Today I would like to highlight several organizations that were shared with me by a close friend and fellow young philanthropist. These organizations are using innovative strategies to make lasting changes for generations to come. They are not afraid to tackle the complex problems facing humanity and are taking responsibility for improving the status quo even beyond their own backyards.
Invisible Children
This southern california based organization was started by three young filmmakers, who on a journey to discover adventure discovered a much darker reality. Upon traveling through Uganda they witnessed the violent tragedy facing the people of the north. They created an eye-opening film which led to the development of the non-profit organization, Invisible Children. Their goal is to expose the cruel reality of life which faces the people of this war-torn region abroad and provide aide and solutions to end the violence. They specifically focus on child soldiers and night commuters. Since their journey began in 2003 they have made incredible strides in providing awareness and continue to grow and provide aide where it is needed most. To contribute to this cause please visit this website. You can also follow the cause on twitter @invisible.
Charity Water
This organization addresses one of the most essential and yet overlooked issues facing humanity: clean drinking water. Their website notes some pretty shocking statistics which will open your eyes to the reality of this issue. Some of these numbers are:
1 billion: Almost a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean drinking water. Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.
1 in 8: One in eight people on the planet drinks water that's likely to make them sick. The water crisis and poverty go hand-in-hand.
So how are they addressing this issue?
Charity Water is creating clean water projects in 19 countries across the globe and, with proper funding, will continue to expand this growth until all people have access to clean drinking water. I encourage you to visit their website to learn more about the incredible changes they are making and how valuable clean water can be to solving other important issues such as gender equality and economic stability.
For more info, check out their blog here and get involved, or donate!
Carolina for Kibera
In one sentence, this organization defines their mission as: Carolina for Kibera exists to develop local leaders, catalyze positive change and alleviate poverty in the Kibera slum of Nairobi. Even more impressive than this plight, is the inspiring story of the organization's inception. Founded by three unlikely friends: Rye Barcott (North Carolina undergrad), Salim Mohamed (community organizer) and Tabatha Atieno Festo (widowed nurse and mother of three), the organization began with a gift of just $26 and has grown to assist over 30,000 people annually in one of the harshest slums worldwide. This organization provides funding for resources for community leaders of Kibera so that they have the power to change the face of their community. Please visit their website for a more complete story of how this organization's unique structure is changing lives.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
New Leadership for the Global Fund for Women
In August of this year, Musimbi Kanyoro, a dedicated activist for global health and gender equality, was given the highly coveted position of President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women. Global Fund for Women is the largest fund for women's organizations and women-led grassroots movements working outside the US. Their mission statement asserts "The Global Fund for Women plays a leading role in advancing women’s rights by making grants that support and strengthen women’s groups around the world." By providing grants, the organization connects women with resources which allow them to solve local, regional and transnational issues. In essence, they are a unifying source of funding which connects donors and women in order to create a "international network that promotes women’s action for social change, equality, peace, and justice worldwide."
The San Francisco based organization was founded by 3 women from Palo Alto California in 1987. These women believed in the importance of women's rights and empowerment in solving the greater global issues of human dignity. Not only this, but they believed in the value of putting the power in the hands of grassroots organizations in order to provide the means to allow women to create change for themselves.
Today, as Musimbi Kanyoro takes over leadership of this incredible organization, she has great aspirations for the future. Kanyoro is already focusing on mapping out a donor growth strategy to continue the works of the Global Fund and expand their benefit to reach all women.
In an interview conducted by Amy Lieberman for international development site, Devex, Kanyoro discusses her goals and vision for the future of the organization. When asked specifically about her plans for the next five years, Kanyoro responded by saying she plans to continue the growth of the organization by looking at the impact of the organizations they have helped in the past and expanding work with new organizations. This ambitious leader also hopes to double the resources provided for women; the over-arching goal being, to provide substantial funding to grassroots organizations so women can receive the resources to solve the issues which are most important to them.
As far as deciding where to place their funding, Kanyoro explains they are seeking women who have a concrete mission and goals. She must be connected to her community and confident in her ability to create effective change. She must be determined to succeed despite whatever challenges she may encounter, and have the ability to accrue followers within her community.
