Making meaning investments in the things we value comes next. But the world isn’t constructed to help us do that. Life gets busy – child care, elder care, careers, home and car maintenance, and daily chores consume our lives. If you don’t make space for investing in meaning you’re bound to be disappointed in the most important parts of your life.
Making Meaning Through Donating Time or Money
As a former executive director of an arts council and chair of an environmental advocacy group, I know all about donor fatigue, whether we’re talking about people’s time or money.
There’s a difference between someone who reaches the 20-year club as a guide dog puppy-raiser and someone who stops after one puppy. Between someone who creates a permanent scholarship, an endowment, or a charitable remainder trust and someone who scatters her small donations among scores of organizations.
The trait that separates these donors and volunteers from others is how they approach the philanthropic process, how they express their personalities and benevolence through their choices of organizations to support, and the pleasure they take in their participation.
Cultivating the Inner Philanthropist coaching is all about making that process conscious.
Unless donors and volunteers invest their gifts of time and money with meaning that’s created inside themselves, they’ll burn out. And that’s not good for the organizations that depend on them.
I work with people who are struggling with purpose, meaning, and life choice issues related to donating their time or money: Philanthropists who want to make better choices that result in educational or charitable work that speaks to their souls.
Are you surprised by the level of other donors’ or volunteers’ commitment, but can’t seem to generate it for yourself?
Do you feel like you’re going through the motions of volunteering or making financial contributions without getting much enjoyment?
Are you unsure about where or how to invest your time, energy, or money?
Do you feel that you’re doing all of the right things, but still don’t feel any sense of satisfaction or accomplishment?
Do you have trouble believing that your financial support or volunteer efforts matter?
Are you concerned that you need to make some important changes but don’t know where to start?
Do you second-guess your choices and keep switching from group to group?
Are you frequently bored or anxious with your participation?
If you are experiencing any of these difficulties, here’s how I can help.
Cultivating the Inner Philanthropist coaching is about putting donors and volunteers in a mental space that allows them to develop an intimate, holistic relationship with their altruistic self.
Through a series of assignments and exercises you’ll learn how to rediscover and focus on the things that really matter to you about your giving or volunteerism, restore meaning to your efforts, or resume a valued relationship with a favorite cha
