Hi all,
So quite a few things have happened since releasing my book (& all of them good!).
Future Philanthropy has been out for a month now, so I firstly wanted to say thanks to all those have purchased the book thus far & for the really amazing feedback - I'm thrilled I was able to contribute something to the broader discourse that resonated in the ways it has.
We achieved the #1 new release for both hardcover & kindle versions across 5 Amazon categories in both the U.S. & Australia :)
If you have read it, please feel free to get in touch - I would love to hear what you think about it & how we might weave the content into our shared work. I would also be stoked if you were to leave an Amazon review for me too :)
It has been great to speak at some national conferences as part of the ‘virtual book tour’ and also participate in some Emerging Practitioner in Philanthropy (EPIP) chapter events to discuss why Future Philanthropy & why now. This book is geared towards the leaders of tomorrow & providing them with a blueprint to elevate their impact and careers was a real treat.
A real highlight though was the virtual two-day philanthropic futurism extravaganza to celebrate the launch of the book in Australia.
We had some amazing panelists including two of the featured emerging leaders from the book, Krystian Seibert & Sarah Moran together with Jack Heath, the CEO of Philanthropy Australia & Dr. Wendy Scaife from QUT.
This curated event feature two moderated Q&A’s over 2 consecutive days, discussing not only the core pillars of the book but also through the lens of Australian philanthropy - where it is, where it’s going and what we might expect over the coming decade.
It also served as the perfect backdrop to announce that I am…
…Moving Back To Australia.
After a decade working in Philanthropy here in the U.S. I am beyond thrilled to share that I will be eventually transitioning back to Australia in the new year, having started at the nation’s top ranked university, The Australian National University this week as the new Head of Advancement for the ANU College of Business and Economics.
There is no doubt that the past two years have weighed heavily on our decision, especially given that we moved to Austin from San Diego just 3 weeks before everything shut down due to COVID. But ultimately it’s the right one for my career & my family.
My last day at The University of Texas at Austin was quite melancholy as I reflected on my time on the Forty Acres - what might have been in different circumstances - but I'll definitely look back at this period with great fondness...I met some amazing people across all facets of my role from the donors & alumni, to my peers, and the faculty & students who's work/drive make my profession so fulfilling. I learned a great deal and am definitely a far better fundraiser (& person!) for my time there…
I’m really excited for my next challenge and to bringing back home everything I have learned in my time here. We will be based in the nation’s capital of Canberra, of which I spent considerable time prior to heading to the States - so please reach out if you wish to reconnect & hope to see y’all soon :)
I’ll still be writing on organized philanthropy in the U.S. but will no doubt expand my interests to a more global outlook, carefully recalibrating my writing to bring back an abundance of vowels and interchanging the S’ & Z’s without double checking which time zone I’m in.
I’m in this for the long haul & hope you will continue to follow me on the philanthropic futurism journey…
RG
Picture was my last day on campus (with the obligatory photo of the Tower) & on the right was the last time I was in Canberra - outside my old stomping grounds of Australian Parliament House!
What I’m Writing
The Case To Democratize (& Digitize) Donor Advised Funds (12 min read)
Let's be honest here...the only real reforms to DAFs are going to come as a result of the democratization/disruption of them. Here I discuss briefly the recent introduction of The Accelerating Charitable Efforts (ACE) Act to the Senate and interview Daffy CEO & Co-Founder Adam Nash about his company & what we might expect from this giving vehicle over the coming years.
Is Funding Academia Our First & Last Line Of Defence Against Biases In AI? (3 min read)
Philanthropy has the ability to ensure that the AI systems our societies use in the future improve on human decision-making, not unknowingly undermine them. Partnering with academia can drive critical research around bias in AI and also elevate it to the larger national conversation around the need for systems change and a more fair and equitable society.
Learnings From The Lilypad - A Tech Marketplace For Good (11 min read)
I had the pleasure of interviewing Mitch Stein from Pond recently for my ‘Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy’ series. Mitch is definitely one of those leaders in our space that is going to reshape its impact and effectiveness. A self-diagnosed fanatic about impact with a strong belief in the scalable value of social entrepreneurship, he is on a similar mission to those that are excited about the future of our field, wanting to empower every nonprofit leader and organization by “harnessing the economic engine of the sector with shared digital infrastructure.”
My conversations with Mitch had me feeling hopeful for the future of philanthropy. He was acutely aware of the issues at hand and deftly articulated the moment our field finds itself. “I feel a real reckoning and transition from philanthropy and charity from one that is done to make one feel good, to focusing on the impact and outcomes. That requires looking more deeply at systems and root causes instead of just addressing the surface level problem that has a more immediate feel good effect.”
What I’m Sharing
Harvard Scholarships: Great opportunity for not-for-profit CEOs offered by the Harvard Club of Australia - the 2022 Harvard Club of Australia Ferris Family Fellowships, supports study at Harvard Business School, Boston.
Two Fellowships are offered to attend the highly regarded six-day course, Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management in July 2022 at the Harvard Business School.
Key dates:
- Applications close - Sunday, 13 February 2022, 11.59pm AEDT
- Scholarships awarded - Friday, 25 March 2022
- Course dates - Sunday, 10 July – Saturday, 16 July 2022 (Boston, US)
Read more details here. https://bit.ly/3l1spWH
Job: The American Australian Association is seeking to hire an Education Program Manager. This position plays an integral role in the administration, coordination and development of the AAA's growing Graduate Education, Veterans' Education and Arts scholarship & grant programs.
Read more about the position here: https://www.americanaustralian.org/about-us/careers/
To apply, please send a resume and cover letter outlining your skills and experience as they relate to the position to careers@aaanyc.org.
American and Australian candidates are welcome to apply; E3 friendly for eligible candidates.
What I’m Reading
I Hated Swimming. Then I Moved to Australia. by Damien Cave (10 min read)
A good friend of mine & one of the smartest folks I know, James Halliday, regularly shares with me some really thought provoking articles (and has a knack of dropping them on me during quite topical times), but this one really resonated…
“Proficiency, I realized, is not like victory, success or whatever else dominates America’s hierarchy of goals. It’s more forgiving, more inclusive, more noble — if we make it a priority. And do we? How often do any of us seek out a risk or a physical and mental challenge unrelated to work or achievement, with an allowance for error, interdependence and grace?”