The Magic of Giving, Indeed

I have many blessings in my life. And if you know me at all, or are a regular reader of FundRaising Success, you know that I count among them the opportunity to work with some of the most selfless, dedicated, passionate people in the world — you, our readers, the fundraising professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to help nonprofit organizations make the world a better, safer, saner, more beautiful place.

Actually, to say I work with you is something of a self-indulgence on my part. More accurately, I have the honor of working alongside you, at best, as you turn your passion for donor engagement into dollars to support your respective organizations' missions.

Almost since FS began in 2003, you've accepted the magazine, its staff and myself among your ranks. You've engaged with us in person and, increasingly, online; you've shared your insights, your successes, your failures; you've come to us with your concerns, your questions, your comments on the quality of what we do; you've broken bread with us at dinners, shared drinks and laughter at conferences and parties, invited us into your offices and to your special events. In short, you've allowed us to be partners with you in your noble and necessary work.

Though it's never far from my mind, I was reminded twice recently about just how special what you do is.

Once was Monday as I sat in a ballroom at the Plaza Hotel in NYC where the Association of Fundraising Professionals' Greater New York Chapter observed National Philanthropy Day by honoring a handful of stand-out philanthropists and others who play a role in the world of philanthropy and fundraising.

Most of the honorees were philanthropists who give or raise millions and millions of dollars for charitable causes. They were nominated for the honors by their recipient organizations — most likely at the request of major-gifts or planned-giving officers who have been cultivating those relationships for years.