What the Fundraising

2Show Me the Money (But Don’t Talk About It)

I first learned about the concept of scarcity mindset when reading Lynne Twist’s work. For more than 40 years, Twist has been a recognized global visionary committed to alleviating poverty, ending world hunger, empowering women and girls, supporting social justice, and promoting environmental sustainability. She is a cofounder of Pachamama Alliance and founder of the Soul of Money Institute. Almost 20 years ago, The Soul of Money (2006) changed the trajectory of my life and it still inspires the work I do today.

I picked up the book on my nightstand late one night after an exhausting day of spinning my wheels trying to prospect donors for a small education‐focused nonprofit. At the time, I was searching for new ways to fundraise that would actually be sustainable. The unique way Twist talks about money, relationships, and values made me rethink how I approached my work. Once I started to understand how money shapes the world we live in and unconsciously affects every decision we make, I was able to question the power I was giving money in my own life.

In her book, Twist shares one story about giving back a check that has stuck with me all these years. She was offered money but then realized the giver wasn’t in alignment with the organization’s values at that moment in time. Rather than keep the significant amount of money, which would have been completely understandable given the good it could have done for her organization, Twist ...