Faith Like a Child

All of this comes to mind for two reasons. I was incredibly touched and humbled by the work that was represented by the more than 100 entries in our 2010 Gold Awards. Plus, I just reread Katya Andresen's To The Point column where she outlines eight ideas to help you re-energize your fundraising and says, "There's no better way to get out of the metaphorical weeds than to ask advice from someone who is only a few feet high."

Faith and vision, like a child, go a long way. Many of you are gearing up for that all-important end-of-year push for donations. While you're reminding your donors and other supporters about the importance (and tax implications) of making a gift before the end of the year, remember to think as children, with the kind of wide-eyed enthusiasm for reaching a goal — whether asking God to fix your pastor's broken heart or raising enough money to keep the shelter open, cure a disease, fund a major exhibition — that can only come from not even knowing that failure is an option.

As we fall into fall and the beginning of the holiday season, I wish for you that kind of faith, that unfettered vision and an enthusiasm for doing good that resonates loudly with your donors and fuels their support through the holidays and beyond.