Although Kanyoro is aware of the challenges facing non-profits in the current economical downturn, she is confident that the Global Fund can continue their growth through their dedicated supporters. As an international organization, the Global Fund receives funding from Europe as well as the United States. They also have the benefit of individual and institutional donors. However, Kanyoro is beginning to see a blurring of the distinction between individuals and institutions. In an anecdote about a meeting she had with a women from JP Morgan, Kanyoro describes the woman's passion for a variety of issues facing women, including breast cancer and human rights, she then closes the interview with Lieberman by saying, "I think that this is an area I would very much like to grow – to try and find out those women who professionally are engaged in other areas where we don’t reach and see where their heart’s calling is when it comes to women’s human rights, women’s health and women’s education."
Even after just two months in her new position as President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women, Musimbi Kanyoro has incredible goals for the future of the organization. And although her sights are set high, I believe Kanyoro has the vision and foresight to successfully execute these goals and create lasting change for women throughout the globe.
To read the full interview with Musimbi Kanyoro please visit:
http://www.devex.com/en/articles/musimbi-kanyoro-the-global-fund-for-women-s-new-leader
The San Francisco based organization was founded by 3 women from Palo Alto California in 1987. These women believed in the importance of women's rights and empowerment in solving the greater global issues of human dignity. Not only this, but they believed in the value of putting the power in the hands of grassroots organizations in order to provide the means to allow women to create change for themselves.
Today, as Musimbi Kanyoro takes over leadership of this incredible organization, she has great aspirations for the future. Kanyoro is already focusing on mapping out a donor growth strategy to continue the works of the Global Fund and expand their benefit to reach all women.
In an interview conducted by Amy Lieberman for international development site, Devex, Kanyoro discusses her goals and vision for the future of the organization. When asked specifically about her plans for the next five years, Kanyoro responded by saying she plans to continue the growth of the organization by looking at the impact of the organizations they have helped in the past and expanding work with new organizations. This ambitious leader also hopes to double the resources provided for women; the over-arching goal being, to provide substantial funding to grassroots organizations so women can receive the resources to solve the issues which are most important to them.
As far as deciding where to place their funding, Kanyoro explains they are seeking women who have a concrete mission and goals. She must be connected to her community and confident in her ability to create effective change. She must be determined to succeed despite whatever challenges she may encounter, and have the ability to accrue followers within her community.
Although Kanyoro is aware of the challenges facing non-profits in the current economical downturn, she is confident that the Global Fund can continue their growth through their dedicated supporters. As an international organization, the Global Fund receives funding from Europe as well as the United States. They also have the benefit of individual and institutional donors. However, Kanyoro is beginning to see a blurring of the distinction between individuals and institutions. In an anecdote about a meeting she had with a women from JP Morgan, Kanyoro describes the woman's passion for a variety of issues facing women, including breast cancer and human rights, she then closes the interview with Lieberman by saying, "I think that this is an area I would very much like to grow – to try and find out those women who professionally are engaged in other areas where we don’t reach and see where their heart’s calling is when it comes to women’s human rights, women’s health and women’s education."
Even after just two months in her new position as President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women, Musimbi Kanyoro has incredible goals for the future of the organization. And although her sights are set high, I believe Kanyoro has the vision and foresight to successfully execute these goals and create lasting change for women throughout the globe.
To read the full interview with Musimbi Kanyoro please visit:
http://www.devex.com/en/articles/musimbi-kanyoro-the-global-fund-for-women-s-new-leader
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Recap: Speaking Out for Nonprofit Causes via The Chronicle of Philanthropy
This morning The Chronicle of Philanthropy hosted a discussion between two leaders in the nonprofit sector on how to be an effective speaker for your cause. Melany Brown is the President of Alliance Nonprofits, a membership association in Washington, and Pamela Ziemann is the author of Giving Voice to Your Cause: Speaking Tip for Non-Profit Professionals, and also trains nonprofit executives on how to hone their speaking skills.
The conversation began with a quip from the women about the irony of conducting a conversation on how to be a better speaker in a text-only chat format; proving a sense of humor can be helpful in acclimating your audience.
The two women gave informative advice based on audience questions, covering a variety of areas from content to composure.
