I sat in on a webinar presentation today hosted by Guidestar. The speakers defined what they refer to as the new "normal." 800 people actually attended the webinar as a side note. This is clearly a deserving topic for discussion.
The recession's impact is far reaching. Institutions reliance on philanthropy will continue to increase as a result. Strategic philanthropy continues to redefine itself and the reality is that bold leaders who embrace the new normal will succeed. Those who don't will slowly fail. Yesterday's news of the closing of Hull House in Chicago is going through my mind as I listen to the speakers.
What were the key elements of a traditional campaign model? Campaign was driven by the organization's strategic plan or feasibility study. Institutions put together a high level campaign committee and there was a sequential ask of donors from the top-down. There was typically a limited gift acceptance policy in place. The campaign was volunteer driven, but staff supported. The typical time frame was 5 years.
So what rocked this model? The global economy went south. Funding sources shrunk. Regional economies remain volatile. Government support contracting. Reliance on philanthropy increases. Business methods applied to grant making. Social media fundraising grows.
What are the key elements of a new normal campaign model? Recession recovery will endure for 3-5 years. Campaigns will begin and end during this period. Pressure on philanthropy is acute and needed more than ever.
There is definitely a new era of fundraising: Fundraising is strategic and mindful of the new world. Fundraising is aimed at a new type of donor. Campaigns are unannounced. No campaign chair(s). No steering committee. Donors become leaders and leaders become ambassadors. Staff driven cultivation and asks. Decentralized volunteer structure. Fundraising is continual.
From a planning perspective, organizations need to integrate strategic and philanthropic plans. Strategic and philanthropic planning NEVER stops.
Organizations must take another look at Case Statements and their purpose. Its about the parts, not the whole. Strategic plans supersede case statements. People connect to programs, not organizations. It is less about bold and more about achievable results. Sustainability is a constant issue
A word about campaigns: They should never end. Organizations need to weave together operational and strategic initiatives into comprehensive campaigns. Strategic plans require strategic philanthropy. Gift structuring (annual, bequest, cash) changes donor relationships and stewardship.
Organizations need to think about cultivation differently: Fear and uncertainty drive donor caution. Donors less willing to part with their capital. Large gifts take longer to consummate. Gift structuring reduces near term cash outlays. Gift tables bulge at the lower middle. Largest gifts come from unusual sources.
At the core of all this is that a key success factor is having givers become leaders. Old fashioned campaign committees are out! Campaigns commit donors to the parts of the mission they care about the most. Givers become philanthropic leaders in critical subsets of the organization. These subsets motivate donor enthusiasm. Boards don’t always turn to philanthropic leaders as members.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The R-Word
This was originally posted by my friend, Abigail Sandler. Abby's beloved sister, Aimee, was profoundly developmental and physically disabled. For the 53 years that Aimee graced this earth, Abby heard the R-word being used everywhere, and it was a constant reminder of the pain Aimee endured, on all levels. It's time that the masses became sensitive to the needs of others, and start dignifying their language and actions towards those truly unable to help themselves. Aimee might have been disabled in many ways, but like the song said, "Once In Love With Aimee, Always In Love With Aimee!"
Aimee's legacy was enormous, and if you go to: www.aimeesbulletin.com
you'll learn how one person, no matter how disabled, can make a huge difference, and ultimately impact the lives of others throughout the Great State of Pennsylvania.
Being Retarded
Blog entry (December 23, 2011) by Phoebe Holmes; Herding Cats
All around me, people use the word retarded without a second thought. Sometimes, I’ll say “Um, dude, really?” and they’ll say “Oops, my bad! But really! I was being so retarded!”
Sometimes, I let it slide. I realize that it’s a word that’s ingrained in our society’s vocabulary and people use it without a second thought to its meaning.
But what does it mean to be retarded? Well, I know what it doesn’t mean.
It doesn’t mean not being able to choose something for lunch despite 100 choices in front of you.
It doesn’t mean not being able to find your car keys.
It doesn’t mean saying the wrong thing to a person.
