I have donated to an animal rescue a few times since the start of this year. Not exorbitant amounts. But whatever I could in the moment.
There is so much going on in the world, sooo much, and I keep donating to feed, house, and provide health services to cats. Yes, cats. ???
I am sharing this not to be braggadocious, rather, to get curious about my own psyche - to invite us all to get curious.
I loveeee my alma mater(s).
I care deeply about body sovereignty, about health, education, literacy, Judaism and countless causes.
I believe deeply in climate justice and the preservation of our parks.
The arts and humanities are my soul-embodied. ??
And —
I keep giving to kittens. KITTENS I WILL NEVER MEET. ??
So why am I telling this story? Whelp, we make a lot of assumptions in the fundraising profession - A LOT.
What motivates someone to give isn’t always clear in a “targeted research report.”
If someone scanned my passions and interests, or my social media, they might see, yes, I have a cat, but nothing overly “cat woman” ish (unless you saw my text thread with my sister ha!)
But in all seriousness, I have been posting daily about the state of the world. And narrative medicine. And poetry. ?
So what is it about cats? Am I just a sucker for animal appeals? Nah. There was no ask. Not one. Also, I have a very indirect connection to the org…I rescued mine elsewhere. So what is it?
I couldddd tell you about the foster videos I have seen, the hungry mama cats, the emaciated kittens, but I am more curious…
What’s the lesson here for us?
What we see vs what we do?
What we think we know about someone vs what they actually feeeel?
What can we learn from our own giving behavior…and how might this help to illuminate our perception of others?
#authenticask #purposedrivenboards #fundraising #philanthropymatters #curiosity