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Welcome back to Reflections on Generosity.
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This season, we're celebrating the beauty of rural generosity.
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If you've ever wondered whether your small town has enough donors to fund a capital campaign, you're in good company.
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But here's what I've seen working with nonprofits in towns from three hundred to a hundred thousand: generosity in rural communities runs deeper than anyone expects.
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It shows up in the quiet donor who surprises you with a remarkable gift, in unique donations, in relationships woven through decades, and in volunteers who simply refuse to quit.
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Whether you're just starting out or deep in the middle of a campaign, these five-minute reflections will inspire you, encourage you, remind you why this work matters with wisdom spanning centuries and cultures.
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As a blessing or curse, people are more connected in a rural area.
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This month, we are starting a four-week series on the connectivity of small towns and its impact on capital campaigns.
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By connectivity, I mean the web of relationships that tie a community together.
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Now, let's be honest.
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We know that small town gossip and nosy neighbors are real.
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Anonymity is rare, news travels fast.
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And the blessings are real.
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There is a deep sense of belonging and togetherness because we know our neighbors.
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And there is often a culture of neighbors helping neighbors before relying on more formal institutions.
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Friendships can form over decades and at times, generations.
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An African proverb speaks to the strength that we see in these connections.
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A person is a person through other persons.
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In a small town, we identify with each other, and we identify with our responsibilities to one another.
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Further, we are connected in multiple ways.
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Think of it as a form of six degrees of Kevin Bacon.
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And if you don't know the reference, look it up.
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In the case of a rural area, it's six degrees of connection.
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That is, a person can find multiple ways they are connected to other people in the town.
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A board member is also a neighbor to a program staff member and perhaps was also the kindergarten classmate to the largest donor in town.
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This connectivity has a positive impact on capital campaigns.
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The capital need in the community may already be known.
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Volunteers with the right expertise are easier to find, and a request to help is usually a favor asked by a friend.
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Donors are often connected through several volunteers or staff, and people often give because someone they trust asked them.
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So when we wonder if a campaign can succeed, there's something to keep in mind.
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Connection isn't something we have to build.
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It is already woven into our communities.
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Now, of course, that same closeness that makes asking easier can also make asking feel risky, which we will explore in two weeks.
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Over the next few weeks, we'll look at a story of connection in action during a capital campaign, the challenges connectivity presents with real examples, and how to make the most of the strength of connectivity in your town.
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Let's reflect on one question this week.
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Where do you already see the web of connection around your organization?
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Share this podcast if you enjoy these five-minute reflections and subscribe to receive these reflections released every week.
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To explore capital campaign coaching deeper, visit servingnonprofits.com.
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See you next week.