09/21/2020
I feel this is the best time for those of us working in the non-profit world to be leading the drive for greater engagement - here's why...
If you are like me, you are spending more time than ever at home working on a computer. I’ll bet you’ve tripped down the surfing rabbit hole more than once. One diversion to bring unexpected benefits has been me jumping into on-line communities I would not have engaged with pre-pandemic.
I started by attending a group session with a psychic (fun). I’ve tried Qigong, Yoga and Pound (sweaty). I dropped in on a random Zoom-based book club (stimulating). I continue to attend sessions taught by entrepreneurial experts (challenging). I have 30 + fundraising education hours for my next CFRE renewal and I am still going (Yes!). I even gritted my teeth and struggled through an hourlong “Watch Party”, trying desperately to understand the thoughts and concern of the anti-maskers of my acquaintance (disturbing).
And through the diversity of topics, political views, locations, ages, nationalities and all the rest, one thing remains clear, folks have a deep and growing desire for community. In every single group I heard similar fears and frustrations repeated. Concerns about fundraising, organization survival, jobs, health, mental states, kids, aging parents, politics, racism and/or environmental concerns were met with compassion, good advice, and a sense of shared experience.
I feel this is the best time for those of us working in the non-profit world to be leading the drive for greater engagement, to build larger and stronger communities. Non-profit leaders know that dedication and hard work brings positive change, and many seem to have a genetic predisposition for hopefulness. What are you doing to broaden and deepen engagement for your organization in both old and new communities?