It doesn’t mean forgetting your best friend’s birthday.
It’s not something to describe yourself as when you’ve spilled your coffee, or tripped on a crack in the sidewalk.
It’s not something to describe your computer, car or phone.
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary the word “retarded” means -
: slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress
For me, it’s not just any old word – it’s my daughter. My beautiful, bright, happy, loving, amazing daughter who is slow or limited in intellectual development and academic progress.
In our household, being retarded means something different.
It means not being able to fully care for yourself.
It means not understanding what the doctor is going to do to you.
It means not being able to explain what hurts when something hurts.
It means not being able to ride a two wheeler. Or read. Or ever be able to live on your own.
But ever the optimist, I also know that retarded means…
…never realizing the negativity behind the word retarded.
…never knowing the insensitivity surrounded the word’s usage.
…never realizing the ignorance of people.
…never knowing how other people view you.
Being retarded also means…
…loving unconditionally.
…finding joy in the smallest of things.
…being self-confident.
…not realizing that there are limitations.
…innocence.
This is Maura. Her diagnosis? Cognitively disabled. Which means retarded. When you call yourself retarded, you’re also calling my child stupid. Because you use the word as just that – another form of stupid.
Let’s get something straight here.
My daughter may have cognitive issues. She may have delays. She may never live on her own. Scratch that. She will never live on her own.
But Maura is not stupid.
In her own way, Maura is very smart. Maybe smarter than us at times. She has more self-confidence than anyone I know who’s called themselves “retarded”. She is the best judge of a person’s character than anyone else I’ve ever known.
Yes, she is slow to learn things. But she is not stupid.
I know that most people don’t use the word “retarded” maliciously. Most people I know use it in a self-depreciating way. And when I point it out, they go “Oh wow! I’m sorry!” and they truly feel like a heel. But the thing is, you’re still using it in the way that people who do use it maliciously use it as – to describe stupidity.
So why not just use the word “stupid” instead? Because I know what “retarded” is. I live with it in the form of my daughter. And in our world “retarded” doesn’t equate to “stupid”.
5 January 2012 – feel free to read this companion post, which helps explain more of the “behind the scenes” view of this post – thanks!
Aimee's legacy was enormous, and if you go to: www.aimeesbulletin.com
you'll learn how one person, no matter how disabled, can make a huge difference, and ultimately impact the lives of others throughout the Great State of Pennsylvania.
Being Retarded
Blog entry (December 23, 2011) by Phoebe Holmes; Herding Cats
All around me, people use the word retarded without a second thought. Sometimes, I’ll say “Um, dude, really?” and they’ll say “Oops, my bad! But really! I was being so retarded!”
Sometimes, I let it slide. I realize that it’s a word that’s ingrained in our society’s vocabulary and people use it without a second thought to its meaning.
But what does it mean to be retarded? Well, I know what it doesn’t mean.
It doesn’t mean not being able to choose something for lunch despite 100 choices in front of you.
It doesn’t mean not being able to find your car keys.
It doesn’t mean saying the wrong thing to a person.
It doesn’t mean forgetting your best friend’s birthday.
It’s not something to describe yourself as when you’ve spilled your coffee, or tripped on a crack in the sidewalk.
It’s not something to describe your computer, car or phone.
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary the word “retarded” means -
: slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress
For me, it’s not just any old word – it’s my daughter. My beautiful, bright, happy, loving, amazing daughter who is slow or limited in intellectual development and academic progress.
In our household, being retarded means something different.
It means not being able to fully care for yourself.
It means not understanding what the doctor is going to do to you.
It means not being able to explain what hurts when something hurts.
It means not being able to ride a two wheeler. Or read. Or ever be able to live on your own.
But ever the optimist, I also know that retarded means…
…never realizing the negativity behind the word retarded.
…never knowing the insensitivity surrounded the word’s usage.
…never realizing the ignorance of people.
…never knowing how other people view you.
Being retarded also means…
…loving unconditionally.
