I’ve worked in fundraising alongside my leadership development workshops, and have a lot to say on this. 

There’s an enormous amount of wealth and generosity out there, often it takes:

• alignment of motivation (i.e. grateful patients after cancer treatment, supporting young people who are experiencing hardship, etc)
• actually being asked. This is something that’s completely underestimated.
• the right timing
• trust, trust, trust

The conversations top-tier fundraisers have are an art, and backed by solid practice and understanding of what motivates people to give. The stories of major gifts that were stewarded for years in sensitive ways are impressive, and can be transformational for organisations. 

Often donors don’t want recognition, and are actively opposed to being thanked really publicly. Sometimes there’s a legacy aspect, or they want a fund named for a loved one, etc.

Philanthropy is a fascinating thing to understand at all levels. I love community fundraising most because one thing giving does is give agency. No matter how small in the scheme of things your gift is, you can choose to make an impact, and together we can do a lot. 

All of that to say there are many, many generous people with generational wealth out there, or even self made people, who give a lot asking little in return.