Yesterday, I participated in the initial gathering for the Big Day of Giving. Those were two thrilling hours filled with abundant information and lively exchanges among the more than 150 attendees present. It somewhat resembled an inspirational speech given by a coach prior to the commencement of a major match.
We started the morning off with an ice breaker, not the kind everybody hates, but rather a subtle way to bring folks together. Because our organization is a newbie (meaning first time participant), we found some collaborative partners that were relatively new as well. Junior Tennis Fund’s Carol Rose was the first person I connected with and after only a couple of minutes chatting, we knew our organizations belonged together, as we both focus on youth development for underserved kids. We also connected with Denise Bowden from Lincoln Hills Foundation. Initially, I thought “not much in common with seniors living in Sun City”. The more we talked though, the more the link between our organizations became clear, as they fund grants also, but for seniors rather than kids.
Following this little meet and greet, we went on to listen to various panelists who were veterans of the Big DOG event. Each one spoke about the value of Big Day of Giving, and everyone agreed that it was so much more than just raising funds for your individual organization. A common thread was the collaborative nature of the event and how bringing 570 organizations together was not competitive, but rather inspiring as everyone worked together to build awareness of all the good work that is being done in the Sacramento region.
You have to understand that administering a non profit can be a lonely path. You get so caught up in the day to day details and the board meetings and the donor cultivation, that you really appreciate an opportunity like this to come out of your office and work with others who are in your shoes. It provides much needed personal and organizational growth.
The final part of the event was spent covering the use of donor matching funds. This is something The Wish List Project was able to do on a smaller scale in the past. The tips provided will hopefully take us to the next level.
So watch for future posts and e-blasts from us over the next few months to get everyone excited for this most inspirational community event. We’re planning a fun celebratory gathering at a local restaurant too! If you’re already on our mailing list, you will receive an invitation for sure. If not, you can sign up for our newsletter right here to be included. Or you can LIKE our facebook page right here to stay on top of all the news and celebrations!
