I’ve been spending an increased amount of time in The Bible over the last couple of years and continue to be struck by how much practical application to donor relations there is in the teaching of Jesus. “Ask and you shall receive” encourages us to approach a fulfiller of needs with faith and diligence. The “parable of the talents” shows the benefit of being good stewards with what has been entrusted to us, namely that more will be entrusted.
My most recent ‘ah ha’ moment came in reading the story of Martha and Mary from Luke 10:38-42. Jesus comes to visit their house during one of his missionary journeys. Martha, as any good host would do, hurries about attempting to make sure everything is in its place and everyone is fully attended to. Conversely, her sister Mary takes no notice of these things and instead attentively sits beside Jesus listening to his wisdom.
Martha is openly critical of Mary for “leaving her to serve alone,” yet Jesus sees things differently. While he values her hospitality, he rebukes her for being “anxious and troubled about many things” while Mary has chosen the “one thing that is necessary.”
Think about this story through the lens of what we often focus on when planning for a donor visit or perhaps a donor engagement event. Is our case for support articulated perfectly? Do the table settings look just right? Have we tested the Powerpoint enough to make sure it flows smoothly?
The only thing that is necessary for quality relationships with your donors is genuine interest and attention to how they view the impact of your organization. Certainly, we want donors to have confidence in us through our professionalism and expertise. However, when those things come first, ahead of our attention to the donor, we put an avoidable stumbling block between our organization and our “good portion.”
So the next time you are strategizing through the best approach to donor relations remember to be attentive and not anxious. In other words, be a Mary!
Great ideas come from unexpected places. The DBD team is diving into the books, articles, and thought pieces that are shaping our perspective. This month, we're sharing the insights that are challenging our assumptions and inspiring new approaches to common challenges for nonprofits.