…finding joy in the smallest of things.
…being self-confident.
…not realizing that there are limitations.
…innocence.
This is Maura. Her diagnosis? Cognitively disabled. Which means retarded. When you call yourself retarded, you’re also calling my child stupid. Because you use the word as just that – another form of stupid.
Let’s get something straight here.
My daughter may have cognitive issues. She may have delays. She may never live on her own. Scratch that. She will never live on her own.
But Maura is not stupid.
In her own way, Maura is very smart. Maybe smarter than us at times. She has more self-confidence than anyone I know who’s called themselves “retarded”. She is the best judge of a person’s character than anyone else I’ve ever known.
Yes, she is slow to learn things. But she is not stupid.
I know that most people don’t use the word “retarded” maliciously. Most people I know use it in a self-depreciating way. And when I point it out, they go “Oh wow! I’m sorry!” and they truly feel like a heel. But the thing is, you’re still using it in the way that people who do use it maliciously use it as – to describe stupidity.
So why not just use the word “stupid” instead? Because I know what “retarded” is. I live with it in the form of my daughter. And in our world “retarded” doesn’t equate to “stupid”.
5 January 2012 – feel free to read this companion post, which helps explain more of the “behind the scenes” view of this post – thanks!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Night Out With Meaning: Phoebe Driscoll
Last week Phoebe Driscoll was Night Out With Meaning’s storyteller. Night Out is about learning, connecting and reflecting. It is my hope that those who attended took away knowledge that they didn’t have before, that they met someone new or discovered something about a friend that brought them closer. And it is also my hope that there were pieces from Phoebe Driscoll’s story that made them stop and reflect about their own lives and experiences.
I certainly spent time reflecting on Phoebe’s life story. Phoebe exudes wisdom in a way that makes you feel like she’s lived it and she’s simply going to let you in on a few things she’s learned along the way. I thought about where she came from and where her life landed her based on her “gut and luck!” I love how she is entering her eighth decade and still sees work to be done around land preservation. I thought a lot about her awareness and consciousness of her place in the world, how she contributes to its betterment and how she will one day leave it. I thought about my part, what I am doing and how aware my young children are of nature and the environment. I’ll say it…we take the Wissahickon and surrounding land for granted. We can literally step outside and find ourselves on a wooded trail. And I admit, I didn’t think much about how that land was preserved – until now. Someone said this is beautiful and someone said we must take care of it and preserve it for future generations. Phoebe realized this early on and works very hard to make that a reality. Thank you, Phoebe. And thank you to Anne Standish and Nancy Venner from the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association for introducing all of us to Phoebe.
If you are interested in learning more about the outreach programs of the Watershed, check out www.wvwa.org.
The next Night Out With Meaning will be in February of 2012. More information to come shortly! Remember to invite a friend and make it a Night Out!
I certainly spent time reflecting on Phoebe’s life story. Phoebe exudes wisdom in a way that makes you feel like she’s lived it and she’s simply going to let you in on a few things she’s learned along the way. I thought about where she came from and where her life landed her based on her “gut and luck!” I love how she is entering her eighth decade and still sees work to be done around land preservation. I thought a lot about her awareness and consciousness of her place in the world, how she contributes to its betterment and how she will one day leave it. I thought about my part, what I am doing and how aware my young children are of nature and the environment. I’ll say it…we take the Wissahickon and surrounding land for granted. We can literally step outside and find ourselves on a wooded trail. And I admit, I didn’t think much about how that land was preserved – until now. Someone said this is beautiful and someone said we must take care of it and preserve it for future generations. Phoebe realized this early on and works very hard to make that a reality. Thank you, Phoebe. And thank you to Anne Standish and Nancy Venner from the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association for introducing all of us to Phoebe.
If you are interested in learning more about the outreach programs of the Watershed, check out www.wvwa.org.