The full discussion can be viewed at: http://philanthropy.com/article/Speaking-Out-for-Nonprofit/129072/?sid=pt&utm_source=pt&utm_medium=en
Here are my personal highlights:
In discussing fundraising needs, especially in an economy like the one we have today, one can tend to rely too much on hard facts and numbers. Such speeches tend to be dry and lose your audience's emotional connection. It is important to incorporate both facts and story-telling to maintain the interest of your audience. Melany outlined a format of presentation called STAR stories, defined as: S=situation T=tactics used to address A=action R=results.
One danger that many fear in story-telling is the tendency to ramble on. Pamela provided some great tips on how to make your message effective, yet concise, and how to think on your feet when you are being interviewed.
How to end a sentence without rambling:
1. Silently say "period" at the end of your point
2. Get curious about them [your audience], watch for their facial expression to see if it [your point] landed
3. Get to the core issues of feeling that you and what you're saying is "enough"
5 Steps for thinking on your feet
1. Listen
2. Pause
3. Repeat the questions
4. Respond honestly
5. Know when to stop
Another important issue discussed was the use of PowerPoint. We have all seen the tedious PowerPoint presentations with endless bullet-points and drab formatting that have been dubbed "PowerPointless." If you want to use PowerPoint to supplement your presentation, the most effective formatting is to increase your use of visuals and minimize words to a select 1 or 2 per visual. The important part is to stay physically engaged with your audience by maintaining eye contact and focus on what you are saying and the connection to the visuals you have provided. Melany suggests a 3 slide maximum for 10 minutes of speech.
The most valuable information to leave with is to know your audience and create an emotional connection. If you feel lost in the focus of your message, take a moment to reach out to the people who are impacted by your organization and find out why your work is so valuable to them. Or better yet, include them in your presentation. It is essential that you have a clear understanding of your organization's mission the necessity of your projects.
The conversation began with a quip from the women about the irony of conducting a conversation on how to be a better speaker in a text-only chat format; proving a sense of humor can be helpful in acclimating your audience.
The two women gave informative advice based on audience questions, covering a variety of areas from content to composure.
The full discussion can be viewed at: http://philanthropy.com/article/Speaking-Out-for-Nonprofit/129072/?sid=pt&utm_source=pt&utm_medium=en
Here are my personal highlights:
In discussing fundraising needs, especially in an economy like the one we have today, one can tend to rely too much on hard facts and numbers. Such speeches tend to be dry and lose your audience's emotional connection. It is important to incorporate both facts and story-telling to maintain the interest of your audience. Melany outlined a format of presentation called STAR stories, defined as: S=situation T=tactics used to address A=action R=results.
One danger that many fear in story-telling is the tendency to ramble on. Pamela provided some great tips on how to make your message effective, yet concise, and how to think on your feet when you are being interviewed.
How to end a sentence without rambling:
1. Silently say "period" at the end of your point
2. Get curious about them [your audience], watch for their facial expression to see if it [your point] landed
3. Get to the core issues of feeling that you and what you're saying is "enough"
5 Steps for thinking on your feet
1. Listen
2. Pause
3. Repeat the questions
4. Respond honestly
5. Know when to stop
Another important issue discussed was the use of PowerPoint. We have all seen the tedious PowerPoint presentations with endless bullet-points and drab formatting that have been dubbed "PowerPointless." If you want to use PowerPoint to supplement your presentation, the most effective formatting is to increase your use of visuals and minimize words to a select 1 or 2 per visual. The important part is to stay physically engaged with your audience by maintaining eye contact and focus on what you are saying and the connection to the visuals you have provided. Melany suggests a 3 slide maximum for 10 minutes of speech.
The most valuable information to leave with is to know your audience and create an emotional connection. If you feel lost in the focus of your message, take a moment to reach out to the people who are impacted by your organization and find out why your work is so valuable to them. Or better yet, include them in your presentation. It is essential that you have a clear understanding of your organization's mission the necessity of your projects.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Can Changes in Facebook Improve Non-Profit Visibility?
