PRO TIPS | Kindness in an Unsteady World: Reclaiming Humanity in Philanthropy

As we move towards the very generous month of December for many charities, I have been reflecting on‬ November’s World Kindness Day (November 13), National Philanthropy Day (November 15) and Giving Tuesday (December 2).‬‭

We are living through a time when much of the world feels unsteady.‬ Geopolitical uncertainty, deepening political polarization, accelerating environmental concerns and‬ everywhere we look, people seem tired—frustrated, overwhelmed, and unsure of what might be coming next.‬

‭Canadians, famously known for apologizing to lamp posts and bumping into walls with a whispered “sorry,” can turn into entirely different creatures behind the wheel. Road-rage videos of Canadians on Instagram are‬ both hilarious and unsettling, a reminder that even for us very polite Canadians, kindness can evaporate in a‬ flash.‬‭

It’s no surprise, then, that this erosion of patience and compassion shows up in our institutions too—including‬ the charitable and philanthropic sector. We are a sector built on generosity, community, and the belief that‬ people want to help. And yet we’re not immune to the frictions of the world around us.‬

‭There are countless philanthropists giving generously, thoughtfully, and with deep purpose. There are many‬ charities working with integrity, using donor funds wisely, treating staff well, and achieving meaningful impact.‬ But, there are also people who could give and choose not to. And, there are organizations where unrealistic‬ expectations, toxic leadership, burnout, and internal dysfunction jeopardize the very missions they exist to‬ advance.

At the same time, cultural norms—modelled far too often by public figures—have made bad‬ behaviour seem normal, and sadly, even acceptable.‬ This makes kindness not only rare, but powerful. Kindness is not soft. It is not naïve. In philanthropy, kindness‬ is a powerful approach, one that builds trust, strengthens relationships, and fuels lasting impact.‬

‭Because when everything feels fragile, people are longing for spaces where they feel valued, respected, and‬ seen. Philanthropy should be one of those spaces.‬

‭Kindness matters more than ever‬

‭Kindness is key to building the one thing fundraising cannot thrive without: trust. Trust leads to connection.‬ Connection leads to generosity. And generosity leads to the kind of impact the world desperately needs.‬

‭But kindness is not just about tone or pleasantries. It shows up in how leaders lead, how staff are treated, how‬ donors are stewarded, how colleagues treat each other, and how missions are communicated. It is the‬ foundation of healthy cultures, meaningful philanthropy, and credible institutions.‬

‭So, how do we bring more kindness back into the sector? Here are three ways I believe philanthropic leaders,‬ fundraisers, and organizations can start.‬

1. Lead with transparency, vulnerability and humanity‬.

Kindness begins with clarity, honesty, and empathy. Leaders can set the tone by demonstrating that being‬ human is an asset, not a liability. When they communicate transparently—sharing challenges openly,‬ acknowledging uncertainty, and listening actively—they build trust that no marketing material can replicate.‬‭

Let donors see your passion and understand your challenges.‬

Let staff feel safe raising concerns and proposing ideas.‬

‬‭Let volunteers know their time and contributions truly matter, and that we hope they’ll also help build a place‬ full of kindness and energy.‬
‭People respond to and give to people—not institutions, not AI. We must remember that transparency, paired‬ with humanity, is kindness in action.‬

‭2. Build cultures that care for their people‬.

‭Kindness cannot be a slogan. It must be a practice.‬

Some organizations elevate their missions but forget their people. Under-resourced teams get burned out.‬ Many development officers struggle to hit unrealistic targets. Toxic behaviours go unaddressed. These‬ cultures drain energy, relationships, and ultimately revenue.‬‭

A culture of kindness looks like this:‬

• Manageable and sustainable workloads‬
• Psychologically safe environments‬
• Time to connect and share as humans‬
• Team accomplishments are celebrated‬
• Clear expectations and supportive management are evident‬
• Training, development, and well-being are a focus‬

‭When staff thrive, organizations thrive. When staff are treated with dignity and care, they extend that same‬ care to donors and volunteers—and they respond with trust and loyalty.‬

3. Design donor experiences rooted in respect, not pressure.‬

Kindness in fundraising means prioritizing relationships over transactions.‬‭ It means thanking donors in ways that feel sincere—not formulaic.‬ It means grounding conversations in values, impact, and partnership.‬ ‭It also means understanding that donors are not ATMs—they are humans with hearts, hopes, ideas, and‬ motivations.‬

‭Respect is another secret ingredient to long-term philanthropy. And respect is simply kindness put into‬ practice.‬

‭Choose kindness—as strategy, culture, and legacy‬

‭The world may feel like it’s wobbling, but our sector has an extraordinary opportunity: to be a model of what‬ healthy, humane systems look like. To show that kindness is not weakness—it is wisdom. It is effective. It‬ generates trust, revenue, community, and long-term impact.‬

‭Kindness is not just the Canadian stereotype we laugh about. It is a leadership competency. A strategic‬ advantage. And perhaps, the exact antidote the world needs right now.‬

In philanthropy and in life, kindness always wins.‬‭

And when it does, everyone does.‬‭

Here’s to‬ leading with courage, care, generosity—and kindness—today and every day.‬‭ ‭

Robin Fowler, MEd, CFRE, is the Founder and Principal of‬‭ Flex Philanthropy‬‭, a firm that helps fundraisers and‬ mission-driven organizations grow their impact through values-based, people-first coaching and strategy development.‬ Robin has more than 30+ years as a successful fundraising leader, strategist and community builder. Over her long career‬ in consulting and in executive roles leading organizations, Robin has raised and helped her clients raise many hundreds‬ of millions of dollars, and successfully executed and scaled high-impact, multi-faceted philanthropic campaigns and‬ initiatives. Email: robin@flexphilanthropy.ca Web: flexphilanthropy.ca