by Kari Young
When I found out that Giving Anonymously wanted me to call people and tell them they had anonymous gifts waiting for them, I felt like I’d won the lottery. I was giddy for weeks, and felt like Santa Claus every time I made a phone call. Listening to recorded thank you messages and forwarding them to the gift-givers was even better – each one felt like a special gift that I was privileged to hear and be a part of.
As a stay at home mom, I spent the last four years immersed in diapers, giggling kiddos, twinkle twinkle little star and yes, even some whining & temper tantrums. (Make that LOTS of whining and temper tantrums.) Before having kids, I had worked extensively with non-profits, doing everything from volunteer management to fundraising to web marketing. Getting the opportunity to volunteer and use all my old skills again felt incredible. (My brain still worked! I’d had my doubts….)
Giving Anonymously fascinates me. With my background in fundraising, I have heard a lot about what compels people to be generous and give their time & finances. Many times I was incredulous – Did you know that studies have shown people donate the most when they are sent a letter that is a) super long (one study had the best response from a FIFTEEN page letter!) and b) mailed repeatedly - at least 10 times. All those super annoying gimmicks (sticky notes, red lettering, multiple P.S. notes at the end of the letter) are in fundraising letters because they work. Fundraising has become this crazy science, full of research, statistics and is practically an industry – and it sort of depressed me. People donate because my letter is four pages instead of two? That seems like such a rotten reason to be generous. What about a connection, passion even for the cause?
All this to say – the reasons people choose to give and be generous, is a topic I love to think about. I observe it in my own life as well. So many times I knew a friend needed financial help and I balked at the uncertainty of sneaking cash into their mail. Or there was a cause I felt passionate about, but didn’t do anything because it seemed to much work when I had a baby screaming on my lap. I almost didn’t even offer to help with Giving Anonymously because I didn’t think it would fit into our busy schedule. In the end, I was so excited about what they were doing, I couldn’t help but get involved, and I have loved every moment of it.
So how can we get people to give more generously? By sending them fifteen letters with lots of fake handwriting, six P.S. notes at the bottom and free address labels? How do you inspire people who are bombarded with sad stories of people needing help multiple times a day? We spend so much of our time isolated from others and I think that has affected our generosity as well. We often rely on other people to care for those in need – organizations, the government, international aid and never come in contact with those we are trying to help. It feels like no one needs us personally, they just want our money. So we hand over check after check and wonder what really ended up happening with it.
I think relationship is the key to generosity. It immediately connects you to a cause, whether it is a sick friend raising funds for cancer or a homeless person who touched your life and inspired you to give to a soup kitchen. A trip to Kenya suddenly has you researching all the ways you could help in that area. That is the part of giving that I love. The excitement of feeling like you really can make a difference and understanding exactly what the money you donate is going to do.
That is why I love Giving Anonymously. I love how it demands a personal connection in your generosity. I love that it is a new way of giving, a new way of inspiring people to act on their impulses to help others. I am so excited to see it grow, catch on and hopefully become a cultural shift to give generously to those you meet in your everyday life.
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