Facebook has begun to make sweeping changes to its format including major changes in the structure of its "timeline" and the way members will receive information and updates. Previously, the timeline has consisted of updates in a reverse chronological order with each post replacing the previous one. However, changes are being made to this structure: the new format will be largely based on algorithms to determine what information is of value and will receive the greatest attention.
So, how will this effect the presence of non-profits on the social networking site?
Non-profit presence on Facebook is largely dependent on the Causes application. Causes works in the same way as other applications, with notifications appearing in your timeline and being replaced as other actions occur. By actively interacting with these notifications you can go to specific Causes pages, events or the general Causes site itself. The Causes application has the potential to do a great amount of good by organizing the ability to follow, donate and share information in one location, conveniently connected to your Facebook. However, as someone who has a great amount of experience with the site, I can attest to the fact that it's visibility on Facebook is minimal at best. Once a post, donation or follow occurs (actions of great importance to an organization) they are treated of equal weight to actions such as buying a new cow on Farmville. Thus, their impact is fleeting and rarely seen or appreciated.
Facebook boasts that new improvements in the timeline based on algorithms will change this. Not only will actions be grouped with other like actions but your ability to interact with posts will be expanded. Currently, users have the ability to "like" posts; changes will allow you to suggest actions such as "watch," "listen," "donate" or "share," encouraging your friends to support and interact with the causes that matter most to you. Matt Maham, Causes vice president for social impact said, "We believe altruism is ultimately a social exercise, and it's the kind of activity that people want to share with others and celebrate with people." Just as people want to share photos and commentary on their life experiences, they want to share their interests and passions through the social networking outlets. As far as non-profits are concerned, a recent opinion study has found that 9 out of 10 Americans believe digital technology is the most effective manner of creating social change. Perhaps Maham is correct and the people are merely waiting for a simple way to contribute. However, only time will tell whether Facebook's changes will be the proper solution to improving the presence and impact of non-profits.
To view more information on Walden University's Social Change Impact Report please visit:
http://www.waldenu.edu/About-Us/41318.htm
So, how will this effect the presence of non-profits on the social networking site?
Non-profit presence on Facebook is largely dependent on the Causes application. Causes works in the same way as other applications, with notifications appearing in your timeline and being replaced as other actions occur. By actively interacting with these notifications you can go to specific Causes pages, events or the general Causes site itself. The Causes application has the potential to do a great amount of good by organizing the ability to follow, donate and share information in one location, conveniently connected to your Facebook. However, as someone who has a great amount of experience with the site, I can attest to the fact that it's visibility on Facebook is minimal at best. Once a post, donation or follow occurs (actions of great importance to an organization) they are treated of equal weight to actions such as buying a new cow on Farmville. Thus, their impact is fleeting and rarely seen or appreciated.
Facebook boasts that new improvements in the timeline based on algorithms will change this. Not only will actions be grouped with other like actions but your ability to interact with posts will be expanded. Currently, users have the ability to "like" posts; changes will allow you to suggest actions such as "watch," "listen," "donate" or "share," encouraging your friends to support and interact with the causes that matter most to you. Matt Maham, Causes vice president for social impact said, "We believe altruism is ultimately a social exercise, and it's the kind of activity that people want to share with others and celebrate with people." Just as people want to share photos and commentary on their life experiences, they want to share their interests and passions through the social networking outlets. As far as non-profits are concerned, a recent opinion study has found that 9 out of 10 Americans believe digital technology is the most effective manner of creating social change. Perhaps Maham is correct and the people are merely waiting for a simple way to contribute. However, only time will tell whether Facebook's changes will be the proper solution to improving the presence and impact of non-profits.
To view more information on Walden University's Social Change Impact Report please visit:
http://www.waldenu.edu/About-Us/41318.htm
Friday, September 23, 2011
Guide to Giving
Today, we shift our focus from the point of view of the fundraiser, to the perspective of the donor. If you are a businessman working in the private sector looking to get involved in philanthropy, chances are you have already been approached by several organizations seeking your support. But how do you decide which organizations are worth your valuable time and money?
There are several methods I would suggest to determining which organizations to support:
1. Create a focus: What are the causes that resonate with you?
Are you passionate about the environment?: creating green companies, support for parks and reservations, clean air and water, etc.
