Keeping the Fire Kindled
I honestly never imagined I’d have this much fun in my business! Or have this much impact.
And yet here I am, lit up like a Christmas tree, leading Find Your Flow, which is my co-working and learning group for fundraisers. I’ve got a candle lit, some hot chocolate in my favorite mug, and we’ve been sharing some good belly laughs.
Now I’m holding in my heart the intentions my fellow fundraisers have brought to this space.
Building a web of support and leaving “lonely leading” behind
Remembering that donors are delighted to hear from me
Letting go of who I was as a fundraiser so I can step into who I am now
“Yes, may it be so!” is what I say.
And I smile because we’re doing deep work, and we’re doing it with joy. We’re keeping the flame lit. And we’re saying YES to resourcing ourselves even as we resource our organizations.
It’s all the more delightful because many of us wrangled with that old voice in our heads before the session. The one that says, “This is silly. It’s the heart of the holiday giving season. I do not have time to slow down.”
But when we did slow down, we dropped into our deepest knowing and remembered that this is the work. Because if we don’t tend to our inner flame, we can’t keep the fire kindled among our donors or our colleagues.
And we know that when we’re grounded enough to lead with love and intention, and when we challenge the stories that no longer serve us – that’s when magic happens.
Which brings me to story time…
✨ Story time: The power of keeping the fire kindled
This summer, one of my clients identified a potential donor in their broader network who could be a phenomenal fit for them, because they had given generously to similar causes in the past.
My client had no personal connection to the donor. No email. So they sent a deeply thoughtful, heartfelt letter in the mail, along with a small mission-aligned gift. And then, we heard nothing. For months. (Typical, right?)
My client hesitated to follow up. Reading between the lines, I could hear those unhelpful old stories unspooling: “I don’t want to bother them,” and “I don’t want to seem presumptuous.”
Still they sent a thoughtful postcard to follow up. And that’s when it happened! A hearty five-figure gift came in, along with this note: “I’m very glad you followed up to remind me. I’d LOVE to meet to hear more about your work.”
YESSS! I love this moment. I’ve seen versions of it again and again over the past year and the joy it brings me never gets old. This story reminds me:
Donors do want to hear from us (and often appreciate reminders).
When we lead with warmth and authenticity, people respond in kind.
The feeling of alignment/success in our bodies sparks MORE alignment/success!
I’m so proud! Over the past year, I’ve watched this client grow so much. They’ve unlocked the flow of generosity not just by working a plan, but also by summoning courage, communicating with heart, and consistently “showing up” even when it has felt uncomfortable.
Cheers to their success! I hope hearing about it inspires even more success of your own.
And as the year winds down, my wishes for each of us are simple:
✨ That we tend to our light.
✨ That we celebrate the generosity flowing in all directions, even in the dark.
I look forward to seeing you in 2026!
