Episode #33
Is working at a nonprofit a noble calling?
Does it make you come alive?
Sometimes it’s great to reflect on our accomplishments and look around at what impact we personally have in the world.
This week’s video features four different fundraising professionals from various nonprofit organizations. You’ll hear why each one of these folks love working in the nonprofit sector.
Do you have any thoughts around working in the nonprofit sector? If so, please share them with everyone in the comment box below the video. Thanks.
Also, if you’re not already a Movie Mondays subscriber, sign up for your own free subscription so you won’t miss out on future movies. Click here for Your FREE subscription to Movie Mondays.
For your own free subscription to Movie Mondays, click here.
Do you have any thoughts around working in the nonprofit sector? If so, please share them with everyone in the comment box. Thanks. 🙂
Why do you do what you do?
Looking back, many times I have asked myself exactly the same question – since there are easier things to do. But this has been the way I feel happy.
I am trying to build a little part of the world in which I would like to live. A project only makes sense to me when it proves useful to make people happier and when it represents a hope for a better future. This is the soul of my projects.
Working on the projects I do means to dream with a new world in mind. My projects always renew my faith in an harmonic way of living, without misery. When people work together they are powerful, there is friendship…and optimism.
We need to actuate and cause change. Yes, we need money – it is very important to accomplish projects. But money only matters if it helps to solve people’s problems.
It is a challenge to build models that can be used by deprived and excluded people, to create sustainable livelihoods and promote social inclusion. Creating projects, implementing them and succeeding, witnessing one’s dreams come true, is happiness. Money just makes it easier.
For all these reasons I work the way I do. I am a slave to my dreams, thoughts, and ideas. That is all.
A Short Interview with Fabio Rosa, Brazilian Social Entrepreneur (Fabio Rosa)
Excerpted from “How to Change the World – Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas” by David Bernstein
Working with a non-profit helps a person connect with part of them that is higher, ultimately lifting a person.
in addition, impacting a cause that you believe in builds a persons self image and provides an extra level of meaning in your life.
Karen Robinson, at 3:20, articulates THE MESSAGE THAT DRIVES ME and encourages me to get over my fear of asking — by involving donors, we truly give “life” to people! Beautiful!!
What excites me about working in the non-profit community is the opportunity to connect people to their altruistic dreams! It is very rewarding to make a contribution to the work of creating change in our culture. Each organization I work with teaches me about important issues.
I love your comments Diane. After 25 years coaching public speakers with a smattering of non profit fundraisers amongst my clientele, I have now turned my full attention to helping non profits increase their visibility and financial success by developing and delivering impactful talks. I love love love my work for all the reasons you mention above. I am so grateful to have turned in this direction and support amazing work in the world. “Good people doing good works” resonates so powerfully with me. Thank you.
Kate –
Thank you for touching on a valuable point that I felt was overlooked.
I consider myself blessed to have had a career serving the non-profit world. And while it is special to dedicate oneself to the cause to the degree that it becomes one’s lifeblood, we in the non-profit sector should allow ourselves to think that we have a monopoly on our good work. We cannot forget that people in the for-profit world are our partners in two very vital ways.
First are those, like yourself, who make us better at doing what we do. You demonstrate that people in the for-profit realm are not just motivated by the dollars you earn, but by the good that you help us do, which, by extension, becomes the good that YOU do.
Second are our donors, those generous individuals who (if we do our jobs well) gladly part with their hard earned dollars to partner with us in bettering our community…not because they want to help us bring our dreams to fruition, but because our dreams ARE their dreams. They share our vision and understand that they have a unique opportunity to provide the funding that can make their dreams come true.
We may have the honor and distinction to do this full time, but our for-profit donors and service providers are truly our 50/50 partners, because without you all, we are nowhere.
The quote mentioned was made by Howard Thurman.
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/6273-don-t-ask-what-the-world-needs-ask-what-makes-you
What excites me about working in non-profit is Love and Compassion. I prefer a purposeful life to one of passing time. Love is something you do and share. To help another is the greatest privilege and is a great expression of unconditional love. We should all experience love.
There are more than 86,000 charities in Washington State. Multiply that number by volunteers, donors, recipients, employees and all of these people are making our world a better place and reducing the burden on taxpayers. As a service provider I am constantly surrounded by good people doing good works. I’m a better person for these connections and my community is stronger and healthier.
How awesome to be surrounded by such terrific people on the job – people who get the big picture and are vision-driven! The enthusiasm is contagious, and makes the work day fly by!
It brings out the best in everyone…this is the best part of the video. I see this every day even through all of the challenges and frustrations, we make a difference and that makes us better people!
In the past year, I’ve been thinking more and more about the work of all non-profits, not just my own, not just my organization’s….but the whole sector. How would our world look without non-profit work? We are an integral part of life and we go about in some of the most difficult ways possible, but with great results and hundreds of thousands of people supporting our efforts. We tap into the most basic human instinct of helping one another – helping someone in need – and together, we help change the world. Pretty damn awesome.