"Sorry"

Definition of sorry: Feeling or expressing sympathy, pity, or regret

Saying “sorry” – a real, heartfelt sorry, not the casual, mumbled version uttered after bumping in to someone – isn’t easy.  Not only is it an admission that something has gone wrong or an error been made; saying “sorry” also means taking responsibility for the issue and, hopefully, working to fix it.

“Sorry” is also one of the most powerful words that can be offered in a relationship.  It is a bridge to fixing the problem and rebuilding trust.

At an organizational level, saying “sorry” – in a personal, meaningful way – has the same power.  Mistakes that affect donors happen, and that can be understood – donors know that everyone makes mistakes, including the charities that they love.  The quickest way forward is with a sincere “sorry”, followed by an attempt to solve the problem and beginning to rebuild trust.

In fact, I would venture to guess that the strongest, most loyal donors are those who have been involved in a mistake made by an organization.  Handled appropriately, these mistakes show the true character, honesty and integrity of an organization – and that can only be a good thing.  Almost enough to make you hope a mistake will be made!

“Sorry” isn’t easy – but it is worth it.

Language Paints a Picture

Friendship

Sticky sweet

Velvety smooth

Violently lashing out

Words have power.  The right words, puzzled together in sequence, have the power to paint a picture, create a feeling or leave a taste.  Words have been used to start wars and end wars, to create new countries and end centuries-old traditions.  They can change situations, emotions and circumstances.  If we let them, words can change us.

Why, then, do we so often take away their power in favour of political correctness, or trying to please or placate so many different people?  All to often, in organizations that do the critically important work of helping hurting, lost people change their lives, words are chosen for their inoffensive, all-inclusive qualities.

Replacing powerful words with meaningless, non-committal phrases only weakens the potential power and influence that our message can carry.

And this is a problem - if your words can't carry the message of incredible need or passion or opportunity or desire... what will?

Why giving matters

I'm a fundraiser, and this is a blog that will be all about fundraising.  And so, for my first post, I had planned this long post about why fundraising matters; why it's changing the world, empowering people, building social agencies and making the world a better place.

And then I realized...

Fundraising doesn't matter.  Fundraising is a tool, a delivery method.  It is a way to connect people who want to give help to people and issues that need help.

What really matters is that people in a community rise up in support of issues and challenges that matter - research to cure or prevent diseases, care for kids and families that benefit, looking after our environment.  What really matters is that each of us chooses to step up and, in our own way, say "I will be part of this solution. I can do something about this".  In this way, our society is built up, strengthened; empowered to change itself.

Fundraising is one way to facilitate the generous support of individuals and groups for one another.  As a medium of delivery, I believe fundraising is an incredibly powerful tool.  It is not the only one, but done well (by empowering and building up donors and connecting people directly to the issues they are addressing) it is among the best.

And that is why I believe giving matters.  That is what I will be blogging about - exploring, speculating, digging in to - in this space.  Half of this blog is my perspective - that of a nonprofit professional, living in Calgary, born as part of the millennial generation.  The other half is from everywhere else - your comments and ideas, other blogs and books, and many many conversations.

Join me?