#FP 19 - Innovation by subtraction
A newsletter packed with ideas & opportunities for future focused civic leaders...
Hi all,
Happy birthday to Future Philanthropy!
It’s been one year since the release of what is now an international award winning book in political & social change and best seller in Australia. It’s also what kickstarted this newsletter of which continues to be a true conversation starter for many approaches to change within the social sector.
Thank you to everyone that has read or recommended it. I’m super grateful for the opportunities it has brought my way and the new people it has brought into my orbit.
It’s now spring in Australia, but you wouldn’t realize it here in Canberra, the nations capital. It’s definitely a four seasons in one day kind of experience.
Spring is one of those things that sparks weird water cooler cooler conversations around ‘spring cleaning’ - trust me, it’s spring cleaning ever day when you have a young family and are purging on the daily anything that is smaller than a 20c coin.
While it’s spring in Australia, more broadly it’s also that sweet spot for 2023 work plans and the like. The time we think about what’s possible for the year ahead and ideate ways we can continue to grow our impact.
I’m actually going through this process at work right now and it brought up some thoughts of how growth doesn’t have to be about new projects or events. Ultimately innovation in our work can be achieved by the simple, yet important act of subtraction. Jettisoning certain events or processes that continue to be a drain on quality work time and quality outcomes.
In a time when calculable ROI is paramount and economies of scale are always out of reach for even the best of our sector has to offer, is there a way to become leaner and meaner while still achieving all of the goals we (or our board) set ourselves?
The answer is obviously a resounding yes, and that’s just simple math.
Keep up the stellar work y’all,
Ryan
What I’m Writing
Innovation By Subtraction (3 min read)
Innovation in a nonprofit organization can mean a variety of things. It can mean something new - a process, a service, or a project, it can be something new to you - an approach, a tech add-on, or a partnership, but one thing we fail to realize is that it can also be the simple act of taking something out of our day to day. Innovation should drive better outcomes and that’s where the disconnect lies, we often prioritize outputs instead, looking at quick ways to hit our annual goals rather than take the time and care to make a long term difference in our society.
Is Big Philanthropy Back Or Just A Big Distraction? (7 min read)
Following my visit to the recent Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) meeting in New York City, I spoke to CGI CEO Gregory Milne about the role big philanthropy can still play in convening, cultivating and connecting a community of doers to seed future solutions. This article (of which I wrote for Philanthropy Australia) looks at what some of the lessons are from the event for those of us working on the front lines of change here in Australia.
Do Local Not For Profits Truly Benefit From Convenings Of Big Global Foundations? (7 min read)
In my second post around the recent Clinton Global Initiative, I also had the opportunity to interview Clinton Foundation CEO Kevin Thurm. As I argue in my Pro Bono Australia article - the convening of big global foundations, funders, and 'doers', can inspire local action on some of the most prevailing social issues of our time.
Book Updates
As mentioned above, it’s been one year since Future Philanthropy was released. In what has been a stop/start release given COVID and my big move to Australia, we have finally had the privilege of kicking off our in-person Australian book tour. Event one is now in the books and was probably my most unique event to date. Obviously every event is different but this one was focused on values and really was quite an emotional experience. I truly appreciated the moderation of my ANU colleague Bianca Brownlow, who really helped capture the spirit of the book and my approaches to change. If this event was anything to go by, I’m really excited of what the rest of the tour might look like as we look to lock in events in Q1 of 2023.
What I’m Sharing
How To Become A Fundraiser Event (Sydney): I wanted to share an awesome upcoming Fundraise For Australia 'pivot' event in partnership with the amazing Rosheen Singh & the team over at Beaumont People.
Are you searching for a job where you can help facilitate positive social change?
Are you in a role or looking for one that is more transformational than transactional?
Then we encourage you to consider a role in fundraising.
Most professions require some sort of formal training to begin work. However, fundraising is quite unique in that anyone can become a fundraiser from day one, technically knowing very little about it.
Fundraising is a values-based career in a rapidly evolving industry. Just about every not-for-profit (NFP) relies on donations for some of its work, and that means a good fundraiser can be worth its weight in gold.
If you’re looking for a way to break into a career that can deliver positive social impact, then maybe you should think about a career in fundraising.
Beaumont People have partnered with Fundraise For Australia to bring you How to Become a Fundraiser, an informal information session on Tuesday, 6 December 2022 at 10:00am, showcasing opportunities and pathways that exist within the Fundraising profession.
RSVP now!
Fundraise For Australia Fellowships: The F4A national fellowship program connects new and emerging fundraisers with the tools and opportunities that will help them supercharge their careers & deliver transformative change for their communities.
Learn how to effectively qualify and engage donors and turn them into lasting champions for our community and build a strong professional network within our cohort-based learning environment.
This program is designed for new and 'emerging fundraisers' with 0-3 years fundraising experience and participants will benefit from an engaged and connected alumni group committed to helping individuals secure dynamic and engaging jobs in the sector, connecting them to continued opportunities in the field and identifying, empowering and supporting a new generation of diverse fundraisers that reflect the communities, programs, organisation’s and people they fundraise for and on behalf of.
APAC 2023 Session Proposals: The 2023 CASE Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference (APAC) is back to an in-person format after two years of online convening. An annual four-day conference for all advancement professionals in the Asia-Pacific region, the CASE Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference (APAC) equips delegates with the vital skills to succeed in the areas of advancement services, alumni relations, community engagement, development, fundraising, marketing, communications, and related functions. This year it will be held in Melbourne and you can submit your session proposal here.
Good Tech Fest: Good Tech Fest is a conference about having an impact with technology. From data science to agile development to mobile applications, technology has the potential to support and scale the efforts of nonprofits, government, philanthropy, and social enterprise. There are risks we must address and mitigate. Skills we must develop. New ways of operating and being that we must design.
If you are looking to use data and technology to make a difference in the world, this is the conference and community for you.
Data Empowerment Survey: Would you like FREE registration and lodging for the Nonprofit Technology Conference in April?
Take the Data Empowerment survey and you can enter a drawing for either the NTC package or a NTEN professional certificate!
Entrepreneur scholarships: Do you know any Australian Year 12 students who have been engaged in entrepreneurial action? If so, encourage them to apply for one of the 5 Budding Entrepreneur Scholarships available at my Alma Mater. This scholarship ($24,000 over 3 years) is open to incoming QUT (Queensland University of Technology) students no matter what undergraduate degree (single or double) they are planning to start.
What I’m Reading
Desperately Seeking Fundraisers - Chronicle Of Philanthropy (14 min read)
In interviews and survey responses, development professionals told the Chronicle about working 12-hour days, burning out, and chasing unrealistic fundraising goals. "Every fundraiser I know is stressed," one said.
We feel this issue even more acutely here in Australia - but rather than dwell on it we decided to be proactive about it, especially if we are to help fuel a doubling of philanthropy here by 2030. If you’re looking for a way to break into a career that can deliver positive social impact, then maybe you should think about a career in fundraising.
...and you know what? We will help you through a Fundraise For Australia (F4A) Fellowship. Expressions of interest are open now through the end of the year.
Great to hear your plans for jettisoning unnecessary processes and activities (and household items under the size of a 20cent piece) in 2023. Thanks for the shoutout too, hoping the approach positioned you, as an author, as much as your excellent knowledge and ideas. Congrats on the book anniversary.