Do you believe in the need to improve the community?: issues such as homelessness, services to improve the inner-cities, community centers, after school programs for youth, etc.
Are you interested in local, national or international causes?
Once you choose a focus begin to consider what type of involvement you would like to have.
3. Level of involvement:
Volunteering: are you seeking an organization that allows you to have hands on involvement with their projects?
Fundraising: would you like to contribute to the organizations fundraising efforts?
Donor: are you looking to make a monetary donation?
Board Member: would you like to both make a monetary donation and contribute to the direction of the organization and its fundraising efforts.
Once you have made these choices you can begin to look at specific organizations.
4. Choosing an organization:
There are several sites which allow you to search for organizations and volunteer opportunities.
Idealist is a comprehensive site which offers a variety of search choices such as: People, Organizations, Volunteer Opps, Events, Programs and more. I like this site because it is user friendly and offers great summaries as well as news updates.
Another great site is Charity Navigator. This site provides specific ratings for organizations based on a variety of factors. It allows you to browse by category, top 10 lists, hot topics and more. Previously, this site rated charities based on their financial health. However, as of September 20th they have created what they are calling a 2-dimensional rating scale which includes an evaluation of a charity's accountability and transparency in addition to its financial health. They will still use a comprehensive 5-star rating for all 5,500 charities listed.
Of course, word of mouth is always a great tool as well. Talk to your co-workers, friends and family about their experiences and perhaps you can even join an organization together.
Finally, the simplest step is reaching out to the organization by phone, email or visiting their offices, and you are on your way to making a difference!
There are several methods I would suggest to determining which organizations to support:
1. Create a focus: What are the causes that resonate with you?
Are you passionate about the environment?: creating green companies, support for parks and reservations, clean air and water, etc.
Do you believe in the need to improve the community?: issues such as homelessness, services to improve the inner-cities, community centers, after school programs for youth, etc.
Are you interested in local, national or international causes?
Once you choose a focus begin to consider what type of involvement you would like to have.
3. Level of involvement:
Volunteering: are you seeking an organization that allows you to have hands on involvement with their projects?
Fundraising: would you like to contribute to the organizations fundraising efforts?
Donor: are you looking to make a monetary donation?
Board Member: would you like to both make a monetary donation and contribute to the direction of the organization and its fundraising efforts.
Once you have made these choices you can begin to look at specific organizations.
4. Choosing an organization:
There are several sites which allow you to search for organizations and volunteer opportunities.
Idealist is a comprehensive site which offers a variety of search choices such as: People, Organizations, Volunteer Opps, Events, Programs and more. I like this site because it is user friendly and offers great summaries as well as news updates.
Another great site is Charity Navigator. This site provides specific ratings for organizations based on a variety of factors. It allows you to browse by category, top 10 lists, hot topics and more. Previously, this site rated charities based on their financial health. However, as of September 20th they have created what they are calling a 2-dimensional rating scale which includes an evaluation of a charity's accountability and transparency in addition to its financial health. They will still use a comprehensive 5-star rating for all 5,500 charities listed.
Of course, word of mouth is always a great tool as well. Talk to your co-workers, friends and family about their experiences and perhaps you can even join an organization together.
Finally, the simplest step is reaching out to the organization by phone, email or visiting their offices, and you are on your way to making a difference!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Unemployment and Civic Responsibility
It seems whatever the topic of discussion may be these days, the conversation always turns back to unemployment. And, of course, the same is true in the non-profit sector. However, recent studies are providing evidence that civic engagement and active volunteering in communities has helped protect against high rates of unemployment.
According to a study by the National Conference on Citizenship, states with high rates of volunteering were less effected by unemployment in the recent economic downturn. The study was based on five measures of civic engagement: helping neighbors, volunteering, registering to vote, voting and attending meetings; the most effective measure being helping neighbors, followed by volunteering. An increase in 1% of working with neighbors, corresponded to a decrease of .256% in unemployment.
The correlation between helping neighbors and low rates of unemployment speaks to the fact that in these difficult economic times we cannot always do it all on our own. Where before a street consisted of a row of houses, there is strength in identifying it as a neighborhood or community where one supports another. Unemployment can thus be prevented by lending a hand to those who need it and ensuring that our neighbors do not fall behind.
