Receipt Under the Windshield Wiper

I was in a parking lot in downtown Houston, locked out of my car and an appointment looming in the building in whose lot I sat. While waiting for the wrecker to unlock my car, I struck up a conversation with a homeless man who approached me. I have shared the full story in presentations and writings, but the moral of the story is particularly relevant in today’s climate. After I gave the man money for a meal, he asked if I wanted him to put the receipt under my windshield wiper so I knew that he used the money for food, not booze or drugs. Integrity. Trust. Accountability.

Nonprofits need to take great efforts to “put the receipt under the windshield wiper” so donors know how their funds are being used, what outcomes have been achieved, and who benefitted from the donors’ gifts of any and all sizes.

These are challenging times for nonprofits. We, in the nonprofit realm, must also recognize that times are difficult for those we serve and those who support us, too. It is always important to develop trust and maintain transparency in various ways, some of which are informal, conversational and interpersonal. At New Danville, we are more than happy to “put the receipt under the windshield wiper.” Hopefully, this newsletter reveals some of the ways that donors’ generosity is utilized in service to our Wranglers and residents.

Thank you for the many ways you make it possible for Wranglers to live, learn, work and grow.

Please feel free to contact me at 936-253-5757 or Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to learn more about the many ways that gifts affect lives at New Danville.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow:  Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) (3) nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.