[Future Philanthropy] #28 - From Korea to Brisbane...
Curated global ideas & opportunities for future focused civic leaders...
Future Philanthropy Continues to Grow/Surprise!
Finally got my hands on my book Future Philanthropy…in Korean! What an honour to have this one now available in multiple languages. 지금 이용 가능!
Hi all,
It’s been a hot minute!
That’s not to say things have been slowing down, far from it. It has just been a period of focus as I build out an entirely new curriculum for Fundraise for Australia and finish off my third book, aptly named after F4A as we seek to recruit and train 1000 new fundraisers to support the Government’s double giving campaign.
Some big personal news, I’m moving back ‘home’ to Brisbane in the next two weeks to be closer to friends and family, with my first week back coinciding with the multitude of events happening as part of Queensland Philanthropy Week. I look forward to catching up with leaders in the burgeoning local for-purpose scene - if y’all would like to catch up please reach out!
Finally, it was cool to see this little blog tick past 2000 subscribers…it’s turned into quite the global noticeboard and so you will see, I have jazzed up the look and feel and - breaking up opportunities in our sector into global and Australian-specific sections.
Keep up the amazing work y’all are doing on the front lines of change and hopefully, some of the content below will help you progress your cause a step further.
Ryan
Many folks who subscribe to this newsletter have largely followed me because of my writing, so it’s strange to announce that I have sunsetted the thing that started it all - my Future Philanthropy blog!
I got a big milestone notification from Wordpress recently, and while it made me feel a great sense of pride (as you can see below), on reflection, I felt I have achieved everything I could with this medium and it was just time to focus on other things.
The blog was inspired by my first interaction with VR at the Clinton Global Initiative back in 2015 and has run for over 6 years now - spurring 2 books and countless conversations about what the future of philanthropy might look like. It also ranked consistently in the Top 50 Best Philanthropy Blogs by FeedSpot and was read in over 60 countries.
I’ll keep on writing (it’s both cathartic and my curse) but I will now be looking to share my thinking on other platforms and through strategic partnerships as a way to amplify outcomes over outputs.
Productivity Commission Inquiry into Philanthropy
As I shared, much of my efforts this year will be going into fighting for a more effective philanthropic ecosystem and the further professionalisation of fundraising. and the impact that will ultimately have if both of those things evolve and mature in tandem.
I put together a public submission on behalf of Fundraise for Australia noting that after reading through much of the ideas and evidence in the draft report, there was a real lack of commentary around how (and why) fundraising can help the Australian Government’s goal to double giving by 2030.
I am proud to have worked alongside fellow F4A Director Michelle Chung in putting this together. Hopefully, we did our bit in having the profession lifted up for consideration of substantive recommendations in the final report for ensuing Government action.
With over 736 submissions (461 based on the findings of the draft report) and 1399 brief comments, we now await the final report from the Productivity Commission which has now been submitted to Government and will be tabled to parliament later in the year.
How To Become a CFRE Webinar
As the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) Ambassador for Australia, I joined a webinar recently to give some tips on the process including the career and personal benefits of becoming a CFRE. If you are interested in taking the CFRE feel free to reach out to me or check out the recording here.
Also as a quick aside - proud to have been recertified by CFRE International - I really believe in their mission and they provide an important globally recognised credential to fundraisers committed to confidence, ethics, and professionalism in fundraising.
Bring Your Kid To Work - The Philanthropist
It was a real thrill to be my son’s sidekick on Bring Your Kid To Work - The Podcast and talk about all things philanthropy.
Many thanks to Nicole Lessio for inviting us to join her in conversation, and for her expert hosting - she really made Roman feel included and comfortable, and pointed out that he is already giving to his friends, family, and community (philanthropy is a lot more than just giving $$$).
'ROMAN GIVES'
Hot on the heels of his debut pod appearance - my son came to me on what was a rainy weekend and said he wanted to learn more about his community and to take action on the things he cares about - it was for a school project. He ended up donating to 5 local Canberra charities and also let his sister pick one of the causes.
Much of the research was through our local Community Foundation Hands Across Canberra and his initial gifts were made to Canberra Hospital Foundation, Canberra United Football Club, Canberra Pet Rescue, The Southern ACT Catchment Environment Fund, and The Stellar Company.
We went a bit over the top with the project by building a website for him, but that was because he wants to continue giving and encourage others to give too. Stoked to see him take an interest in my world and to make very real connections to his giving (each charity had a story as to why he chose it).
And so 'Roman Gives' was born!
Demystifying The Use of AI in Fundraising
I recently sat down to chat extensively with Jim Dries, CEO of Pilytix about the need to demystify nonprofit tech and how we can inform and empower fundraising shops to be more effective in their craft through AI.
Check out the full recording here - but if you don’t have time to catch the full conversation, the Pilytix team has been running a series of videos that capture the best bits across:
And of course, answering the old adage of Will AI Replace Fundraising Jobs?
Fundraise for Australia News
A big thank you to the ACT Government, and The Mill House Ventures Ltd. for supporting Fundraise for Australia with a grant to advance Australia's first region-specific fundraising text, enable further curriculum development, and hold our first-ever in-person intensive training course and job fair in Australia's capital.
A great day for the social enterprise sector here in the ACT, and the communities that will benefit through our grant via an influx of fundraisers securing additional resources on their behalf.
Also, get ready for our new cohort application window to open soon!
Fundraiser Appreciation Day Australia
Super stoked to announce #FundraiserAppreciationDayAU is back this 5th of July to provide an opportunity for organisations, colleagues, leadership, volunteers, and other important actors within the For Purpose sector to say thank you for the important work fundraisers do.
