Both as fundraising professionals and parents, my husband and I have always tried to convey to our daughter the importance of philanthropy for shaping the world around us.

For the last five years, she has been running her own entrepreneurial business that she started when she was only seven. While her initial goal was to save for a car, she’s grown to understand that her business is more than just a way to earn money. It’s a platform for making a difference.

Last year, she chose to give a portion of her proceeds to support a local food nonprofit, Nourish NC. She loves following them on social media and has been able to see examples of her personal philanthropy in action: from helping fill backpacks with meals to providing fresh produce for children in need. As our daughter explains it:

“It makes me happy that I can give money so other children have food to eat. It lets them know that someone cares about them.”

Watching her excitement and pride has been a reminder to us of the importance of donor engagement and how meaningful it is for donors of all ages to personally connect their giving with tangible projects and positive outcomes.

Her decision to support Nourish NC wasn’t random. She felt strongly about the mission of providing food to children. She wanted her contributions to be used locally. And she was especially drawn to the organization’s work through the personal stories and images she saw on social media.

The more she learned, the more she wanted to give. The more she gave, the more connected she felt. And the more connection she felt, the greater her desire to increase her giving.

Her story is a microcosm for all donor engagement.

No matter their ages or capacity to give, the power of philanthropy is this: Inside every donor – including those who can write multi-million-dollar checks – is the heart of someone who has unique and very personal interests along with a desire to feel connected to a community of like-minded people involved in an important work that changes lives for the good.

Thankfully, as fundraisers, we have the honor of engaging with donors – helping to make their dreams come true as we ask thoughtful questions and sit quietly as they respond from the heart. Together, we get to see aspirations turned into action and create lasting connections through the power of philanthropy.