The next Night Out With Meaning will be in February of 2012. More information to come shortly! Remember to invite a friend and make it a Night Out!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
DVG: Holding Together in High-Wire Times
Last week I attended the Delaware Valley Grantmakers fall conference. Harp-weaver was also a co-sponsor for the event with Phillips Philanthropy Advisors. 300 funders and representatives from nonprofit organizations gathered together under the theme, “Holding Together in High-Wire Times.”
Jeremy Nowak, President and CEO of the William Penn Foundation provided introductory remarks. As the Foundation is in the midst of a strategic planning process, Jeremy shared some fundamental advice: 1) Think about innovation and ask yourself how to do something better. 2) Be willing to rethink and restructure your organization in order to save legacy. 3) Drive towards outcomes versus output.
Nadya K. Shmavonian, President of Public/Private Ventures, moderated a panel discussion on “What’s Happening” in the sector. The panel included: Patrick E. Bokovitz, Director of Chester County Department of Community Development; Virginia Frantz, President and CEO of Montgomery County Foundation, Inc.; Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Philadelphia Program Director for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; Jeffrey Gordon, Manager of Community Relations for PECO; Stacy Holland, CEO of Philadelphia Youth Network; and Farah Jimenez, President and CEO of People’s Emergency Center.
Here is a summary of the points discussed:
• Are there too many nonprofits too small to succeed?
• Focus on collaboration in order to solve problems.
• Narrow focus – do what you are good at: build program models; focus on operational infrastructure; convene leadership networks
• Funders and organizations should co-create outcome measures over time and take a long-term approach.
• Funders should think about policies related to capacity building – grow capacity and help attract new donors
Jeremy Nowak, President and CEO of the William Penn Foundation provided introductory remarks. As the Foundation is in the midst of a strategic planning process, Jeremy shared some fundamental advice: 1) Think about innovation and ask yourself how to do something better. 2) Be willing to rethink and restructure your organization in order to save legacy. 3) Drive towards outcomes versus output.
Nadya K. Shmavonian, President of Public/Private Ventures, moderated a panel discussion on “What’s Happening” in the sector. The panel included: Patrick E. Bokovitz, Director of Chester County Department of Community Development; Virginia Frantz, President and CEO of Montgomery County Foundation, Inc.; Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Philadelphia Program Director for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; Jeffrey Gordon, Manager of Community Relations for PECO; Stacy Holland, CEO of Philadelphia Youth Network; and Farah Jimenez, President and CEO of People’s Emergency Center.
Here is a summary of the points discussed:
• Are there too many nonprofits too small to succeed?
• Focus on collaboration in order to solve problems.
• Narrow focus – do what you are good at: build program models; focus on operational infrastructure; convene leadership networks
• Funders and organizations should co-create outcome measures over time and take a long-term approach.
• Funders should think about policies related to capacity building – grow capacity and help attract new donors
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Night Out With Meaning: November 10th
Described as "a dreamer and a doer" Phoebe Driscoll's hard work, lasting resolve and inspiring dedication to land conservation has benefited us all. She attributes who she is today to growing up on a farm, having a woman's education in the forties and fifties, a supportive husband and luck! We are thrilled to have Phoebe as Night Out With Meaning's next storyteller on November 10th.
I am thrilled to invite you to Night Out With Meaning: Women & Giving; a series of evenings for women to be inspired by the stories of women like Phoebe Driscoll.
Held at The Philadelphia Cricket Club in February, May and November, each Night Out With Meaning focuses on a topic and features a wonderful storyteller. Night Out With Meaning is for women to connect with others, to learn from extraordinary women through their stories, and to find meaning in personal giving.
The fourth Night Out With Meaning will be held on November 10th at 6:30pm. The topic is "Protecting the Land & Environment." On a personal, community and national level Phoebe has committed her married life --- what's left after family affairs --- to volunteer activism in protecting the land and environment. For thirty-six years she has served on the board of the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association (WVWA).
To register for the event, click here. I look forward to sharing the Night Out With Meaning with you!
I am thrilled to invite you to Night Out With Meaning: Women & Giving; a series of evenings for women to be inspired by the stories of women like Phoebe Driscoll.
