We tend to think of those who are artistic or inventive or imaginative as “creative” types.
We also tend to box our creative colleagues into the advancement roles of graphic and web design, or marketing, or photography, or communications.
But when we deeply think about the important outcomes of advancement work we should consider everyone involved a “creative.”
Who creates meaning with donors?
Who creates a joyful giving experience?
Who creates a sense of feeling seen, appreciated, and valued?
Who creates a spirit of goodwill?
Who creates the opportunities to be generous?
Who creates trust in others?
Who creates optimism in the future?
Who creates more understanding about the important needs our institutions meet?
When our aspirations and plans turn advancement efforts into transactions, or formulas, or increasing quantifiable data points we have to be careful not to confuse shorter-term outputs with longer-term outcomes.
We are all creatives.
And, at our best, we create everyday the outcomes our world needs most.