Over the past year I worked with the non-profit organization A Better LA. Their mission statement summed up in one sentence is: "Helping to change communities from within." In essence, the organization changes inner-city communities who have suffered from gang violence and poverty by creating unity and trust within the community and teaching individuals to support one another. This unique model is saving lives and creating jobs in neighborhoods which had previously been forsaken and deemed hopeless.
Whether you live in the inner-cities of South Central or the suburbs of Pasadena, this model of helping neighbors and volunteering is applicable to your neighborhood. There is great strength and power in the idea of community, and we can help change unemployment and poverty by lending support to those who need it. We tend to view Los Angeles as a cluster of neighborhoods: Santa Monica, Downtown, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, etc. But if we change this perspective, and begin to see Los Angeles as a whole, as one large community, perhaps we can begin to solve the greater issues which face us all.
I leave you now with this quote, in the hope that today you will consider reaching out to your neighbors to help them up:
"Never look down on anybody, unless you are helping them up."
For more information on this study by the National Conference on Citizenship please visit:
http://www.ncoc.net/unemployment-release
According to a study by the National Conference on Citizenship, states with high rates of volunteering were less effected by unemployment in the recent economic downturn. The study was based on five measures of civic engagement: helping neighbors, volunteering, registering to vote, voting and attending meetings; the most effective measure being helping neighbors, followed by volunteering. An increase in 1% of working with neighbors, corresponded to a decrease of .256% in unemployment.
The correlation between helping neighbors and low rates of unemployment speaks to the fact that in these difficult economic times we cannot always do it all on our own. Where before a street consisted of a row of houses, there is strength in identifying it as a neighborhood or community where one supports another. Unemployment can thus be prevented by lending a hand to those who need it and ensuring that our neighbors do not fall behind.
Over the past year I worked with the non-profit organization A Better LA. Their mission statement summed up in one sentence is: "Helping to change communities from within." In essence, the organization changes inner-city communities who have suffered from gang violence and poverty by creating unity and trust within the community and teaching individuals to support one another. This unique model is saving lives and creating jobs in neighborhoods which had previously been forsaken and deemed hopeless.
Whether you live in the inner-cities of South Central or the suburbs of Pasadena, this model of helping neighbors and volunteering is applicable to your neighborhood. There is great strength and power in the idea of community, and we can help change unemployment and poverty by lending support to those who need it. We tend to view Los Angeles as a cluster of neighborhoods: Santa Monica, Downtown, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, etc. But if we change this perspective, and begin to see Los Angeles as a whole, as one large community, perhaps we can begin to solve the greater issues which face us all.
I leave you now with this quote, in the hope that today you will consider reaching out to your neighbors to help them up:
"Never look down on anybody, unless you are helping them up."
For more information on this study by the National Conference on Citizenship please visit:
http://www.ncoc.net/unemployment-release
"The Wise Woman's Stone"
A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.
"I've been thinking," he said, "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."
Author Unknown
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Recap: Making Social Change Happen One Person at a Time via Chronicle of Philanthropy
This morning the Chronicle of Philanthropy featured a live discussion with Pilar Gonzales, of the Global Fund for Women, and Ann Ellinger, of Bolder Giving, hosted by Staff Editor Maria di Mento. Maria di Mento led conversation on the challenges of creating social change in today's economy and how fundraisers can improve success by creating closer relationships with their donors. Both Gonzales and Ellinger gave excellent insight into the mind of the donor and the importance of understanding your audience.
You can view the entire discussion at: http://philanthropy.com/section/Live-Discussions/222/
Here are my personal highlights:
Pilar Gonzales is an activist for migrant workers and other marginalized groups. She is not only a successful fundraiser but a donor herself, sometimes giving up to 50% of her annual income to the causes she supports. Pilar believes that as a donor herself, she is able to be a more successful fundraiser by gaining a better understanding of her audience: "It made my fundraising more thoughtful and more creative. But mostly I was able to relate to donors as a donor and not just a fundraiser."
