What I Learned from My Grandmother & Hobos About Giving

Posted on May 15, 2018January 8, 2019 by wenright

Philanthropy has to do with living so that everyone around us flourishes. Such a person was my grandmother. My grandmother was born in 1881; she lived to be 107. She came from a family of farmers and ... Read More

PLAYING THE FUNDRAISING GAME

Posted on April 5, 2018July 23, 2018 by wenright

In his classic text on communication theory my good friend Em Griffin uses three game metaphors to illustrate what interpersonal communication is, and is not: bowling, ping-pong, charades.[i] Think ab... Read More

Praise for “Kitchen Table Giving” from Luther Seminary Center for Stewardship

Posted on March 11, 2018 by wenright

I received a fine review and endorsement of my book Kitchen Table Giving from Adam J. Copeland, Director of the Center for Stewardship Leaders, Luther Seminary. You can a find the entire review here... Read More

In Praise of Lewis Galloway

Posted on March 8, 2018March 11, 2018 by wenright

Religious fundraising is more about ministry than it is about money. As ministry, fundraising is relational, mirroring the practice of pastoral care. Relationship building turns on two words: listen... Read More

QUERIES FOR CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS

Posted on January 30, 2018 by wenright

This morning I had a phone conversation with a person who recently completed a successful $100M capital campaign for a religious nonprofit. That conversation surfaced recent conversations I’ve had... Read More

Giving 2018: Do You Have a Charitable Giving Plan?

Posted on January 9, 2018 by wenright

As the year 2018 splashes ashore, the charitable giving world finds itself awash in puddles of anxiety. How will the new tax reform legislation affect charitable giving? Will the increased standard ... Read More

Giving Thanks & Giving Tuesday

Posted on November 27, 2017January 9, 2018 by wenright

This Thanksgiving, my wife’s family had a reunion spanning four generations as we honored her immigrant, Norwegian heritage. It was a glorious reunion as cousins saw cousins they had not seen in yea... Read More

Prayer Inspires and Informs Philanthropy

Posted on November 17, 2017January 9, 2018 by wenright

What struck me as I listened to their story was the emphasis they placed on prayer and the way prayer served as a gateway to philanthropy. I recently met two new friends associated with a millennial... Read More

People of Practicing Religious Faith, Twice as Generous in Charitable Giving

Posted on October 27, 2017January 9, 2018 by wenright

The new Giving USA Special Report on Giving to Religion reaffirms earlier research findings relative to religious faith and giving. Households with a religious affiliation give on average $1590 to ch... Read More

“It’s Not Just the What, It’s the Why

Posted on October 16, 2017January 9, 2018 by wenright

In making your fundraising case for support don’t just focus on the “what” questions: What do you ? What difference are you making. In their new fundraising primer Robert Demont ... Read More