Reflections from your Giving Coordinator... As Giving Coordinator, my role is to support our incredible Giving Initiative recipients. I help them every step of the way to create a successful online Giving Initiative campaign and ultimately get funded (the best part!). It’s so fulfilling and inspiring to work with folks doing the heavy lifting in their organizations every day. The truth is they do most of the work, and I am there to keep them moving forward and help lift that weight just a bit. But, recently, I had the unique opportunity to witness a Giving Initiative from the organization's perspective. Through my connection with the Junior League of Greenville (SC), I helped to launch a See Beautiful Giving Initiative to fundraise for the Greenville Cancer Survivors Park. It was rewarding to see these two areas of my life come together for good.  I learned a lot about what makes a successful Giving Initiative. Here are three keys to a victory: Buy-in from your organization Since I work intimately with the Giving Initiatives, obviously I understand how it works. But, a See Beautiful Giving Initiative is a bit of an out-of-the-box fundraising idea. So, it’s important that your organizational leaders understand what the Giving Initiative is, how it works, and what the organization’s role is in the process. As the Giving Coordinator, I can help with this! In fact, we created a Giving Guide to help further explain and demonstrate exactly this. This is a great tool to share with your team. This may be most relevant to larger organizations, but it’s also important that leadership is on board with promoting the Giving Initiative through social media channels, newsletters, etc. Although See Beautiful helps to promote for you, it also takes promotion on the organizational side to be successful. Which brings me to my next point... A plan to promote the initiative The key here is to utilize your existing communication or fundraising channels. Do you have a large newsletter list? Let’s send out a newsletter highlighting the Giving Initiative. Is Instagram your thing? That’s where you want to promote it. We’ve even helped to create a Youtube video for an organization that has an engaged and active Youtube following. In-person events can work well, too. Formulate a plan ahead of time or early in the process, and go for it! Of course, you’re not alone in this. As your Giving Coordinator, I’m here to support you.  Persistence and follow-through There’s great momentum with the launch of a Giving Initiative, but as time moves on, that momentum may begin to fade. Don’t worry! I’ll be here to keep you moving and motivated, but it also takes follow-through on your part. I know it can feel like one more thing, but if you commit to taking one action per week, you will see funding results quickly, which will, in turn, keep you more motivated to see it through to the end! Then comes the best moment of all. That moment when See Beautiful gets to tell an organization they are FUNDED! And you get to see the hard work pay off through beautiful projects in action. For our funded Giving Initiative friends, do you have any other tips? AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator
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Many years ago I asked my young children what two things they needed from their parents. They said ‘food and money.’ I told them ‘roots and wings.’ My goal in pledging 99% of my assets to philanthropy is to help others with roots—food, warmth, shelter, healthcare, education—so they too can have wings. You may remember this quote from the blog post about the Giving Pledge, but the concept of roots and wings is one worth exploring and discussing more deeply. Although roots and wings may not be the first words that come to mind when we think about how to meet the needs of others, upon reflection, it makes perfect sense. Without a solid foundation on which to stand, it’s difficult for an individual to take flight, to be able to care for himself, and ultimately to find her own gifts to share with the world. It is for this idea of building firm roots to allow others to find their wings that See Beautiful emphasizes sustainability in our Giving Initiatives. What does this mean exactly? It means that the impact of the Giving Initiative is felt beyond the sum of the funding. It means that the community and individuals in it grow in their capacity to meet their own needs. And it means that See Beautiful becomes a small part of a path toward empowerment. There are so many examples of sustainable projects, and here are just a few. As was shared in a recent blogpost, Mavuno providing technical training to peer-selected individuals exemplifies a sustainable solution. Funds are used in a way that will continue to positively impact the community.  Mavuno See Beautiful’s partnership with How Global helped Kenyan families purchase goats to start small businesses.  How Global With the support of See Beautiful and Kula Project, an entire community of women were able to purchase land and coffee trees to create a lasting business and income for their families.  Kula Project This short list only scratches the surface. Read more fantastic success stories to see the range of sustainable organizations and projects See Beautiful has helped to support. And get a dose of inspiration while you’re at it. AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator Founded by a group of parents, Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville provides support and services for adults with autism and their families. Breakthrough’s services include a residential community and respite and recreation opportunities, as well as individualized services unique to the participant. First and foremost, Breakthrough strives to build and nurture a community of support and friendships. So much beautiful happening there.  