He lived to be 95 — a very full and incredible life — serving our country for more than 40 years. And his sons did so as well.
While this was a very sad time for all of us and especially his four boys, we can absolutely, unequivocally say that we have no regrets of providing the care he received, especially over the past few years — the visits, the time we spent with him and the ways we tried to make him comfortable, feel loved and let him know he was such an important part of our lives.
Life is definitely going to be different, but he’s made a major impact on our lives because of his greatest generation values, experiences and learning.
Why am I telling you this? Because he had no regrets about what he did to serve his country. He had no regrets in how he raised his family and passed on his legacy to the next generation. And this became especially clear during the wake and funeral service.
As human beings, we don’t know how long we’re here, but it’s crucial to not have any regrets of what you’re doing. Your job as a fundraiser is an important one, and it’s vital to realize that you are making an impact on your organization but especially on those your organization serves every day.
Don’t you ever forget it!
So, if you have a bad day (and who doesn’t have a bad day?), just take it in stride and come back, full of hope, optimism and focus to make the next day a better one. Because you matter!
And if you’ve been raising funds for a while, look back and make sure you have no regrets of what you’re doing, what you’ve done or what you’re planning to do.
Don’t let a stone become unturned. Make that call. Send that thank-you note. Because even if you just make a difference to one person, it matters. And remember, that’s how your donor feels as well. As a donor, all you want to do is make a difference! One person, one story, one organization at a time!
And if you’re still in doubt about the importance of what you’re doing as a fundraiser or what you’re doing as a donor, read this story.
First published by NonProfitPRO on October 16, 2019.
