Here comes Thanksgiving, a holiday much beloved by many Americans.  While most of us gather with family members, often multiple generations, there are also lots of people who just get together with friends for a big meal of traditional treats and the good company.  

We sometimes have to put up with atrocious and aggravating travel arrangements, but let's face it - people want to be part of  this holiday. It doesn't carry the stress and imagined implications of spending New Years alone and the presents are usually food or wine so the pressure is off regarding gift giving for this event. There's the Macy's Parade to go to beforehand (if you're a visitor to New York City) and then football afterward so what can be bad?

Well, this year may hold some clunkers that we're not used to in such depth: cuts in salary and furloughed work days, prolonged unemployment, loss of home or credit rating, postponed retirement dates, education, or travel dreams. This time last  year we were fearing what has by now arrived. So, what is there to be thankful for?

How about, if you have so far escaped the unemployment horror?  You're bringing in the money you need! What if you fell in love since last Thanksgiving or if no one in your family caught the H1N1 flu?  How about if  your elderly parents are still healthy and they're living on their charitable gift annuity income so you don't have to worry if they can pay their bills? What about your favorite four old turning five, or the fact that this year your diet worked and you lost those pesky 20lbs, even if some of it was stress related.

I think, if you're breathing, you can find cause for thankfulness. In fact, in times like we've been living through since last Thanksgiving, many of us get a lot more basic about what makes us happy and that's not always a bad thing.

If you're in nonprofit development, which is the community I serve as a fundraising consultant, it might be a good idea to send out Thank You notes to donors now who have found ways to continue their support of your mission, or perhaps finally let you know that you're "in the will" or decided to find out how to handle that process. Certainly let your volunteers know you're grateful - there are certainly a lot more lately.  For those nonprofits that received large bequests, just when most needed,  thank your lucky stars.  

If nothing else comes to mind, be thankful for a four day week-end.  

I'm always pushing recognition and thanking donors.  I'm so especially thankful to my clients, who continue to feel my services are valuable in spite of tight budgets. I'm very thankful to be so lucky that I can work in a field I love and make a difference in so many lives. I'm so thankful for the joy my family brings me. I definitely want to thank everyone who reads this blog (THANK YOU!). 

Wishing everyone things they can be thankful for - Happy Thanksgiving.


P.S. You can sign up for our free planned giving newsletter, The Planned Giving Key^TM on our website www.breakthroughphilanthropy.com