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Our Philosophy about Philanthropy

Philanthropy is a heart size, not a gift size.

We recognize that...

• A philanthropic spirit is the common characteristic of all donors.
• A philanthropic gift is one whose worth is relative to means, so only the donor can define generosity. It is the act of giving and not the size of any donation that makes a gift philanthropic.
• Our organization and its volunteer leaders and professional staff play an important role in introducing people to the privilege and opportunity of giving, whether their giving is directed to our organization or not.
• We have the capacity to influence giving to our own, as well as to other nonprofit organizations, through how we treat our donors.

We agree to...

• Work at all times within a strategic plan which defines our goals and our methods of reaching those goals.
• Welcome designated giving to specific programs or services, as well as undesignated gifts for general support of our work.
• Issue personalized thank you letters to donors promptly.
• Acknowledge donors' generosity through personal calls and/or visits from organization leaders.
• Organize events that adhere to a stringent budget to avoid real or perceived criticisms about cost and that acknowledge the collective generosity and importance of all our donors.
• Communicate regularly with donors about how their gifts are used, and do so before asking for another gift.
• Appreciate and treat with respect all gifts regardless of monetary value.
• Respect the privacy of donors at all times.

Adapted from Donor-Centered Fundraising, by Penelope Burk, U.S. Edition, 2003.