Many of us are familiar with the etymology of the word “philanthropy.” The word philanthropy is derived from the Green “philos” meaning “love” and “anthropos” meaning “humanity.” And that’s exactly what our work as fundraisers is about–love of humanity.
As we head into the busiest season of fundraising here in Minnesota and beyond, I want to hit pause and ask us to sit and reflect on why we do the work we do. It’s important that we ground ourselves in the “why” especially as the days get shorter, the to-do lists get longer, and we get closer to GTMD.
Recently, I attended a fundraising conference in St. Louis, MO. I thought "This is the worst timing ever – How am I supposed to make time for a conference when I’m trying to prepare for Give to the Max Day?!"
As I was surrounded by a couple hundred other fundraisers from around the country, I was reminded of how interconnected we all are. We do this work because we have hope for what could be. We do this work because we love our communities. Regardless of the organization we may fundraise for, we can all agree that we do this work because we care for and believe in the possibility of what can be accomplished when our communities come together. Now that is a beautiful thing worth celebrating and cultivating.
Not only do I have a love for humanity and believe in the possibilities that fundraising makes possible, but I also have a deep love and appreciation for you, my fellow fundraisers. It’s a great privilege to see and support your campaigns during Give to the Max each year and it’s a reminder of how smart, caring, and creative we all are.
The finish line is in sight. You've got this. And you’re not alone! I, along with the rest of the GiveMN Green Team, will be cheering you on every step of the way.