Everyone wants to “raise more money.”
But few people (at least that I’m aware of), speak of wanting to “scale generosity.”
There is a difference.
We can raise more money through a gimmick or activity that goes viral. Recall the ALS Association’s Ice Water Bucket Challenge, which is celebrating a 10-year anniversary this summer.
We can even raise more money through standard strategies like giving challenges.
But, gimmicks, social media viral videos, even traditional giving challenges, typically don’t scale effectively. We may experience a bump (even a significant bump) in total dollars raised, but when the event has concluded, we are left to creatively identify the next trick or challenge to generate new gifts.
What can be scaled is generosity.
We scale generosity by centering on mission, on ministry, on helping others, on saving or changing lives.
We scale generosity by inviting people to stretch themselves toward the higher angels of their character and to seriously consider interests other than their own or their family’s.
We scale generosity by teaching others how to find the universal joy in sharing.
And, when we effectively and consistently focus on scaling generosity, we also receive the happy benefit of raising more money.
