Hi all,
Newsletter #4 is here after a blip in service. I have been knee deep in final editing and design with my publisher and am pleased to share that we are in the final stretch of interior design and proofreading before it goes to print. Below is the newly minted front cover of which will need a post on my blog solely focused on its anatomy. Marketing will be ramping up soon, Iâm taking pre-sales through my website and sharing as much as possible on the process in the hope it inspires other folks to put forward their talent and ideas into print.
I also was studying for (and passing) my CFRE exam. I think itâs important for fundraisers to commit to the highest levels of professionalism and ethics, with this international accreditation a reflection of my commitment to help make the industry bigger, better and more dynamic. Credential, donât crater - one of my 15 rules for philanthropic futurism that I can now profess to abide by.
This edition of the newsletter is a bit longer than usual so strap yourselves in kidsâŠ
What Iâm Writing (& Saying)
No (or low) code nonprofit AI - Democratizing transcendent opportunity (8 min read)
No programming required, just plug and play. Is that wishful thinking for nonprofits or the only way they will be able to take ownership of AI processes in the future?
Reimagining donor walls as engaging storytelling artefacts (4 min read)
Donor walls as staples of major gift stewardship are in urgent need of an update. What might this look like and how might we turn them into engaging symbols of our mission, supporters and those we serve?
Engaging Austin Podcast - âInnovating Philanthropyâ (40 min listen)
Kelsey Hitchingham was one of the first people I sat down with for a coffee in my new city. She's an amazing connector and fierce advocate for our community. It was a real honor to be invited to sit down and chat with her on her âEngaging Austinâ podcast about the future trends, talent and tech that will see philanthropy help seed the innovative solutions we all hope can be achieved in our lifetime.
Investing in transformative redevelopment (8 min read)
I have been exploring the Clubhouse app and seeing ways in which I can expand the impact of the discussion occurring on it. This piece was a recap on a chat with Valerie Jacobs from the Jacobs Family Foundation on transformative/philanthropic place making. We spoke about economic mobility, wealth building through below market housing incentives, promise zones and a successful Community-Development Initial Public Offering (IPO) for âMarket Creek Plazaâ a commercial and cultural center which was the first project of its kind in the U.S.
What Iâm Reading
Philanthropy Needs a New Playbook to Fund Systems Change by Manmeet Mehta and Michael Zakara (Ashoka US) (5 min read)
The conversation about âsystems changeâ has exploded over the last couple of years. At its core it involves tackling the root causes of a social problem (say, homelessness,) by changing policies, power dynamics, the flow of money, talent, and other resources â and sometimes even transforming customs and mind-sets.
How can philanthropy recalibrate from largely treating symptoms â for example, building more homeless shelters â to a systems change approach focused on ending homelessness in the first place?
A Blueprint to Grow Structured Giving by Philanthropy Australia (a long, long read but includes an overview and Executive Summary to accompany the 36 page report)
For those that showed an interest in my recent posts regarding the evolution of philanthropy in Australia and itâs position in the Asia-Pacific, Philanthropy Australia has led the development of a Blueprint which outlines how the philanthropic, not-for-profit, business and government sectors can work together to double structured giving by 2030.
There is an unprecedented opportunity to harness $2.6 trillion in intergenerational wealth that will be passed from baby boomers to their children in the next two decades, knowing that if they act now, they can use this to supercharge giving in Australia.
What Iâm Sharing
Conference Invite: Join over 1500 social tech folks from over 40 countries at Good Tech Fest (May 18-19). I will be a speaker for the session âFuture Philanthropy - The Tech Set to Transform Traditional Grantmakingâ Cost: FREE with my code âFriendOfTheNerdâ (this code can be used for multiple tickets & to clarify, I didnât choose that code name!)
Call for Sessions/Speaking Opportunity: Tech Forward Conference (9/12) is looking for speakers for their 5 minute lightning talks that will be shown on their main stage - submit by May 31st,
Grants: $12 million is being awarded from Lever of Change (a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation) to strengthen democracy in America (across the key solution areas of voting & elections, policy making, and civic engagement). There is 60 days left to register and the website has everything you need and more to help inform your application.Â
Job: Program Officer, Marguerite Casey Foundation, Seattle. I share this job because MCF is doing some real innovative work in philanthropy. They have reimagined the role of the Program Officer (PO) â shifting away from supervising the work of grant recipients to meet Foundation priorities, and toward supporting the leadership of grant recipients in whatever ways help them build greater power. The role also has a term-limit of 5 years. Something that warrants further exploration as we look to bring in more talent to the sector and improve our talent pipelines.
Leadership Growth: Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) are accepting application for their Lideres Program which provides mid-career Latinx professionals working in philanthropy with learning sessions, access to mentors, and a community of peers in and out of the cohort - applications close May 14th