I thought I had the perfect inspiration for this column. And it was a relief, because for some reason, I had a really hard time this week coming up with something to say about giving well, but there I was, staring at a blank computer screen when a song by The Beatles popped into my head.

“Come Together!”

I heard the chorus chirp into my head and thought – now that’s a great point of inspiration for a collective giving article! It was all I needed to start clicking away at the keyboard, jotting notes down about how coming together around a shared value brings us peace and unity in a polarized world; I was thrilled!

I should take this opportunity to admit I am not a huge Beatles fan, and even though I can probably sing “Come Together” from memory, I have never really paid attention to the words. I realized I should look the song up and dig a little deeper, before I make it the anchor point of my article.

So, I googled the song. As I remembered, there are a lot of words and phrases in the song that seem like plain old gibberish, for example, “ju ju eyeballs” and “walrus gumboot” (although some say this is a reference to “wellies,” the rubber rainboots known as Wellingtons in Great Britain).

I didn’t know the song was actually written for a political campaign in support of Timothy Leary, who was running for governor of California at the time. In fact, “Come Together” was not just a song but a partisan campaign slogan! Who knew?

Well, there goes my article.

Or not. Because as time passed by, and we collectively forgot about Timothy Leary’s doomed run for office, the substance of the song – the nod to unity and its celebration of life – is what maintains our affection.

My article springs back to life!

Coming together to give amplifies the impact of philanthropy in many ways. Clearly, we can give a larger dollar amount when we combine our individual resources with those of other people. But there’s a lot more to it than that.

Giving together prompts connectivity with others as well as conversations about the needs in our communities. As we discuss needs together in a group, the conversations reveal individual values and interests; yes, we learn more about issues facing our neighbors in need, but we also learn more about the people who have gathered to give. These conversations deepen our understanding of each other and help us to forge bonds that elevate our relationships and help us to find common ground.

These types of conversations are common within the Women’s Fund of Smith County, which is a women’s giving circle that awards high impact grants to Smith County nonprofits. As a member of the Women’s Fund, I have seen many of my existing relationships with other women deepen and grow as we discuss possible funding opportunities presented to our giving circle through our grants process. I have learned so much more about my friends as they speak openly about the causes they hold dear.

Connecting with other people on a deeper level has always been challenging, but I would suggest that connection is harder to find now more than ever before. But giving together allows us to drop the labels that define us and speak openly about the matters of the heart.

When I share information about a nonprofit or community need that I care about, I am saying, “this matters to me.” And when I do that, I am sharing something about myself that I might not otherwise reveal. The process of giving together offers us the opportunity to be vulnerable together and discover shared experiences and values that strengthen our relationships. The simple and immediate connection point is wanting to make a difference together, and that might be all you need to gain an incredible new friendship or deepen an existing one.

Come together to give, and celebrate the very best of each other.