Change your Culture – What can YOU do?

What you DO with any learning makes the magic happen.  Do you roll your eyes and say, “Tried this, doesn’t work” or, “My shop is different”?  This week I shared a webinar on 4Good about Culture – specifically a culture of generosity.  It’s set up so that you all can down load the session for free and give a listen, just click here.

Today, and in my next post, I’ll cover 10 steps YOU can take – weather your leadership “gets it”  or not and regardless of your role within the organization.  Remember culture is how you think, act and interact.  That means it begins with YOUR THOUGHTS!  What beliefs you PERCEIVE about your culture determines how you act and interact with those around you.

Here are the first 5 Steps YOU can take to Create a Culture of Generosity.

1. Treat everyone like a major donor.
We are patient and thoughtful with our major givers gently leading them, over time, into a partnership that blends their values, quirks and perhaps unique personalities with our giving options.  What if we used these same relationship-building techniques with our staff colleagues? What if we treated everyone like securing their buy in and support was vitally important to us?  We’d take different steps with a different attitude.  You know it.

2.  Treat the giver like a full on member of the mission team.
“If only we could just do our mission without having the burden of raising the money!”  That thought, that belief, takes you FAR away from a culture of Generosity.  Your donors are your sacred partners in making the world a better place through your mission.  It starts with your mindset.

3.  Make stewardship a priority even if it is not rewarded. It’s the right thing to do.
“Marcy, we don’t even get credit for a stewardship call in our metrics.”  I know..and it’s sad. But the donor deserves to enjoy the giving.  You will be lifted up by expressing your gratitude in an authentic way. Just do it.

4.  Model the JOY of giving.
Sit quietly and reflect on why and how you give to your mission.  Do you gauge the least amount you can get by with?  Do you tithe and that’s it?  How do you feel about it?  Joyful, or done with it?  Research is documenting more and more the powerful role giving and gratitude plays in our overall health and happiness. It shows in how we show up every day.  Get your JOY on!

5.  Walk in your donor’s shoes.  Consider what it feels like to be a giver.
Have you ever felt someone was being nice to you because they wanted something?  Yuk, right? Major donors get a lot of attention…especially when you want money. You create a culture of generosity when you sincerely want your donors to make the investment that will bring them joy…even if it’s not your organization.

Ask yourself how YOU are creating a Culture of Generosity in your organization.  Don’t be the victim to how others choose to act, rather be the catalyst for the changes you’d like to see.  Little else could speak louder of your belief in the power and joy of giving!

Invest in Joy!