Energy is essential to philanthropy, and the truest philanthropy is an energy of its own.

Several years ago, when I had the honor of serving as chairman of the National WWI Museum and Memorial, we managed to procure an exclusive pre-release showing of the movie Unbroken.  This unique opportunity was made possible by a friend of the Museum who was involved with the film’s production and had called to ask what he could do in the Museum’s support.

Tickets sold out very quickly, mostly among the Museum’s core supporters.   We decided to conduct a live auction just before the showing, procuring maybe half a dozen items for that purpose.  It was with some reticence that I agreed to take on auctioneer duties, a personal first.

I took the stage and started with an autographed copy of the book that spawned the film, hoping for maybe $100. Giving it my best (but not-so-good) auctioneer’s call, I asked, “Can I get a bid of $100?”

“$250!” a voice rang out, followed by “$500,” then “$750.”  It closed, I think, at $2,500. And so it went with the remaining items, buyers stepping forward with combustible generosity, jostling mirthfully with one another to constantly up the ante of participation.

It wasn’t about competition, flashing financial resources or individuality.  It was about coming together in collective, escalating energy in support of an institution that held a place of deep meaning in their hearts.

We finished the auction in shock of its success.  Along with ticket sales and other contributions, it made for a very successful event.

For me, the lesson of that evening, replayed often in my experience, is that philanthropy can depend on creating the energy and unanimity of purpose reflected in that 15-minute auction.  And that philanthropy, itself, becomes a uniquely powerful, self-perpetuating energy.

Creating energy means constantly, convincingly conveying the inspiration of your mission and the needs it both serves and begets; inviting and galvanizing people to be partners (and, ultimately, raving advocates) in its realization; and sustaining vigor, community and renewal around your purpose and within your donor population.

Where energy of this kind is created, philanthropy will follow, and not being part of it—as with that night years ago—becomes almost inconceivable. Philanthropy as its own and mutual reward, and a unique renewable energy unto itself.  Energy begetting philanthropy begetting energy anew, spawning greater giving.  A virtuous equation, the power of philanthropy at its center.