I'm Not a Gala Girl. I am the Queen of Questions | Good Things Ahead
Good Things at a Glance: Quick summary for the busy leader
Events create moments, relationships make them matter + we’re sharing a free download of our most requested resource to help you build community and connection.
Confession: I’m not a "gala girl."
For anyone who has worked with us, this comes at no surprise. It is like saying I like Diet Coke.
I absolutely see the value of events — the community, the visibility, the sparkle. But at my core, I believe the greatest impact happens through individual giving — the one-to-one relationships, the personal stories, the moments that connect people to purpose.
That said… this week, our school’s Color Run reminded how events and relationships can go hand in hand. Events create moments — the energy, the laughter, the shared purpose — but relationships are what carry that momentum forward. One sparks the connection; the other keeps it going. (note, however, that this event was completely volunteer led and is built around peer-to-peer fundraising. But I digress)
In less than two weeks, these kids — with their bracelets, bread, and bright ideas — raised over $92,000. Each student found their own way to join in: selling, sharing, and cheering each other on.
And that’s the magic of peer-to-peer fundraising: it multiplies impact through shared excitement.
They didn’t do it because they had to.
They did it because they wanted to. (Well, that, and for the color run headband.)
Colorful Takeaway
The best fundraising happens when people bring their own spark to the effort.
When we stop trying to fit everyone into the same campaign mold and instead create space for authentic expression, something shifts. The energy feels lighter. The generosity feels real. People stop showing up out of obligation and start showing up out of ownership.
That’s when momentum builds — not from polished events or perfect plans, but from genuine enthusiasm that spreads on its own.
So whether it’s kids selling bread, neighbors hosting porch parties, or donors sharing why they care — the goal isn’t to manage every move; it’s to write the melody that others can dance to — a vision strong enough to inspire and engage.
Because when your people get to bring their own passion, you don’t just raise funds — you raise believers in the mission. And that’s where the good things really begin.
From Spark to Connection: How Great Fundraising Starts with Better Questions
If the best fundraising happens when people bring their own spark, then the leader’s job is to notice what lights them up. And that starts with asking better questions.
Too often, fundraising conversations jump from "cultivation" to "solicitation." But the most meaningful relationships in generosity aren’t built on transactions. They’re built on curiosity.
Curiosity about what someone values most.
Curiosity about what makes them proud to give.
Curiosity about where they see themselves in the story your organization is telling.
When we lead with curiosity, we uncover what truly motivates people — and that’s when generosity moves from obligation to ownership.
That’s why we created the Engagement Questions Worksheet — a free tool designed to help you start conversations that deepen connection and reveal what really matters to your supporters.
Because when you ask better questions, you don’t just fill your donor database — you build community.
And that’s where the spark of generosity grows into something sustainable, joyful, and deeply human.
Engagement Questions Worksheet
No matter how you fundraise — with bread, bracelets, or better questions — remember this: the work you’re doing matters.
Friend, keep showing up, keep being curious, and keep believing that good things are still ahead.
Megan
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