Comments on: The Rich Young Ruler: Transformational Giving http://www.asmallchange.net/the-rich-young-ruler-transformational-giving/ Making sense of fundraising for non-profits. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:57:23 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Quen http://www.asmallchange.net/the-rich-young-ruler-transformational-giving/comment-page-1/#comment-49280 Quen Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:49:07 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=61#comment-49280 For me this is a call to change how we give or how we ask people to give. Donors will get burned out if they feel that they are filling in a need of another person or a group. How Jesus changed the perspective of giving from mere doling-out to a desire to be like Him is very humbling. It lifts the morality of giving to a higher stage. Thanks for this post. It gave me an idea what to keep in mind when soliciting and giving. For me this is a call to change how we give or how we ask people to give. Donors will get burned out if they feel that they are filling in a need of another person or a group. How Jesus changed the perspective of giving from mere doling-out to a desire to be like Him is very humbling. It lifts the morality of giving to a higher stage.

Thanks for this post. It gave me an idea what to keep in mind when soliciting and giving.

]]> By: happydonors » Blog Archive » Treat “all donors as major donors”? http://www.asmallchange.net/the-rich-young-ruler-transformational-giving/comment-page-1/#comment-8431 happydonors » Blog Archive » Treat “all donors as major donors”? Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:22:11 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=61#comment-8431 [...] thoughts on how we think about and communicate with donors, check out Jason Dick’s earlier The Rich Young Ruler for some very provocative thoughts on how we too often “mediate meaning” rather than [...] [...] thoughts on how we think about and communicate with donors, check out Jason Dick’s earlier The Rich Young Ruler for some very provocative thoughts on how we too often “mediate meaning” rather than [...]

]]> By: Gareth Keown http://www.asmallchange.net/the-rich-young-ruler-transformational-giving/comment-page-1/#comment-1610 Gareth Keown Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:56:49 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=61#comment-1610 I would like to address the idea of self propagation. I find these modern day phenomenons interesting: GeoCaching, Wikipedia and the phenomenon discovered by Heath Ledgers' death. Granted, these are phenomenons that are not necessarily related to 'fundraising,' but they do have one come thread - they are initiated and propagated by peer-to-peer involvement. GeoCaching is the largest modern day 'treasure hunt' phenomenon on the globe - its dependence for maintained 'treasure' is peer-to-peer. Wikipedia currently in the top ten most visited sites in the world - peer-to-peer in the fact that it's content is derived by people like you and me. For the first time in modern history it was the peer-to-peer (texts, blogs, mms etc) that resulted in a greater penetration and saturation of the news of Heath Ledgers death over the institutional news media. If these phenomenons do exist in one facet of our society's fabric is it too much to conceive that maybe, just maybe there is something to this peer-to-peer fundraising? I would like to address the idea of self propagation. I find these modern day phenomenons interesting: GeoCaching, Wikipedia and the phenomenon discovered by Heath Ledgers’ death.

Granted, these are phenomenons that are not necessarily related to ‘fundraising,’ but they do have one come thread – they are initiated and propagated by peer-to-peer involvement.

GeoCaching is the largest modern day ‘treasure hunt’ phenomenon on the globe – its dependence for maintained ‘treasure’ is peer-to-peer.

Wikipedia currently in the top ten most visited sites in the world – peer-to-peer in the fact that it’s content is derived by people like you and me.

For the first time in modern history it was the peer-to-peer (texts, blogs, mms etc) that resulted in a greater penetration and saturation of the news of Heath Ledgers death over the institutional news media.

If these phenomenons do exist in one facet of our society’s fabric is it too much to conceive that maybe, just maybe there is something to this peer-to-peer fundraising?

