I did the Transformational Giving seminar yesterday in Korea as coordinated by the Hope Institute and the Beautiful Foundation. What an absolute kick—truly a religious experience in the best sense of the term.

Sixty proto-fundraisers there from across the spectrum, from World Vision/Korea through hospitals, universities, and civic groups.

We loved each other instantly.

I received two of the best insights I’ve yet received into Transformational Giving, both from seminar attendees.

The first was from Kim Kyung Hwan, Social Designer (what a great title) at The Hope Institute, which is the emerging fundraising education arm in Korean society. Mr. Kim said, ‘We have a tradition in Korea that in the highest form of giving, neither the giver nor the receive is sure who is giving and who is receiving, and they both agree to forget about the transaction itself and simply enjoy the deeper relationship that the experience created.’

W*O*W. What a tremendous statement of TG.

The second insight came from Choi Young Hoon from our own Seoul USA Korea office. Mr. Choi said, ‘When traditional Korean drums are played, the ultimate compliment to the performers at the end of the performance is that the whole audience stands up and joins together in a dance that proceeds up onto the stage and around the room, surrounding the performers. The distinction between performer and audience is eliminated, and all that remains is the joy in the dancing and the music.’

W*O*W, part II. A perfect description of the shift that TG brings which moves the nonprofit away from performer and into stage.

The whole day was an Acts 10:34-35 moment. I come away convinced that Transformational Giving truly transcends culture but also finds insightful and unique embodiment within each one.