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You never hear or see their names. In an alpha donor listing it says “Anonymous”. Sometimes that moniker is repeated for a full page. It is truly their first and last name. Regardless of the gift size there is something powerful in the silence. Their message rings of support without fanfare and the mission is more important than the recognition.
I have had whispers in my ear from donors that pledge from their life’s work because they LOVE the impact of their gifts. I have had donors bring gifts in kind or provided services free without anyone knowing what they have done. In quiet humility, each person or family determines what matters to them and then finds a way to put those gifts into action.
In response to these quiet donors the commitment is to be thankful for their engagement and to share with them ongoing impact. Their loyalty to the work and their attentiveness to the needs of the organization is ever-present. It is like a quilt in process and each stitch holds the organization together creating a beautiful patchwork of mission. Some love the edge work, some the design and others delight in the growing quilt to care and cover those in need.
We have all done anonymous things in life. We have been purposeful in caring for others without a need for recognition. I am honored to be in a position to receive these wonderful gifts at St. Francis Reflections Foundation. It makes my heart soar to honor them just a little because truly their real first and last name is LOVE.
Shawn Bassham, M.Ed., FACHE, CFRE
