Ever wonder what really goes through the mind of a donor as they contemplate their next gift? A post on the site of Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, allows us a peak into the motivation of such well-known individuals as Bill Clinton, Peter Buffett and Guy Laliberté as they explain the thought processes behind their philanthropic practices. Some have surfaced on the other side of personal adversity and felt compelled to reach back a helping hand. Some were raised in an environment where giving was woven into the fabric of family life. Others express a “there but for the grace of…” sentiment that is easily understood.

We were intrigued by The Globe and Mail interviews mentioned above and found ourselves wishing that we could ask donors for their thoughts on philanthropy in a similarly direct way. And then we realized that we can do just that. So, in future newsletters we’ll be interviewing various philanthropists and asking them for their thoughts on topics such as how they like to be approached for a contribution, what they are passionate about and why, and how they really feel about attending events.

Feel free to send us any questions that you’ve always wanted to ask a donor. We’ll be sure to include them in our conversations. Then stay tuned to see what they have to say. It’s bound to be a bit of a wake-up call.