It’s easy to think of the people who support our mission as, “our donors.”
The reality, though, is that generous people give to many different organizations and causes. And “our donors,” also support other institutions.
Therefore, they aren’t so much “our donors,” as we are “an organization they support.”
This reframe is important. Instead of thinking about these folks as, “ours,” its far more helpful for us to think of ourselves as one of the many causes they support.
When we flip that script, we can begin to embrace strategies and actions that help our institution become more than one of the causes they support. We can become one of the top causes they support.
Viewing donors as “ours,” can lead us to feel entitled to their support.
While viewing our institution as “one of theirs,” should lead us to engage them more creatively and effectively.
