There is a progression that has come to be known as the “virtuous cycle.” You have more than likely been caught up in a few during your life, perhaps without consciously knowing it. A virtuous cycle is a chain of events in which one desirable occurrence leads to another, which further promotes the first occurrence resulting in a continuous process of improvement or growth.
A simple example can be found in health and fitness. Regular exercise leads to improved health, increased energy, and a better mood, motivating individuals to continue exercising.
A more complex example is the growth of the world’s economy. New methods of production lead to better products at lower prices, which increase consumer purchasing, creating higher business revenues, which leads to more jobs at higher pay, which fuels more spending.
In our work in Grandly, we also have a virtuous cycle. It doesn’t matter where you enter into the cycle; if you improve one thing, it will improve the others. Our virtuous cycle has these elements: (1) reaching grandparents via our programs, which leads to (2) increased funding, making it possible to (3) hire more employees who (4) develop our volunteer corps and our programs which results in promoting increased outreach (back to 1).
Our board of trustees recently met and I was asked, “Of these four drivers of growth, which would drive growth more: Increased income, more employees, better developed programs and volunteers, or reaching more grandparents? If you could double your numbers in one place, which place would it be?” It was an excellent question. “To double our employees” was my first answer. But to double our employees would mean we would need to nearly double our income. That could happen if we doubled our outreach efforts and those we reached gave us more funding. However, I also serve as the treasurer of Grandly Missions, so I added, “But if we want to see more rapid and better growth, we need to double our income.”
Grandly is spinning in the right direction. The virtuous cycle is in place. We have seen many encouraging signs of growth. In 2025, we have solid plans for development in outreach, income, staff, programs and volunteers.
But my final answer to the board was: “I’d rather have double the grace wherever God gives it.”
Pili Abouchaar is the Director of Grandly.
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