For just a moment, give some thought to this question:
How will you be remembered?
Sophisticated donors think about what type of legacy they want to leave when considering their philanthropy. If they have a family foundation, they may do a lot of thinking, talking and discussing what type of mark they want to leave on the world. These conversations aren’t always easy.
Helping Your Donors Leave Their Mark
As a fundraiser, you have a unique opportunity to help your donors start and engage in these conversations. This is especially true when it comes to major and planned gifts.
The reason you want to stick your nose into these potentially sensitive conversations is that getting to the bottom of donor motivation often leads to larger impact. (Notice, I didn’t say it leads to a larger gift, but that’s often true, too.)
It’s all about IMPACT.
When you help your donors think about the impact they can make rather than focusing on the money they give, you’ve joined the fundraising big leagues.
Ask questions like:
- If money was no object, what impact would you like to have? In other words, what changes would you make in the community (start local) or world (then global)?
- What do you want your children and grandchildren to remember you for, philanthropically? Do they know what causes are important to you and why?
- If you had the opportunity to move the mission of this organization forward, what would it look like and how might you do it?
Asking your donors thought-provoking questions will (hopefully) get them thinking in bigger, more impactful ways. You want them asking themselves how can they really make a difference.
However, you don’t need to have enough money for a family foundation to leave a lasting legacy.
Be Your Best Self and Your Legacy Will Matter
I’m reading a book called Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu. In a chapter titled, “What Matters Most,” Dufu talks about how to be your best self. She asks herself (and her husband) the question:
Will our descendants be proud of us?
She also reminds readers of a well-known exercise which includes thinking about your own eulogy. Ask yourself:
- How will you be remembered?
- What will your friends, family and colleagues say about you?
- Will it matter that you were here?
A nearly universal regret of terminally ill patients is that they wish they’d done more. Taken a risk. Told someone they loved them.
Don’t let fear hold you back.
We often let fear limit what we do in life. If you were going to die tomorrow, how would you live today? What about if you had a year? Who would you help?
Regardless of how much money you have, we all have a legacy to leave. What will yours be?
Tell me about it in the comments.
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