This year's theme is 'Worth' and is being supported by Fundraising Institute Australia, Australian Philanthropy Network, and Fundraise for Australia.
We also launched a new website to support your celebrations with ideas, actions, and assets (such as media templates and editable images) to help you make the day meaningful for your staff.
Can't wait to see all the fun, cool, and innovative ways y'all will be celebrating your fundraisers this year :)
Job Op #1: The National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) is hiring a new Senior Director, Advancement ($160-$180K). NCFP is a network of philanthropic families committed to a world that is vibrant, equitable, and resilient. Great team doing amazing work in the space - apply here.
Job Op #2: NTEN are looking for their next Communications Director (4 days per week - $65k). They are doing terrific work in creating a world where missions and movements are successful through the skillful and equitable use of technology. If you want to help amplify the narrative around tech for good this one would be a good fit. Apply here.
Writing Op #1: The Texas Advancement Analytics Symposium (TAAS) 2024 call for papers is now open! The theme this year is 'Leveraging AI in Fundraising' with an open invitation to academics, industry professionals, AI experts, philanthropy leaders, and analytics experts to contribute their insights and research on the growing field of Artificial Intelligence in fundraising. As AI technologies are on the verge of revolutionizing the way we approach philanthropy and donor engagement, TAAS is seeking to understand the use cases, potential benefits, risks, and ethical considerations associated with wide-scale adoption. To learn more or submit an abstract, visit their submission page.
Resource Op #1: Through a partnership with the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Philanthropy California is supporting efforts to expand nonprofit access to public funds for climate and disaster resilience. Check out this new online resource packed with tools for nonprofits engaged in climate capacity work & join upcoming free grant writing workshops. Click here to explore recordings from past workshops, schedule an appointment for individual technical assistance, and access a curated list of climate and disaster-related funding opportunities.
Job Op #3: The Charity Commission for England and Wales is looking for more firms to join its list of approved practitioners whose nominated individuals will be considered for future Interim Charity Manager appointments. Apply here by 31 May.
Resource Op #2: As fundraisers, starting a new quarter is a critical time to reflect, evaluate and plan. The Donor Participation Project realise this and have produced The Fundraising Quarterly Business Review (QBR) which is a new regular guide whose insights become stepping stones for smarter decisions ahead. They are now opening up their playbook and sharing the key metrics and questions that go into each of the reviews.
Speaking Op #1: Fundraising Institute Australia has an open call for partially funded speakers at their 2025 Conference. As part of FIA’s DEI strategy, they are offering limited places for speakers to be partially funded to present at the conference. This initiative has been developed to increase the diversity of speakers at their conference and is designed to target those from small organisations who would not be able to attend otherwise, due to financial limitations. Applications close 7 June 2024 - Find out more here.
Research Op #1: The 16th Biennial Australian and New Zealand Third Sector Research Conference, themed "Partnerships for Stronger Communities," is happening from Wednesday 20th November to Friday 22nd November at the Western Sydney University, Parramatta City Campus. The Call for Abstracts is now open. ANZTSR is welcoming submissions relating to the conference theme, and beyond into all aspects of third sector and not-for-profit organisations. For more information on key dates, abstract guidelines and conference themes please visit the ANZTSR website here
Naming Op #1: Of the 150 buildings on ANU campus, only five bear women's names. In a new University initiative, ANU will be honouring the trailblazing ANU women who have shaped and continue to shape our world. If you know an alumna, former staff member or someone with notable accomplishments that have influenced the ANU’s development, you can put their name forward to be immortalised through the ANU building renaming initiative. Eight selected names will be announced and celebrated throughout 2024 and on International Women's Day in 2025. Click here to nominate.
Job Op #1: Professionals Australia is looking for their next CEO. PA is a contemporary and innovative union, representing the industrial and professional interests of over 20,000 professional employees across Australia. For more info click here.
Job Op #2: Sport has the power to transform communities. It improves the mental, physical, educational and economic health of the nation. It fosters community spirit and brings people together. The Australian Sports Foundation helps Australian sporting clubs and individuals raise funds for their sport and administers a Charitable Fund which supports causes that use sport as a medium to achieve social change. They are also looking for their next CEO - apply here.
I have been really intrigued recently about remittances, the funds transferred by migrants to their home countries, for a variety of reasons. They are often excluded from the philanthropic giving conversation yet they wield significant economic power, playing a crucial role in global development. These financial inflows surpass official development aid and often constitute a lifeline for families in developing nations, supporting basic needs such as food, education, and healthcare. By stabilizing household incomes, remittances can reduce poverty and promote economic resilience.
The data shows for example, Indian migrants make it the top remittance country at $83B — sending itself more than all global philanthropy and private capital.
Migrants donate ~15% of earnings as remittances. Americans, by contrast, give just 2% to charity.
If you are interested in learning more - check this terrific article out.
“Global South countries have predominantly been labeled as ‘donor dependant,’ perpetuating the vicious cycle of unequal power dynamics between the Global North and South,” says Willson Chivhanga.
“The consequence has been skewed foreign and domestic policy... and development apathy among Global South citizens who have been systematically conditioned to believe that they have nothing to contribute towards their own development.”
Encouraging more remittances can lead to broader economic benefits, including increased savings and investment, which fuel local entrepreneurship and infrastructure development. Furthermore, remittances contribute to financial inclusion, empowering recipients by integrating them into formal financial systems. As a sector we need to be capturing more data around remittances and use that to inform greater efficiency and effectiveness of this type of giving. By reducing the costs of remittance transfers we can amplify these benefits, making remittances an even more powerful tool for sustainable development and poverty alleviation.