Salsa Lessons

If, as a fundraiser, you feel that giving is a burden and that asking people to give is an intrusion, you're doing a disservice to your organization, to your cause, to your donors. And to yourself, because you're robbing yourself of the joy that is the happy by-product of what you do.

I've said it before, but it was Tim Burgess, co-founder of The Domain Group and current Seattle city councilman, who taught me that lesson not long after we launched FundRaising Success in 2003. And lest I (or any of you) forget, FS columnist Jeff Brooks might have mentioned it a time or two. Faith-based organizations have known it forever. Giving is a blessing that spreads joy to the recipient of the gift, the giver of the gift and the intermediary who facilitated the gift. That's you. If you don't get that, you need to figure it out. It will infuse your work with a whole new gladness and complete the circle of blessings that is giving.