In 1910, Dr. Will Mayo shared some great thoughts with the graduating class of Rush Medical College. And Jeffrey Amundson, Minnesota fundraiser, makes the Mayo quote work for the nonprofit sector and the fund development profession. Thank you, Jeff.
“As we men of medicine grow in learning, we more justly appreciate our dependence on each other. The sum total of medical knowledge is now so great and wide spreading that it would be futile for any one [person]…to assume that he has even a working knowledge of any part of the whole…. The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered, and in order that the sick may have the benefit of advancing knowledge, union of forces is necessary…. It has become necessary to develop medicine as a cooperative science; the clinician, the specialist, and the laboratory workers uniting for the good of the patient, each assisting in elucidation of the problem at hand, and each dependent upon the other for support.”
As Jeffrey notes, all that Dr. Mayo said applies to the fund development profession and the nonprofit sector. “Just substitute our industry’s language and titles where appropriate. And, of course, gender bias aside.”
So, says Jeff: “If an organization truly desires to be donor-centric, the best interest of the donor is the only interested to be considered…”
Thank you, Jeff. Let’s all pay attention.
