"Everyone participates in the relational work of fundraising and it's the layperson - board member, volunteer, or client - whose work shines brightest."
- Otto Reinisch
"The most important thing is that we are able to be one-to-one, you and I with each other at the moment."
- Fred Rogers (aka Mr. Rogers)
I believe personal growth best takes place in the context of authentic human relationships.
It challenges us to be fully present; face-to-face.
It requires mutual trust earned over time.
Its power is in the personal stories we share.
This is the relational work that makes learning & growing together valuable...and meaningful.
It's also what makes us distinctly human.
- Otto Reinisch
My story about how (& why) it all started
...and important lessons I learned along the way
By age 25 I already was a 'rock star' in the fundraising world. As the first Director of Development for The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, I sat atop an international fundraising success story and had more than $50,000,000 in gifts 'under my belt'.
This was pretty heady stuff for someone fresh out of college and without fundraising experience.
Everything changed for me, however, the day a silver-haired Rotarian stopped by my office during his tour of our headquarters. Here’s what he told me…
My Perspective: The Relational Work of Fundraising
Core Values
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Philanthropy is the deepest expression of our divine humanity.
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Every gift is part of someone’s story about the search for meaning.
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We are storytelling creatures who find meaning in stories we share.
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The relational work of fundraising
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is a story-sharing ministry of helping donors find meaning in philanthropy, and
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requires us to be fully present in authentic human relationship.
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