Development is helping donors do the great things they want to do. But are those just empty words? Then this appeared in my Inbox:
“I was visiting with a prospect the other day. She asked what projects or funding I was looking for.
“I explained that my goal is to get to know her interests, her passions, and align those with the needs on campus.
“Her response: ‘So it sounds like you’re providing me with an invitation to dream a little.’”
Development, fundraising, advancement; whatever you want to call it, is letting go of our agenda, learning how to listen, and helping donors do the great things they want to do.