Philanthropy & Relationships

The traditional take on the pairing, as expressed in this excellent article from the Nonprofit Quarterly, is that one leads to the other—you build relationships to increase philanthropy—and an important part of work building relationships with donors is telling them what you are doing, with consistency and clarity, and how your organizational mission contributes to the public good.

An excerpt.

“Robert L. Payton, the first professor of philanthropics in the U.S., defined philanthropy as voluntary action for the common good. I love that definition. People voluntarily give their time and / or their money. Voluntarily. Not because they were pressured by a friend or were exchanging favors with a business associate. Or fulfilling some obligation.

“Philanthropy is voluntary action for the common good. People give time and money to make things better in their communities.

“Years ago I was presenting in Mexico City. I heard Mexican philanthropist Don Manuel Arango Arias talk about philanthropy as “freeing the talents of the citizenry.” He was so eloquent.

“Fundraising guru Hank Rosso described fundraising as the servant of philanthropy. I like that servant concept. Reminds me of the servant-leader philosophy.

“Whether you use the term fund development or fundraising (I prefer fund development; it’s broader than fundraising.), the process is essential. We know that most people give because they are asked. (Just make sure you’re asking the right people – those who are interested!) Fund development is the partner, the servant to philanthropy. Philanthropy is all about dreaming. Through philanthropy, we change lives and we change communities. We change the world.”