Held at The Philadelphia Cricket Club in February, May and November, each Night Out With Meaning focuses on a topic and features a wonderful storyteller. Night Out With Meaning is for women to connect with others, to learn from extraordinary women through their stories, and to find meaning in personal giving.
The fourth Night Out With Meaning will be held on November 10th at 6:30pm. The topic is "Protecting the Land & Environment." On a personal, community and national level Phoebe has committed her married life --- what's left after family affairs --- to volunteer activism in protecting the land and environment. For thirty-six years she has served on the board of the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association (WVWA).
To register for the event, click here. I look forward to sharing the Night Out With Meaning with you!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Latest Edition of the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal
The fall edition of the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal was released yesterday. This edition is focused on innovations in public health, healthcare and healthy food.
Continuing their new focus on theme-based editions covering pressing social issues, this issue introduces readers to alternative and innovative ideas and strategies for dealing with the persistent problems facing our region’s and nation’s health and healthcare system.
Included in this edition, is my latest philanthropy column. Both philanthropy and health are individually undergoing profound transformation with much debate privately and publicly. No doubt the result has been and will be a dramatic change in how each field is practiced. This column is about the confluence of these two sectors as it relates to the financial support received by health providers and organizations from foundations and other non-government funders. Here is a quick link.
Continuing their new focus on theme-based editions covering pressing social issues, this issue introduces readers to alternative and innovative ideas and strategies for dealing with the persistent problems facing our region’s and nation’s health and healthcare system.
Included in this edition, is my latest philanthropy column. Both philanthropy and health are individually undergoing profound transformation with much debate privately and publicly. No doubt the result has been and will be a dramatic change in how each field is practiced. This column is about the confluence of these two sectors as it relates to the financial support received by health providers and organizations from foundations and other non-government funders. Here is a quick link.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Hunger Symposium
Today I attended Philabundance's Hunger Symposium. The harsh reality is that more people are struggling to get by and put food on their table. According to the literature from the Symposium, in 2010, 21 million people lived in working-poor families. This translates into nearly 9.6 percent of all American families living below 100 percent of poverty have at least one family member working. One of the most common misconceptions is the assumption that if someone is hungry, that means they do not have a job and are living on the streets. What most people don’t understand is that anyone can experience hunger. It is a silent epidemic that affects 49 million Americans. The Symposium provided a forum to look at the challenges related to food access. Philabundance brought in speakers like Mari Gallagher to better understand the obstacles. Here are some notes:
- When kids aren't in school they stop accessing food programs making summer the most difficult for parents.
- The people being served by food programs need to be involved in the solution. Families who are poor are savvy on how to survive.
- Collaboration is key between the government and nonprofits.
- Why some programs are underutilized: lack of marketing, lack of access, bad previous experience, stigmas around program.
- The original assumptions behind food banks: surplus food would always be available; existing networks of food pantries are ideal distributors; hunger was manageable and could be solved with a robust economy. All of these assumptions have been proven wrong.
- New strategy worth testing: combine nonprofit food banking with a grocery store; maximize SNAP (food stamps) benefits and cash purchases; provide a dependable and reliable supply; provide food free of charge. This is all about promoting self-sufficiency through choice and maximizing food assistance benefits.
- When kids aren't in school they stop accessing food programs making summer the most difficult for parents.
- The people being served by food programs need to be involved in the solution. Families who are poor are savvy on how to survive.
- Collaboration is key between the government and nonprofits.
- Why some programs are underutilized: lack of marketing, lack of access, bad previous experience, stigmas around program.
- The original assumptions behind food banks: surplus food would always be available; existing networks of food pantries are ideal distributors; hunger was manageable and could be solved with a robust economy. All of these assumptions have been proven wrong.
- New strategy worth testing: combine nonprofit food banking with a grocery store; maximize SNAP (food stamps) benefits and cash purchases; provide a dependable and reliable supply; provide food free of charge. This is all about promoting self-sufficiency through choice and maximizing food assistance benefits.
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