(Type 5)
The Wise Donor
After learning about the Wise Type Donor in Our Personality test, read this to find out how to encourage them on their giving journey.
We all know that wisdom comes from experience; it’s not necessarily inborn. Remember this when dealing with Type Five donors. They bring to the church community a wealth of experience and can be very generous givers.
Church pastors must remember that Type Five (the Wise Donor) is generally perceptive and innovative. On the other hand, they can also be introverted, and they may isolate themselves.
They investigate and observe the world around them, and they are true visionaries. Often, The Wise Donor is extra curious, but this only drives them to find better solutions to complex problems.
Consider the words of Maye Musk, author of A Woman Makes a Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure and the mother of Elon Musk. She would be a Wise Personality Type. Musk often made conscious, cautious decisions when raising her children.
“If at the moment you feel as though you don’t have any talents, go to a time in the past when you felt confident about some aspect of your life. Work on that section, study it, share it, and become more interesting. If you have a profession, a hobby, or a special interest, read about it, and mention it in conversations. Be excited about it, and you’ll be more interesting and more intelligent.”
― Maye Musk
Let’s now dig deeper into the personality traits of the Wise Donor Type:
The Following Terms Describe a Wise Donor Best:
- Curious
- Always up for a challenge
- Perceptive
- Innovative
- A true visionary
- Academic
- logical
- Insightful
- Observant
- Intellectual
- Worldly
- Curious
- Intelligent
- Rational
- A deep thinker
What Motivates the Wise Donor?
The Wise Donor has a natural curiosity of the world. They feel motivated when they have your full moral support and know that you, as their spiritual leader, trust their decision-making capabilities.
The Wise Donor also loves an enjoyable challenge, making them instrumental in fundraising for the church. Because their intellectual skills influence their decisions, they will only give to a certain cause if it makes “complete sense” to them.
Remember that they have a moral sense of whether a cause is worth giving their time and hard-earned money to.
They are also practical givers, so you can make donating easy for them by setting up mobile giving options, apps and online platforms they can use to connect.
What Are Wise Donors Most Passionate About?
Wise Donors love to support causes that are practical. They will often inquire about helping the church in hands-on ways: for example, at soup kitchens, during outreach handouts, or even on the ground for a natural disaster charity operation.
They love the feeling of meeting personal and professional goals, so when they feel they have helped the church reach their vision, they enjoy a deep sense of satisfaction.
How Can You Engage the Wise Donor?
This research study speaks about some other personality traits of wise people and suggests themes that the Wise Type might be interested in learning further.
Engaging this type of donor requires that you think about topics that speak to their intellect and encourage them to dig deeper as they learn more about the church.
Perhaps your Bible studies or leadership groups could tackle the following themes and prompt similar questions:
- Human-nature, interpersonal relations and social behaviors
- Spiritual strategies the Wise Donor can use to navigate the unexpected twists and turns of life
- Answer Wise Personality Type questions like, "Where do I fit into the church?" "What is my purpose here?" "How are things interconnected?"
- Address spiritual and emotional values
- Organize engaging activities also for the families and children of Wise Type Donors
Practical Ways to Encourage and Thank Wise Donors:
Speak to their experience and wisdom. Showing them you value their mind and not just their money will prove your faith to the Wise Donor Type.
Maybe you wonder what gifts these donors might appreciate as a token or thank you. Here are some great ideas:
- Nonfiction, self-help books
- Intellectual news clippings of their personal or professional interests
- Invitations to donor networking events where they can meet other Type Five Personalities
Character Example of a Wise Donor:
If we think about philanthropists who changed the world by investing in education or social change, we find many Wise Donor Types. Remember that these folks see the bigger picture. They might be happy to invest in the church if their gifts will have positive long-term effects — no quick band-aid solutions.
Who comes to mind when thinking of the Type Five “Wise Donor” portrait? At the top of our list is Bill and Melinda Gates, both known for their amazing generosity. They are typical Type Five Donors. Under this category might also fall Elon Musk’s mother, May Musk, whose quote we shared earlier.
Bible Verses on Giving to Inspire You as You Lead Wise Donors
Studying to lead the Type Five Wise Donor and help them on their giving journey? Let these Scriptures refresh your heart and mind, and give you faith as you ask for help during fundraising and outreach programs.
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Where there is strife, there is pride, But wisdom is found in those who take advice.
The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
For more tips on growing donors and caring for Wise Type Five personalities, check out our extensive digital library of church pastor resources.
Schedule a Discovery Call with us at DonorWerx today and improve your church’s ability to grow its membership and benefactors.