Full Transcript for 172: Connectivity - 6 Degrees of Community Connections

WEBVTT 00:00:01.118 --> 00:00:04.312 Welcome back to Reflections on Generosity. 00:00:04.522 --> 00:00:08.464 This season, we're celebrating the beauty of rural generosity. 00:00:09.164 --> 00:00:15.862 If you've ever wondered whether your small town has enough donors to fund a capital campaign, you're in good company. 00:00:16.754 --> 00:00:27.501 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. 00:00:28.321 --> 00:00:41.463 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. 00:00:42.454 --> 00:00:54.844 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. 00:00:56.652 --> 00:01:01.424 As a blessing or curse, people are more connected in a rural area. 00:01:01.887 --> 00:01:10.762 This month, we are starting a four-week series on the connectivity of small towns and its impact on capital campaigns. 00:01:11.552 --> 00:01:16.971 By connectivity, I mean the web of relationships that tie a community together. 00:01:17.799 --> 00:01:18.963 Now, let's be honest. 00:01:19.868 --> 00:01:24.108 We know that small town gossip and nosy neighbors are real. 00:01:24.555 --> 00:01:28.082 Anonymity is rare, news travels fast. 00:01:28.629 --> 00:01:30.674 And the blessings are real. 00:01:31.087 --> 00:01:36.075 There is a deep sense of belonging and togetherness because we know our neighbors. 00:01:36.650 --> 00:01:43.152 And there is often a culture of neighbors helping neighbors before relying on more formal institutions. 00:01:43.766 --> 00:01:47.643 Friendships can form over decades and at times, generations. 00:01:48.739 --> 00:01:52.911 An African proverb speaks to the strength that we see in these connections. 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:56.453 A person is a person through other persons. 00:01:57.962 --> 00:02:05.022 In a small town, we identify with each other, and we identify with our responsibilities to one another. 00:02:05.998 --> 00:02:08.471 Further, we are connected in multiple ways. 00:02:09.393 --> 00:02:13.495 Think of it as a form of six degrees of Kevin Bacon. 00:02:13.784 --> 00:02:15.713 And if you don't know the reference, look it up. 00:02:16.447 --> 00:02:20.027 In the case of a rural area, it's six degrees of connection. 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:25.497 That is, a person can find multiple ways they are connected to other people in the town. 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:35.481 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. 00:02:36.597 --> 00:02:41.205 This connectivity has a positive impact on capital campaigns. 00:02:41.782 --> 00:02:45.093 The capital need in the community may already be known. 00:02:45.776 --> 00:02:55.049 Volunteers with the right expertise are easier to find, and a request to help is usually a favor asked by a friend. 00:02:55.762 --> 00:03:03.826 Donors are often connected through several volunteers or staff, and people often give because someone they trust asked them. 00:03:04.818 --> 00:03:10.134 So when we wonder if a campaign can succeed, there's something to keep in mind. 00:03:10.944 --> 00:03:13.293 Connection isn't something we have to build. 00:03:13.774 --> 00:03:16.656 It is already woven into our communities. 00:03:17.563 --> 00:03:27.501 Now, of course, that same closeness that makes asking easier can also make asking feel risky, which we will explore in two weeks. 00:03:28.211 --> 00:03:42.331 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. 00:03:43.355 --> 00:03:45.612 Let's reflect on one question this week. 00:03:46.462 --> 00:03:50.925 Where do you already see the web of connection around your organization? 00:03:52.283 --> 00:03:59.585 Share this podcast if you enjoy these five-minute reflections and subscribe to receive these reflections released every week. 00:04:00.122 --> 00:04:05.444 To explore capital campaign coaching deeper, visit servingnonprofits.com. 00:04:05.895 --> 00:04:06.865 See you next week.