The title of this column is misleading.

Giving Up is something we’ve all thought about doing during rough times. Gosh, throwing the towel in is easier than toughing it out sometimes, but is that the best thing to do? You throw in the towel and then you have to live with the consequences. What if things were better before letting the towel go? Also, the towel may go awry as you toss it. It might even miss the laundry bin altogether. Can you imagine the mold that grows because a wet towel is hiding in the corner? Mold causes respiratory issues and before you know it, people are not breathing freely in your domain. You might even feel like a foghorn with a raspy voice as the air gets thick. It becomes hard to see things clearly through a moldy haze. Wow, talk about getting sidetracked in dirty laundry.

The other thought about giving up that comes to mind is that we can give, like Teller Gives Back, on a higher level. It is a way to make the world a better place because we choose to raise the bar and give UP. This type of giving up is like shouting to the world and lifting the bar simultaneously. In speaking about nonprofits, Giving Up might be about us taking a project to the next level by asking people to give more than they have in the past.

Giving up takes on many meanings when you truly think about it. If you are at that point in your life where you wonder what the next step is, maybe throwing in the towel has come to mind. Starting a new year can sometimes be a catalyst for change but sometimes people rush in and shift too much too soon. You are asked to step back and make sure the moves you make are right for the best outcome. Change does not have to be a burden or a towel throwing escapade.

Consider giving up by taking time to explore a nonprofit’s mission. In today’s world, we have to be on our toes, ready to discover ways to expand on our mission when the time is right. Does your nonprofit have a mission statement? Is the statement posted on the homepage of your website? Do you talk about your mission with your group at meetings? These simple ways make sure your path is on the up and up for success.

I’ve got clothes pins for drying towels and experience in nonprofit development. Hit me up if you want to discuss a mission, purpose, or vision. Let’s “Give Up” together. It’s free!

Gayle Gross has worked with nonprofits in the community since 1998. Now, she facilitates SOAR’s Nonprofit Cooperative of Teller County. Meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month, 9:30 a.m. The group meets at Reserve Our Gallery or at a nonprofit’s location. Join the group on January 9 at the gallery. Contact Gayle Gross at iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org or 719-233-9902 if you want your nonprofit to be part of this column or to be part of the Nonprofit Cooperative of Teller County.

Gayle Gross