Institute for Charitable Giving

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Listen! I Hear a Gift

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I received a note the other day from Chad Lane. He mentioned he had quoted a passage from one of my books (Born to Raise). He sent me a copy of the blog. Here’s what he quoted.

To be a good listener, you really have to work at it. You have to earn the person’s confidence. You must assure them you are truly interested in them and their concerns.

You can’t fake it. If you don’t have compassion and a love for people, and you don’t really believe in the mission of your institution, you won’t be able convince them . . .

If you listen carefully, you will discover the person. Indeed, you will uncover their ideas and their dreams. If you listen thoughtfully and intensely, you will find their passions. You will untangle every riddle, and unlock every door. Listening gets the gift. Listening is the poetry of fundraising.

It’s been some time since I wrote Born to Raise. It’s one of my favorite books. Every page describes what it takes to be a great fundraiser. If you haven’t read it, you should. If you have a copy (and there are about 40,000 that have been sold), read it again.

It’s out of print, but we have managed to collect some used (but in good condition) books. If you don’t have a copy, you’re missing the best book written on what it takes to be a great fundraiser.

And finally, those who know me or have heard me speak can testify to how important I feel listening is to our profession. It is everything.

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