Several years ago, I was invited to a major donor event held by a major Jewish institution that I had supported (let’s call them “JI”). The event was relatively small (only about 50-75 people in attendance), and invited guests were those who gave the highest level annual gift to the organization. Although I had given a substantial gift to this NPO, I was not in that highest category.
100%! I once went to a large non-profit gala in a city I had just moved to. We wanted to meet like minded people--those who were philanthropically minded who cared about the same efforts. I offered my rental property for a week for the auction (no follow up, I guess it didn't sell?), made a donation, and bought two tickets. They sat us at a table that was overlapping (had to walk around an amp that was taking up space) the sound booth, was half empty and sat with some teens who were working the event and overflow vendors who didn't know anything about the charity. I left thinking that they were doing fine and didn't need my donations. I am not resentful, but was weirded out that they were so disrespectful to a new donor. If that's how they treated me, then that's how they treat others. If my donation/house/tickets weren't enough to sit at the grownup table, then I need to be in a way smaller pond. I know they do good work, but I still kinda assume that they have such big donors that they don't need moderate donors.
Lisa, always good to hear these reminders. Struck by the comment - good manners”. Sometimes the basics are really what we need to focus on. Thank you for always sharing, always pushing people and organizations to grow.
Lisa -- Thank you for this post, which as always has excellent advice. I have a question for you, through: Granted that nonprofits should make sure their donors are appreciated, at the end of the day, as a donor, isn't it how the organization carries out its mission what you are most concerned about? Couldn't there be occasions when you say, this organization has lousy donor relations, but it does excellent work, so I will continue to support it? I would love to see a post reflecting on this.
100%! I once went to a large non-profit gala in a city I had just moved to. We wanted to meet like minded people--those who were philanthropically minded who cared about the same efforts. I offered my rental property for a week for the auction (no follow up, I guess it didn't sell?), made a donation, and bought two tickets. They sat us at a table that was overlapping (had to walk around an amp that was taking up space) the sound booth, was half empty and sat with some teens who were working the event and overflow vendors who didn't know anything about the charity. I left thinking that they were doing fine and didn't need my donations. I am not resentful, but was weirded out that they were so disrespectful to a new donor. If that's how they treated me, then that's how they treat others. If my donation/house/tickets weren't enough to sit at the grownup table, then I need to be in a way smaller pond. I know they do good work, but I still kinda assume that they have such big donors that they don't need moderate donors.
Lisa, always good to hear these reminders. Struck by the comment - good manners”. Sometimes the basics are really what we need to focus on. Thank you for always sharing, always pushing people and organizations to grow.
Lisa -- Thank you for this post, which as always has excellent advice. I have a question for you, through: Granted that nonprofits should make sure their donors are appreciated, at the end of the day, as a donor, isn't it how the organization carries out its mission what you are most concerned about? Couldn't there be occasions when you say, this organization has lousy donor relations, but it does excellent work, so I will continue to support it? I would love to see a post reflecting on this.