Judi Brookshire, the Chair of the Board of Directors, shares her thoughtful personal account partnering with See Beautiful: My husband and I first met See Beautiful Founder Lydia Criss-Mays when she was a student at the University of Tennessee. She came to us having agreed to help with our son who was diagnosed with autism and had a significant history of behavioral issues. My husband had his doubts given Lydia’s slight stature compared to that of our son (6”8” tall and stout). I could tell from the first day, however, she was an answer to our many prayers for help in what was a very difficult and trying time not only for us but also our son. She worked hands-on with Luke for several years. Lydia was one of those special people who was destined to devote her life to improving the lives of others, particularly children and the disadvantaged. It came as no surprise to us that she founded an organization like See Beautiful with its simply stated but wonderful mission. Thanks, Judi, for your willingness to share! And See Beautiful is beyond thankful and proud to have Breakthrough as part of the family. AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator It’s hard not to be instantly inspired by the mission of Mavuno: ending extreme poverty in Eastern Congo by focusing on empowering villagers. Through leadership, training, and people-focuses solutions, Mavuno helps individuals make an impact in their own communities. This sustainable, life-giving approach is right in line with what See Beautiful is about.  The Mavuno agronomist provides technical training to community members who have been chosen by their peers as agriculture monitors for a growing season, representing our model of community-driven development, with technical assistance and mobilization from Congolese staff. As a Giving Initiative partner, Mavuno and See Beautiful worked together to raise money to provide training for an Eastern Congo community to build latrines. Here’s what our friends at Mavuno had to say about the Giving Initiative: Mavuno initially connected with See Beautiful through a simple Instagram comment. Since then, See Beautiful has turned into one of our most valuable and aligned partnerships. Lydia and her team worked with us to build an effective (and rapidly successful) campaign that will fund the construction of several latrines in rural communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where we are based. Beyond that, the See Beautiful team has continually demonstrated a passion for continued involvement in our cause. No other grantmaking organization we've worked with has been so invested in our vision in such a personal way. We're proud to be a part of the See Beautiful family. There's nothing quite like it!  The sanitation project that See Beautiful funded has yet to be constructed, but here’s a photo of a latrine in another village similar to the one that will be built with See Beautiful funding. AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed. Sometimes it’s easier to give than to ask for help. If you’re constantly in giving mode, you may not pause to think about what you need. But, if you neglect to care for yourself, you may quickly find yourself on the road to burnout. And that’s no good for anybody! Here are five ways to nourish and replenish yourself when you’ve given what seems like more than you possibly can give. 1. Get back to basics. Some of the most important aspects of caring for yourself are often the first to get when you get overwhelmed or busy. Sleep, proper nutrition, breath, movement, and water. A good night’s sleep can do wonders for a weary body or mind. Eat three meals a day. Get a little exercise if possible. Remember that the body needs breath and water to function at full capacity. The simple act of taking a few deep breaths and drinking a glass of water can provide some needed energy and replenishment.  Photo used with permission courtesy of Unsplash.com 2. Ask for help. What can you get off of your plate today that someone else can support? Most people want to be helpful but may not know exactly what to do, so be specific. If you’re in a position to delegate, then do it! If not, cash in on a favor, or offer to buy a colleague a cup of coffee if they help proofread that report. At home, ask your partner to stop at the grocery or make dinner. 3. Take a break. This might just be as simple as taking a five minute mental break. Or, maybe you need a vacation! This goes back to asking for what you need and of course, being able to recognize what you need. In order to reveal what you need the most, pause to listen to yourself and your body. 4. Do something you love to do. Take a hike. Grab a cup of coffee with a friend. Read a book, or go dancing. Spending time doing what you truly love will help reignite your motivation to keep going.  Photo used with permission courtesy of Unsplash.com 5. Let it go. When all else fails, don’t be afraid to let something go if you need to. Is this a life or death situation? If not, sure, you may let someone down, but sometimes your well being has to come first. Let it go and move on. AuthorJannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator |
See beautiful in yourself.
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