I had the opportunity to spend time last week with Linda Grajewski, the founder of a ministry called Gaits to Heaven.  She works with the Lakota people on the reservation in North Dakota.  By using horses to create bonds between the women and children of the reservation and the volunteers, they experience first hand the love of Jesus, gain skills that will enable them to set a new direction for their lives, and have hope for the future.   ( http://gaitstoheaven.org/ )  As we discussed her ministry, her vision, and her needs, she talked about the challenge of fund raising.

 Raising funds as a not-for-profit is difficult as the best of times.    Linda told me that she never counts a donation on paper until she has the check in hand, because so many times people don’t follow through with their word to give.   That’s simply a lack of integrity. 

Integrity is about honoring our word.  Once we’ve given that word, not honoring it breaks trust and leaves us with a reputation we don’t want.  It is always better to carefully consider whether we can honor our word BEFORE we give it.  If we feel we’d be unable to follow through on the commitment, then we shouldn’t make the promise.  Once we’ve given our word, anything less than following through, lacks integrity. 

 This insight has caused me to change how often I say yes.  I think hard before I commit to attending an event or meeting.  I ask myself how I will feel about following through on the commitment before I say yes.  The result:  I say no more often.  I also honor my word more consistently.

Tags: character, donations, fund raising, Gaits to Heaven, giving, integrity, saying no, saying yes, trust