You are presenting a new idea, a fresh approach, or a novel strategy.
Perhaps it’s as “blue-sky,” as planning a small gathering of your best donors and inviting them to informally dream with the CEO on ways your organization can enhance its service to participants.
Or, perhaps it’s as operational as a new way to communicate the importance of your annual fund to donors.
Recently, I listened as a member of an advancement team suggested the following:
“What if after our school spring musical, someone stood on stage and said something like, ‘We often get asked what the annual fund supports. What specifically does the annual fund, fund? Well, tonight you experienced an example of it. Our students are able to have these kinds of opportunities because our school has the funds designated for comprehensive support. At our school, the annual fund isn’t one thing. At our school, the annual fund is everything. And tonight, during this incredible performance, you witnessed why everything matters. Our annual fund helps support our fantastic teachers who led these students. It helps support our lighting, our props, our music program. Our annual fund helps to make magical experiences like this production happen. On your program, you will see a QR Code at the bottom. If you feel so lead or so moved, please consider training your phone’s camera on that Code and making a gift to our annual fund. Our entire school thanks you for helping make experiences like these available for our students.”
Immediately after this suggestion, a colleague responded, “But, what about the people who want the annual fund to support something concrete and specific?”
At that point, I watched as the discussion devolved into a series of negative statements that eroded the team’s interest in the new idea. Nothing came of the suggestion.
Asking questions about a new idea or strategy is important and needed. New ideas rarely come fully-baked and ready to implement as is. More clarity and understanding is generally needed.
However, how we ask questions matter. If we ask questions as a way to highlight distracting details, we run the risk of derailing a potentially worthwhile idea.
On the other hand, when we ask questions that seek clarity or focus on a facet of the new idea, we can help shape the next step of development.
I wonder what would have happened to that new annual fund idea if the colleague who spoke immediately had instead asked,
“Who could deliver that message with the influence to help us change the minds of those who think the annual fund should support something concrete and specific?”
