The Four T’s of Charitable Giving

When we think about giving back to non-profits, we often focus on monetary donations. But there are so many ways we can help non-profits (like Leadership Fauquier!).

Non-profits need four kinds of support from their community:

1. 1. 1. 1. Time
      2. Talent
      3. Treasure
      4. Ties

What does that mean? Monetary support falls under the treasure umbrella. We need volunteers to give their time and talents. And connecting us with new supporters and resources help us grow. Let’s dive into this a little bit more.

Time

When you volunteer for an organization and provide both your energy and your physical presence, you are giving time. At Leadership Fauquier, for example, you might share your time by:

Volunteering at a program day
Joining a committee such as alumni engagement, sponsorship, or fundraising
Speaking at a session
Helping at a community outreach event
Attending alumni gatherings and sharing insights and feedback

Talent

Do you have a special skill like graphic design or grant-writing? Perhaps you have special knowledge in legal or financial areas. When you share those skills, you are gifting your talent to the organization. This might look like:

Leading a workshop or training in leadership, communication, or local issues
Offering marketing, design, or event planning expertise
Contributing writing or photography for newsletters, social media, or the website
Sharing subject-matter expertise as a guest speaker
Lending technical skills to help improve digital tools, manage databases, or edit videos

Treasure

This is the most commonly thought of gift and it is incredibly important for a thriving non-profit that can carry out their mission and vision. There are so many ways to give treasure beyond sponsorships and cash donations, although those are important too! You might:

Sponsor a meal or program day
Make a one-time or recurring donation to sustain operations
Provide in-kind gifts like printing services, venue space, supplies, or meals
Contribute items for silent auctions or raffles
Underwrite a special initiative like the class project or alumni events

Ties

At Leadership Fauquier, we celebrate the power of connection and thrive on community partnerships. Whether it’s connecting us to potential donors in your network or introducing us to future cohort applicants, you are giving your ties. We love when people:

Connect us to local businesses or nonprofits for collaborations
Recommend potential participants for the next cohort
Introduce us to new sponsors or donors who share our values
Share our social media posts to help expand our reach
Invite their colleagues or friends to attend alumni or public events

Bonus Gift: Testimony

I think the gift of testimony often falls under the gift of time. When you take the time (and maybe talent) to tell us your stories about the impact of Leadership Fauquier, you are helping us demonstrate the importance of our mission to future partners.

Final Thoughts

Whether you give time, talent, treasure, ties, or testimony, you are providing a valuable gift to a non-profit. Every contribution matters to these mission-driven organizations. You can take a moment, right now, to give back to Leadership Fauquier and help us create a thriving community through informed and connected leaders.

2. Change is a process.

Shari explains that the there are various States of Transformation – outlined in detail in her book – but the jist is that as you
embark on your journey, understand that your energy and confidence will shift between trust and fear, often in the same day. It’s absolutely OK to not feel confident all the time.

3. Your self-identity is evolving.

Who we are, or have always known ourselves to be, and who we are becoming, may not always line up in the moment. This is a
fun twist on the term “identity crisis” – and it’s a normal part of the transformation process. Tricks she shares in getting through including remembering what your strengths are, the things you have already accomplished, and connecting with your why.

4. Breakdown to Break through.

At some point in your reinvention, you will feel like quitting, maybe (if you’re like me, even crying). When doubt consumes you,
consider Shari’s advice to shift your perspective to see what you may not have seen before; reevaluate what’s important to you, including your values and where you want to go in order to create your new vision of yourself.

5. Rest and re-charge.

High achievers often drive hard toward their goals, often pushing themselves toward burnout. Shari closes out her book with the
opportunity to plan what she calls “resilience activities” – and introduces the concept of MEPS – mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual – areas in our lives required for well-being. In a shift from the traditional way of thinking, which is to put these things last on our list after being productive, this well-being focused approach allows for putting ourselves first in order to be more productive!

Creating a Thriving Community Through Informed and Connected Leaders

Category Archives: Leadership Reflection

Every Contribution Matters: Giving Back to Non-Profits