When asked about her greatest influences Pilar referenced some of the first women she worked with as Director of Major Gifts but ultimately responded, "My grandmother was a big influence. As poor as they were, she always had enough for others. Never complaining. Always modeling faith that there would be more. Some day. And she was right. Each day I have more. More to give." This in an important point to make, especially in today's economy where we all feel we have a little less to spare. Today's donors have to be more conscious and thoughtful about where they give, and fundraisers have to be careful not to get discouraged over scarcity of donations.
Pilar made an excellent point about fundraising and the reliance on large sum donations. Yes, it is easier to find one BIG donor, however, we cannot simply rely on these types of donations. We must remember that fundraising is not only about donations but about brokering relationships between issues or causes for donors, we must also "broker dreams." More donors means more supporters and the greater the power of the cause.
Finally, a few tips on managing your own giving:
Pilar Gonzales' 3 Point Model for Types of Giving
Pilar outlines three types of giving and ways to make your dollars count:
1. Through immediate urgent giving, or in the moment giving, such as crisis relief.
2. Giving upstream to the root of the problem. i.e. poverty: give to knowledge leaders, effective leader activists, etc.
3. Give to legal services; marginalized groups who deserve effective legal representation
Ann Ellinger: Making an Annual Giving Plan
Often challenges can arise when you serve as both a fundraiser and a donor. In order to avoid monetary conflicts it is beneficial to create an annual giving plan. In this way you can create a personal budget for how much you can afford to give, and where. Within this plan you can also allot for a particular amount of "spontaneous giving." Ellinger also suggests that when a large sum donation may effect your relationship with a particular organization or individual, an anonymous donation can be an effective solution. You can also visit www.morethanmoney.org for more tips on how to manage your giving.
Follow these groups and individuals on Twitter:
Global Fund for Women @globalfundwomen
Anne Ellinger @boldgivinganne
Maria di Mento @midimento_cop
You can view the entire discussion at: http://philanthropy.com/section/Live-Discussions/222/
Here are my personal highlights:
Pilar Gonzales is an activist for migrant workers and other marginalized groups. She is not only a successful fundraiser but a donor herself, sometimes giving up to 50% of her annual income to the causes she supports. Pilar believes that as a donor herself, she is able to be a more successful fundraiser by gaining a better understanding of her audience: "It made my fundraising more thoughtful and more creative. But mostly I was able to relate to donors as a donor and not just a fundraiser."
When asked about her greatest influences Pilar referenced some of the first women she worked with as Director of Major Gifts but ultimately responded, "My grandmother was a big influence. As poor as they were, she always had enough for others. Never complaining. Always modeling faith that there would be more. Some day. And she was right. Each day I have more. More to give." This in an important point to make, especially in today's economy where we all feel we have a little less to spare. Today's donors have to be more conscious and thoughtful about where they give, and fundraisers have to be careful not to get discouraged over scarcity of donations.
Pilar made an excellent point about fundraising and the reliance on large sum donations. Yes, it is easier to find one BIG donor, however, we cannot simply rely on these types of donations. We must remember that fundraising is not only about donations but about brokering relationships between issues or causes for donors, we must also "broker dreams." More donors means more supporters and the greater the power of the cause.
Finally, a few tips on managing your own giving:
Pilar Gonzales' 3 Point Model for Types of Giving
Pilar outlines three types of giving and ways to make your dollars count:
1. Through immediate urgent giving, or in the moment giving, such as crisis relief.
2. Giving upstream to the root of the problem. i.e. poverty: give to knowledge leaders, effective leader activists, etc.
3. Give to legal services; marginalized groups who deserve effective legal representation
Ann Ellinger: Making an Annual Giving Plan
Often challenges can arise when you serve as both a fundraiser and a donor. In order to avoid monetary conflicts it is beneficial to create an annual giving plan. In this way you can create a personal budget for how much you can afford to give, and where. Within this plan you can also allot for a particular amount of "spontaneous giving." Ellinger also suggests that when a large sum donation may effect your relationship with a particular organization or individual, an anonymous donation can be an effective solution. You can also visit www.morethanmoney.org for more tips on how to manage your giving.
Follow these groups and individuals on Twitter:
Global Fund for Women @globalfundwomen
Anne Ellinger @boldgivinganne
Maria di Mento @midimento_cop
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