Every fundraising office has a superpower. You have the stories that inspire hope in your team and your donors. When was the last time you shared them?
According to a recent study from the University of Missouri, hope is the emotion that fuels a meaningful life. When setting goals, finding purpose, and moving forward, hope drives organizations and motivates donors. Hope is more significant than happiness, excitement, charisma, or love.
Why is hope so important? The needs of nonprofits and schools are greater than during the pandemic and the financial crisis of 2008. Donors, however, rarely give meaningful gifts because the organization needs them. Donors rarely give because they should give. People don’t like to be scolded into giving. What motivates donors is the feeling that your organization offers a hopeful way forward. Hope means three things:
1.) A Better Future for your Clients and Students
Hope is the picture that you have in your mind for your clients and students. What is the story that you tell to others that helps them imagine the future as a bright new day dawning?
2.) The Solution(s) your nonprofit or school will deliver
Hope is the solution that you have developed to solve some of your clients’ biggest challenges. For instance, if you are managing a food rescue organization, your team may have decided to purchase a new van or plant a community garden. As a school, you may have decided that launching online education will make education more affordable and accessible.
3.) The Confidence you need to ask for gifts to fuel the solution
Hope is an emotional connection that you have to the solution. Hope bonds you to your donors and gives them a reason to believe and invest in your mission.
Hope doesn’t begin in a vacuum. We discover hope when we schedule time with ourselves and our teams to discuss possibilities, imagine a better future, and think about our organization from the donor’s perspective.
Take two hours this week to imagine a better future. Share your solutions with others, and tell your story to your donors. See how they respond.
At BrightDot, we help nonprofits and schools deliver hope to their clients and donors. Click on this link to learn more, and let’s discover together a way to make 2025 a hopeful year.