The start of the NFL season provides an inspiring reminder of generosity as nonprofits prepare for their year-end fundraising.
Damar Hamlin is back on the field, defending for the Buffalo Bills. Hamlin made world-wide news on January 2, 2023, when he suffered cardiac arrest on the field of a nationally-televised game in Cincinnati. The defensive back’s miraculous return to full health has led to his remarkable return to pro football.
The incident also sparked an outpouring of generosity. For example, Hamlin is volunteering his time to advocate for state and federal legislation that would require automated external defibrillators at all high school sporting events. He also is volunteering his voice to encourage all of us to learn CPR.
Oh. Damar Hamlin also raised $10 million for his nonprofit organization.
While earning his bachelor’s degree at the University of Pittsburgh, Hamlin established the Chasing M’s Foundation, designed to promote the development, health, and safety of youth. After being selected in the next-to-last round of the NFL draft, Hamlin started using his pro platform to promote the foundation, with an initial goal of raising $2,500 for a toy drive.
That modest fundraising goal received quite the jolt after Hamlin was brought back to life in a sold out stadium, with millions of people watching on TV. Donations blitzed their way to the foundation. Nearly 300,000 gifts included large contributions from millionaire football players and billionaire team owners. Even still, one estimate placed the average gift at $40 as everyday people sent in their donations.
Nonprofits understandably can be discouraged by reports that only half of American households make charitable financial donations. The outpouring of support for Hamlin’s foundation points instead to the Gallup Survey finding that 81 percent of Americans donate money each year to nonprofit organizations.
Damar Hamlin is alive and well, and so is generosity. People saw a dire situation. They wanted to help. They wanted to be part of a solution. They wanted to be part of something larger than themselves.
This inspiring story provides an important lesson for fundraisers. No, that lesson does not include enduring a near-death experience! Instead, know that people care, and people are generous. Not all people, of course; but many, maybe even most.
Therefore, state your fundraising case for support. Clearly describe your nonprofit’s programs, services, and results. Be transparent about the financial resources that are needed to accomplish those results. Help people see how they can become part of something larger than themselves, joining others who share their values and motivations. Individuals at all gift levels can be encouraged to donate.
Fundraising, while never easy, is fortified by this sense of possibility, by this growth mindset, by this awareness of generosity.
After receiving medical clearance to return to the NFL, Hamlin told ESPN, “You just keep putting that right foot in front of the left one, and you keep going. I want to stand for that.” Fundraisers will benefit by heeding Hamlin’s advice and by following his example.
Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., is director and Rosso Fellow of The Fund Raising School within the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
Leave a Reply