Giving Compass' Take:

• The author outlines ways nonprofits can get their communities more engaged. One tip: Be open and honest.

• While this piece is directed toward nonprofits, individual donors can use this guidance to ensure the nonprofits they support are engaging others.

• Read about how to engage millennials in philanthropy. 

One of the toughest hurdles in working for the nonprofit sector is to get people to understand WHY you do what you do. When I engage with people and they ask what I do, it’s easier to talk about why I chose to focus on that particular mission and why it has become a reason to help above and beyond.

Follow these tips so that mutually beneficial partnerships come to fruition.

Be open and honest.
This is true for any business, but it is especially vital in the nonprofit world. The community that supports your vision wants to know that their dollars are going toward a real and needed purpose.

Inclusion is imperative.
The need to belong to something is a powerful human emotion, especially where the shared bond of those in a community are concerned.

Take steps to empower.
Once you include your community and empower them with the knowledge they need to support your message, that’s where real engagement occurs.

Always be supportive.
Without support, your philanthropic efforts die as quickly as they were thought of. Take note of the concerns of the community. There’s only so much that you can do behind an email or a letter.

Remember to celebrate your successes.
Philanthropy isn’t necessarily an easy road. We often focus on dollars given, but we don’t always want to consider that time and participation are just as valuable.

Read the full article about engaging in philanthropy by Janet Alikpala at Medium