#FP 16 - Fundraising: "it's all positive my friends - make no excuses for that."
Ideas & opportunities for future focused civic leaders...
Hi all,
This newsletter comes to you hot from San Diego where I am residing with my family until the big move back to Australia and living out of a couple of suitcases for the next three months.
Now that I’m ‘de-frazzled’ from the big move - all of our stuff is now floating somewhere in the Pacific Ocean - and the mini-move from Texas back to California, I can take the time to re-engage with the book (the next book tour event is linked below) and also continue building on the narrative of ‘nonprofit moneyball’ and the professionalization of the fundraising profession which surprisingly have become the main topics of interest.
To be honest, I thought all of the innovation in the sector from tech to giving vehicles and the trends that emanate from their adoption would be what people wanted to discuss, but again, it all comes down to people, and those people have to stand up.
One of my fundraising peers over at Monash University, Heather Little, mentioned to me recently that “If we want to be seen as professionals in our field, outside of qualifications, best practice and success, then it starts with us, owning our profession and being proud of our journey into this sometimes challenging yet highly meaningful field of work.”
Her comments came on the heels of my angst around another great profile piece on an accomplished fundraiser titled "falling into fundraising.”
Look, the most self-degrading thing a fundraiser can say is that they stumbled into the world of fundraising and it needs to change. We as fundraisers, need to change it.
It really makes me sad when I hear that when talking to my peers. Building resources to enable organizations to do mission based work to improve the lives of others and lift up society is something that should be admired rather than admonished.
Apart from the role of CEO, there is no other more lonely position than those operating in grassroots nonprofit development - low budgets, sky high expectations and a unique pressure exerted by them from leadership to identify the donors and funds that will not only help keep the lights on but expand services, fund a new building and establish a seven figure endowment from scratch.
Remember, fundraising is the process not the job title. Just as a 501c3 is just a tax destination, not a business model. It's time to change the narrative. Our shared narrative on what we do and how we do it. Because it's all positive my friends - make no excuses for that.
Cheers,
RG
What I’m Writing (& Saying)
Cause and (Play) Calling - Forging A New Professional Fundraising Identity (6 min read)
With the Superbowl on this past weekend, and with expert timing (and the partnership of The Fundraising Academy), I was able to write a piece for the latest edition of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP-Global)’s in-print magazine Advancing Philanthropy discussing fundraising as a team sport and your development staff as the Quarterback.
"A development director is ultimately your quarterback of fundraising. The plays are drawn up by leadership in the form of strategic planning and budgeting, but it is the job of the quarterback to ensure the plays are executed. Touchdowns are scored by running backs (CEOs), wide receivers (board members) and sometimes even the quarterback. It is about positioning yourselves in the best way possible to be successful and why—like a quarterback—they need the support of their coach and team.
Like quarterbacks, fundraisers are both central to all fundraising efforts and also really expensive to replace. Nonetheless, the typical tenure for a director of development is 16 months. Is that enough time to develop a mature portfolio and build up the networks, infrastructure and messaging to be successful? The answer is no. It is more often than not that results are seen in the following 16 months. And yet, according to The Build Network, the average cost of replacing midlevel staff members is approximately 150% of the position’s salary. The monetary cost, along with the effect on donor relationships and institutional knowledge, make the cost of replacing a director of development much higher.
In order to ensure a nonprofit’s quarterback is supported by the coach and team, they need to be trained and have access to educational resources on how to improve their performance. Unlike quarterbacks, fundraisers do not often benefit from a positive perception within the sector, let alone their organizations. So, while a seismic shift on how they are viewed needs to occur, beginning by investing in your fundraisers is a step in the right direction."
What Is The Future of Philanthropy? (28 min video)
Had a great time on The Nonprofit Show recently talking about my new book, the professionalization of the nonprofit sector & some of the tech that is going to underpin a new generation of civic engagement. Appreciated the time & chat with Julia C. Patrick & while we only scratched the surface, it's a great primer for understanding what the sector could be over the next decade.
Bonus - I finally got to chat about revitalizing the USPS as a new banking pillar and fiscal sponsor for rural nonprofits & what $3.1BN might do if they stopped Saturday deliveries! Check it...
The Art of Faith In A More Courageous Philanthropy (8 min read)
I’m Excited to share another 'Rising Stars in Philanthropy' profile piece! Sherylynn Sealy, MPA, RYT from Grantmakers in the Arts is an absolute force of nature in our sector & personifies what new courageous leadership is, and can look like. Check out the article and see how her faith drives her work both professionally & personally and what she see's the future of philanthropy looking like.
Consider Adding Nontraditional Fundraisers To Your Team
I appreciated the opportunity to share my 'nonprofit moneyball' approach to social sector recruitment with a broader audience via the latest edition of Successful Fundraising by Wiley. If you would like a copy of my interview by Daniel Lindley, let me know via email and I'll send it over :)
Successful Fundraising is a monthly publication for those who cultivate, manage and report on fundraising in any capacity for nonprofit organizations.
100 Small Ways To Lift Up Your Nonprofit Career This Year Without Really Trying (13 min read)
To coincide with all those resolutions and mapping out the year, here's a list of 100 small things you can do this year to ensure your career in the social sector really takes off...
They are a series of easy steps, one off acts & opportunities to seize in 2022 & cover everything from giving back, career building, forging organizational excellence, creating work/life balance, excelling in fundraising, continuous learning & how to inspire real change in your community.
Book Updates
New book tour event! Thursday 7th April, 6pm PST @ Access Youth Academy, Euclid Ave.
Join us for a special evening of candid deliberation & sector wide insights through a future focused lens as we celebrate the San Diego stop of the Future Philanthropy: The Tech, Trends & Talent Defining New Civic Leadership book tour.
