confidence to the donors in sharing their excitement about the project with others. Here's how to purchase Neurogiving from Wiley or Amazon. Quote used by permission. 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

    5 min

  6. JAN 5

    132: Neuroscience and Giving - Personal Identity and Giving

    "...If a donor donates regularly – even small amounts –they gather evidence from their own behavior that “I am a generous person.” Once someone embraces a donor identity, they naturally want to act consistently with it..." I am reading from Neurogiving. The Science of Donor Decision-Making by Cherian Koshy, published in 2025. Reflection questions: When you are talking with long-term donors, are you entering into conversations of curiosity to find out why they give?Are you aligning your capital campaign ask with the donor’s stated identity and motivation for giving?Reflection on quote: We are continuing exploring how generosity is deeply embedded into what it means to be human and how that impacts capital campaigns, using insights from a book recently released by my friend and colleague Cherian Koshy.  This week, we are looking at donor identity as it relates to capital campaigns.  As we prepare for a capital campaign, one of the necessary reports that we pull from our donor database is a list of long-term givers and some of these long-term donors are donors who are able to give more significantly during the quiet phase of the campaign. As we schedule times to meet with these donors, it’s important to understand how the donor’s self-identification as a generous person to this cause affects their motivation to potentially give to the campaign.  In small towns, we can assume we know why they are giving to our cause, but until we have entered into conversations of curiosity, we won’t know.  Once we have a better idea of how their identity is driving them to give, we can frame the capital campaign ask as being in alignment with their generous identity. Here's how to purchase Neurogiving from Wiley or Amazon. Quote used by permission. 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

    5 min

  7. 12/22/2025

    131: To a Generous Holiday Season

    As you know, this podcast highlights the transformative beauty of generosity. I will be taking a brief break until January, and in the meantime, I encourage you to reflect on the role of generosity within your own holiday traditions. As I consider the myriad of holidays during this season, I am reminded of the universal themes of generosity and connection that they all share. Yet, in the flurry of holiday preparations, it's easy to overlook the simple but profound gift of giving that is at the heart of each celebration. As we move through this season, I invite you to reflect on this question: How will you show generosity to yourself during this busy season, so you can pour from a full cup of love and kindness to others? Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 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

    1 min

  8. 12/15/2025

    130: Neuroscience and Giving - Empathy Builds Buildings

    "... In light of the science, inviting someone to give is really inviting them to tap into these biologically rooted joys of generosity..." I am reading from Neurogiving. The Science of Donor Decision-Making by Cherian Koshy, published in 2025. Reflection questions: What stories are you telling that lead into the tours of the construction or the displays of the architectural renderings? Are you fully embracing the concept of generosity as a deeply rooted biological need for being human?Reflections on the quote: Over the next few weeks, we will be exploring how generosity is deeply embedded into what it means to be human and how that impacts capital campaigns, using insights from a book recently released by my friend and colleague Cherian Koshy.   As we pull out the donor packet with architectural renderings and details about the construction and renovations to show a potential capital campaign donor, it is vital that we don’t forget the role of empathy.  Beautiful drawings of the new building or renovation won’t spark giving.  As Cherian wrote, empathy is the bridge to giving.  A story of a beneficiary walking into that building to receive the services they desperately need. A story of a program staff having the space finally to creatively overcome the challenges their nonprofit seeks to solve. A story of a place where the public to be immersed in goodness, wonder, and beauty.  These stories of other humans are the sparks that bridge a donor’s understanding to the act of giving to capital campaigns in our small towns.  In addition, it is through these stories and one-on-one conversations that we see the donor for their hopes, fears, and comfort.  When we see the donor and the pleasure and bonding that giving brings, we can present the case for support as an opportunity for the donor to experience the deep roots of joy. Here's how to purchase Neurogiving from Wiley or Amazon. Quote used by permission. 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

    5 min
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Kick off your week with a 5-minute reflection on generosity to ground yourself in the right mindset for capital campaigns.  Each reflection includes a question to ponder throughout the week to aid your work.

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