Sacred Ground

"Generosity is not about giving money -- it's about giving meaning."

This article is in response to “Whose Mission?” My guest respondent is Terry Brandt, Executive Director for the Offutt Family Foundation.

---

I still remember the moment a mentor pulled me aside early in my career and said, “Terry, don’t call yourself a fundraiser.” I was confused—after all, wasn’t that my job? But they continued, 

“Fundraising sounds transactional. What we do is about relationships. It’s about discovering what people are passionate about and inviting them into something that aligns with that passion. It’s not about getting into someone’s pocketbook—it’s about inviting them into something grand.”

That conversation reshaped how I saw my work. And reading Paul’s article brought that memory rushing back.

My journey in this work began as a parish pastor, engaging congregations with a Lutheran understanding of generosity—not as obligation, but as a joyful response to God’s grace. That theological understanding and belief deepened during my time as a bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, where I sought resources for synod and churchwide ministries that needed to think outside the box. Later, I served as Vice President of Advancement at Concordia College, during a time when higher education faced headwinds unlike any other in recent history. And now, on the other side of that journey, I have the privilege of serving as Executive Director of the Offutt Family Foundation—a foundation in the top one percent nationally, focused on advancing community development, education, and healthcare in North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota.

Paul’s metaphor of crossing the continental divide on a bike is a powerful one. Like him, I began my journey in philanthropy with a deep belief in a mission and a willingness to ask others to support it. But over time, I too crossed a divide. I realized that people don’t give because of our mission—they give when their mission finds a home in ours. shift—from persuasion to curiosity—is transformative. It’s not about being the expert in the room. It’s about being the listener. It’s about asking, “What would you change in the world?” and meaning it. It’s about seeing our organizations not as the center of the story, but as a thread in the donor’s story.

And while I still find myself using the words “fundraising” and “fundraiser”—and I have no issue with Paul’s use of them—what Paul defines in this article is exactly what my mentor wanted me to realize, claim and live. Behind the word is a deeper calling: to connect, to invite, to align missions in a way that honors the donor’s passion and purpose.

It is truly an honor and a privilege to be invited into this kind of work—as Paul has experienced. To be trusted with someone’s story, to witness what moves them, and to help them find meaningful ways to make a difference—it’s sacred ground. As Ron Offutt has said, “Generosity is not about giving money—it’s about giving meaning.” That perspective echoes the heart of this reflection. It’s not about extracting resources; it’s about extending purpose.

That’s why Paul’s closing line hits home: “It’s not about you.” It never was. It’s about the people we serve, the donors we walk alongside, and the shared vision we build together.

Thank you, Terry Brandt, for your wise and heartfelt response!

Rev. Terry Brandt is the Executive Director for the Offutt Family Foundation. Prior to this position, he was Vice President of Advancement at Concordia College; Bishop of the Eastern North Dakota Synod; Pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.