We are excited to convene our nonprofit, philanthropy & social sector colleagues in San Diego for a unique panel discussion around what is possible when a community rallies around the audacity of change. With the backdrop of Access Youth Academy's new $12.5m Squash & Education Center, which was featured in Future Philanthropy through chapter 11's 'Community Building through the Virtues of Infrastructure and Institutions', the evening will talk about how this building came into being, how philanthropy can seed new solutions for neighborhood revitalization and everything in between.
GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY (Free for those that have already purchased the book!)
The panel portion of the event will be made up of the author of Future Philanthropy Ryan Ginard, one of the books 14 featured emerging leaders in Sara Vaz, and Access Board Chair and former CEO of Rady Children’s Hospital, Blair Sadler (with a special guest moderator TBC).
Guests will also be treated to a tour of the new facility and hear first hand about its impact from students & staff.
All proceeds from tickets/books sold for this event will be donated to Access.
New recommendations!
There are some real trailblazers out there advocating for more fairer & inclusive advancements in technology, ensuring our nonprofits are part of the change and not left behind as a result of it. Amy Sample Ward, the CEO of NTEN is one of those leading lights in our field who I admire greatly. That's why I'm thrilled they were able to write a recommendation for my new book Future Philanthropy & help elevate it's themes!
Get your copy today from all good bookstores & my personal site :)
What I’m Sharing
Live Video Interviews: The Nonprofit Show is the only daily live video broadcast where our national nonprofit community comes together for problem solving, innovation and reflection. Each day Julia Patrick and Jarrett Ransom, along with their guests cover all relevant topics with fresh thinking and ideas to help you and your nonprofit achieve mission, vision and values. I posted my recent appearance above - it’s a great opportunity to share your expertise in the field!
Want to join as a guest? Submit your inquiry to the show on this form (linked)
Conference Speaking: Good Tech Fest 2022 is accepting speakers on a rolling basis. The application is simple and acts as the organizers way of collecting interest and ideas. They don't need to be fully formed yet.
I spoke at this conference last year and definitely recommend it to anyone interested in showcasing your work to an international audience!
Application form can be found here (linked)
Jobs: A few jobs have recently crossed my desk which are either amazing opportunities to make an impact in the nonprofit space or provide an opportunity to work for some amazing leaders (actually - all roles tick both boxes). Check them out & let me know if I can make a formal connection on your behalf.
Executive Director, Engagement @ Philanthropy Australia: One of those rare roles that come about which will have a tremendous impact on the sector and the communities they work with & represent. Fresh on the back of a new strategic plan & together with a great leader in Jack Heath, I highly recommend y'all reaching out for to People for Purpose for more info & to consider seeing yourself in the role and in the potential of Philanthropy Australia to be a real catalyst for change.
Accounting Associate: Use your accounting skills to support some amazing nonprofit organizations in San Diego and Southern California. Fully remote, flexible hours, competitive pay. Great opportunity for an early career nonprofit professional who wants to accelerate their learning and job skills.
Development Manager @ The Australian National University: I encourage fundraisers in Australia to take a look at this role in the College of Engineering & Computer Science! Having just raised funds for Texas Computer Science I can attest that CS is an exciting (& rapidly emerging) space to work in, made all the better for those alumni that are changing the world, and will continue to do so through transformative research gifts.
Cryptocurrency Webinar: Here's your invitation to learn about crypto philanthropy and why it might make sense for your organization. This conversation will take place on Thursday, February 17th at noon EST.
Learn how gaining access to the crypto community of givers ensures success in the next generation of fundraising, demonstrates a willingness to innovate, and can introduce your organization to a larger range of donors.
What I’m Reading (& Listening to…)
The Platformisation of Philanthropy - the ‘Philanthropisms’ podcast (1hr 7 mins)
On the latest episode of Philanthropisms, host Rhodri Davies takes a look at the "platformisation of philanthropy", and how a shift to using digital platforms could radically reshape the ways in which we give & organise (for better, or worse...)
A Modest Proposal For The Future of Public Philanthropy by Malcolm Gladwell
I saw a post recently from Shari Fox, The Senior VP for Principal Gifts and Presidential Activities at the University of Illinois Foundation who provided a much better summary of this article than I ever could…
This is an interesting proposal that Malcolm Gladwell puts forth in his newsletter. He argues that those who donate to charity and are recognized with their names on a building, or a gallery, or a hospital wing, or (I suppose) a scholarship fund, should not be entitled to a charitable tax deduction – that they are already getting the benefit of public recognition and should therefore not get the financial benefit afforded to other charitable gifts. Mr. Gladwell explains that this is not an original proposal, just one he is in favor of.
It’s interesting, you must admit. In addition to the issues of ethically tainted money being put to charitable use with the benefit of a hefty reduction in taxes paid by the donor, some argue that the prevalence of wealthy families’ names on spaces and institutions is a reminder of the significant power imbalance between the donors and those whom their generosity serves.
But is it that simple, that black and white? Despite the wide media coverage of Sackler family members’ names associated with such gifts, most naming gifts do not involve the cleansing of ill-gotten gains. And aren’t there some benefits to the public of generous individuals’ names showing up on buildings and playgrounds and scholarships? Might that say something about the trust those donors have put in the organizations doing the work? Might seeing the benefit that someone I don’t know has bestowed upon my life encourage me to be charitable, too? What about the many names that are honored with the tax-deductible gifts of someone else?
In his blog post, Malcom does what he always does best – makes us think. Shari has shared a few of her thoughts, although she states that she is indeed still pondering. What about you?