]]> By: Roger Carr http://www.asmallchange.net/the-rich-young-ruler-transformational-giving/comment-page-1/#comment-869 Roger Carr Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:10:54 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=61#comment-869 If you want the mission of the organization to turn into a movement, I believe the peer-to-peer fundraising is one key to it. Fundraising, volunteering, etc. then grows out of the the passion of others. The "middleman" is still required to continually put the tools n place and encourage the communication, because even the "movement" is not going to sustain itself over the long term without help. If you want the mission of the organization to turn into a movement, I believe the peer-to-peer fundraising is one key to it. Fundraising, volunteering, etc. then grows out of the the passion of others. The “middleman” is still required to continually put the tools n place and encourage the communication, because even the “movement” is not going to sustain itself over the long term without help.

]]> By: Jason http://www.asmallchange.net/the-rich-young-ruler-transformational-giving/comment-page-1/#comment-856 Jason Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:31:54 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=61#comment-856 John, Those are the exact same questions that I have been asking myself. At this point I have decided that I think there could be some great opportunities to use peer-to-peer fundraising to enhance a program that is already going on but I do not think it can replace the work that we are currently happening. I'd love others to chime in as well. I think the peer-to-peer fundraising, social networking for non-profits, and online fundraising are some really new and developing ideas and I'd love to hear more from other people about their views. If you have any ideas as to how I can create more dynamic conversation I'm all ears. Thanks for writing in, Jason John,
Those are the exact same questions that I have been asking myself. At this point I have decided that I think there could be some great opportunities to use peer-to-peer fundraising to enhance a program that is already going on but I do not think it can replace the work that we are currently happening.

I’d love others to chime in as well. I think the peer-to-peer fundraising, social networking for non-profits, and online fundraising are some really new and developing ideas and I’d love to hear more from other people about their views. If you have any ideas as to how I can create more dynamic conversation I’m all ears.
Thanks for writing in,
Jason

]]> By: John Boyle http://www.asmallchange.net/the-rich-young-ruler-transformational-giving/comment-page-1/#comment-850 John Boyle Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:17:01 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=61#comment-850 Jason, I enjoyed the back-and-forth about the parable, but I'll comment primarily on Eric's first quote. I agree that we ARE the middlemen (and women) and that we are meaning mediators, but in most cases - that seems to be the best and most effective way to meet the needs of the donor, the institution and the population that that the institution serves. I mean, if you can set up peer-to-peer fundraising, that's greatl! But donors come and go, and even your donor-champions get burned out. We're the ones that are tasked with keeping the engine moving, especially when people are stretched. As fundraisers, we definitely should aspire to be coaches and not direct players, but I believe that the reality of how and why people give requires us to be much more involved than Eric would probably like. As for setting them loose and staying out of their way... well, it's a nice thought, but I haven't seen any initiatives that are self-sustaining enough for me to really get behind that. I hope others chime in. I'd love to discuss this some more! John Jason,

I enjoyed the back-and-forth about the parable, but I’ll comment primarily on Eric’s first quote.

I agree that we ARE the middlemen (and women) and that we are meaning mediators, but in most cases – that seems to be the best and most effective way to meet the needs of the donor, the institution and the population that that the institution serves.

I mean, if you can set up peer-to-peer fundraising, that’s greatl! But donors come and go, and even your donor-champions get burned out. We’re the ones that are tasked with keeping the engine moving, especially when people are stretched. As fundraisers, we definitely should aspire to be coaches and not direct players, but I believe that the reality of how and why people give requires us to be much more involved than Eric would probably like.

As for setting them loose and staying out of their way… well, it’s a nice thought, but I haven’t seen any initiatives that are self-sustaining enough for me to really get behind that.

I hope others chime in. I’d love to discuss this some more!

John

]]> By: Roger Carr http://www.asmallchange.net/the-rich-young-ruler-transformational-giving/comment-page-1/#comment-819 Roger Carr Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:38:45 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=61#comment-819 I love this post. The concept that giving is just as important for the donor is right on target. Yes, it is about attitude. Jesus also said the second greatest commandment is to "love your neighbor as yourself." I love this post. The concept that giving is just as important for the donor is right on target. Yes, it is about attitude. Jesus also said the second greatest commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

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