Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant
I’ve always been a big Dolly Parton fan.
She’s one of those rare people who somehow manages to be wildly successful, deeply grounded, generous, and hilarious—all at the same time. Her music, her storytelling, her philanthropy—it’s all wrapped in this sense of authenticity that makes you believe she means every word she sings.
So when I heard that Dolly had teamed up with Sabrina Carpenter on a duet, I had to check it out.
Now, here’s the twist—I’ve also got a soft spot for Sabrina. Years ago, when she was still a Disney Channel star just getting her start in the music world, I took my daughters to see her in concert. She was young, bright-eyed, and full of potential. The photos above from that concert show Sabrina (left) and my daughters (right) – all of them 12 years younger!
So when these two worlds collided—Dolly and Sabrina on the same track—for me, it was already a win. However, what surprised me is how much the song’s message resonated with something I’ve observed repeatedly in fundraising.
The chorus of the song is simple and catchy: “Please, please, please, don’t prove me right.”
On the surface, it’s playful. But underneath, it’s a heartfelt plea: I’m giving you a chance here, please don’t make me regret it.
The Donor Who Said No
That chorus took me back to a conversation I had with a major donor years ago.
He owned a successful restaurant chain in Florida, and I had come to ask him for a significant gift to support the ministry I was working with. I laid it all out: the vision, the need, the opportunity.
He looked me in the eye and said, “Brad, I’ve given a large gift before. And they squandered it. I worked too hard to make that money to watch it disappear with no impact.”
It wasn’t anger he shared, it was disappointment. He felt burned. And what I heard in his voice were the same sentiments Dolly and Sabrina are singing:
Please, please, please don’t let me down.
Please don’t misuse what I give.
Please don’t make me feel foolish for trusting you.
What Donors Are Really Asking
That moment has stuck with me. Because whether or not a donor says it out loud, this is always part of the gift. Behind every check or wire transfer is a heart asking:
“Will this actually make a difference?
Will they tell me how it’s used?
Will they follow through on what they promised?”
It’s trust that’s being transferred—not just funds.
Stewardship Is Sacred
Scripture reminds us: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” (Luke 16:10a)
As fundraisers and ministry leaders, our job isn’t just to raise money; it’s to steward the sacred trust that comes with it. To show our donors:
You were right to trust us.
We took it seriously.
We used it faithfully and, therefore, we can be trusted with more.
Dolly and Sabrina did not set out to write a song about nonprofit development, but set in a different context, “Please Please Please” is one of the most honest donor anthems I’ve ever heard. If we listen closely, it’s a reminder that every act of generosity is also an act of vulnerability.
Let’s be the kind of leaders who honor that vulnerability—with integrity, transparency, and follow-through. When someone gives, they’re saying, “I believe in you.” Let’s give them every reason to keep believing.
We’ve been privileged to help many organizations be more effective in their fundraising by learning and implementing relational fundraising principles in their work with donors. Want to talk?