It's NOT about the money

It's not about the money. No. Really!

Philanthropy is not about the dollars. Okay, right now you may be thinking, "Not about the money?! Then how do we fund staff, a place to work, the tools we need to do the good we were designed to do?"

And that's the point.

Money has NO value except for the good it makes possible.

That is exactly the point at which staff and donors come together. Both want to accomplish the same mission - help the people, save the animals, preserve the environment.

And doing that - the good your mission was designed to do IS the reward -

for staff

for donors.

That is why development staff says, "It's all about the relationship." Because staff and the donors, who are a good match for your mission, care about the same things, feel rewarded when the same things happen.

If a donor doesn't care about the good you do, that's okay. They just aren't YOUR donor. You are not their cause. They care about something else. They'll do good somewhere else. Bless. Release. And focus on the folks who share your values.

So, how can you tell who is a good donor for your mission? Talk to them. Ask them what matters to them and listen.

Listen. Listen. Listen.