Zimmerman Lehman : Tragedy - Can It Produce Some Good?

Tragedy: Can It Produce Some Good?

On September 11, 2001, the United States faced an immense catastrophe: what to say in the face of this national tragedy? Those of us who have spent our lives in the nonprofit/public service arena feel tremendous compassion for those who have lost loved ones and for the many folks assisting them. We look for answers about why this happened. What motivated the individuals involved? Is there anything we can do beyond revenge and retaliation to ensure it doesn't happen again? Are there lessons to be learned? We were particularly moved by a question Bill Moyers put to a religious leader. He asked, "What do you tell folks about why this happened?" The spiritual leader (whose name we didn't catch) said you look for ways to create something meaningful from it all, and in that you will find solace.

In the New York Times of September 15, in an article entitled "Companies Pledge $100 Million in Relief," it was reported that a number of corporations, including (but not limited to) DaimlerChrysler, Pfizer, General Electric, Chevron and Texaco have contributed between $5 million and $10 million to the relief effort. On the foundation side, the Ford Foundation, the Starr Foundation and the Lilly Endowment have donated $10 million each. The philanthropic tradition in the US is always strongest during a crisis, and it is a comfort to see major corporations and foundations stepping up to the plate.

In our attempt to create meaning from this week and to connect that to the work we do, we have looked for parallels in the fundraising arena. We are not sure how folks will feel about our correlation, but we will share it in an attempt to have something good come out of this catastrophe.

One striking point, especially for those of us who have not lost loved ones, is the very strong connection we have felt all week to those we care about. We have reached out to our families, friends and colleagues in very heartfelt and significant ways. We have bonded not only with those we care most about but also with strangers we've met on the train or bus, sharing some of the horror of this week. Some of us have donated blood and/or given money to helping organizations. When we make these connections, we feel a bit better. When we make a contribution we feel the satisfaction of helping in some way to ameliorate the misfortune.

That feeling of connection and satisfaction through our donations of blood or money is really what fundraising is all about. We don't always feel it as profoundly as we do this week, but fundraising is about creating opportunities for others to feel worthy about themselves and better about the world. It is about forging ties with those you know and care about and giving them a chance to share your concerns.

Too often we fear being a nuisance or invasive when we ask our friends and families to make donations, but, as we saw this week, we are creating an avenue for them to feel better about themselves and the world we are creating. Our work isn't embarrassing; it's ennobling. There is a warm and glowing feeling that comes from philanthropy that is like nothing else and many of us in the midst of grave adversity this week have also had that glow.

For more information on the basic rules of fundraising see Zimmerman Lehman's book, Maximum Dollars: The 12 Rules of Fundraising.

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