This week’s Giving Challenge comes directly from my conversation with J. Paul.
When we invite someone to give - to give financially, to volunteer, to pray, to stand with a cause - we often carry a quiet goal: Get to yes.
This week’s challenge is different.
Choose the person, not the outcome.
The next time you invite someone to give with you:
Ask one sincere question before you make your request.
Listen without steering the answer.
If the answer is “not now” or “not this,” respond with respect, not pressure.
And if you can:
Help them clarify what they are called to give to.
Point them toward something that fits their season, even if it isn’t yours.
Real generosity doesn’t begin with a transaction.
It begins with relationship.
For nonprofit leaders and fundraisers, this is not soft advice. It’s sustainable strategy.
Long-term trust outlives short-term wins.
That’s this week’s Giving Challenge.
— Avi
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