Deb Taft

4 Components of a Culture of Philanthropy "Development staff are always included in organizational decisions. Program staff play an active role in relationship building. Fundraising and engagement are inextricably linked. Transformational relationships take priority over transactions." More insights and explications of these points can be found in this important article by Claire.

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Having just gone through the experience of sitting for my CFRE, I can't emphasize enough how valuable this webinar will be for anyone considering pursuing their certification. Join to learn more about the application process and requirements, the basics of the test itself, and connect with others in your shoes! #cfre #fundraising #afpmaryland #webinar #professionaldevelopment

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In the face of declining donor retention and giving, building a culture of philanthropy is more important than ever. Check out this compelling article from Emily Gonzales on the how and why of building a culture of philanthropy at your organization.

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Whilst its hard to see that any progress has been made, to the contrary - it looks like 0 progress made and everything got worse, with recent years breaking through the 1.5C targets. We mustn't give up hope that the many initiatives that have been kicked off as a result of these agreements, have prevented worse things from happening... too optimistic? maybe But working in the sustainability and SDG space has never been more exciting, with many people sharing that a just transition to a more sustainable, de-growth and circular economy is, ...possible. The questions is how fast, to prevent worse things from happening (Climate Catastrophy, Ecological Collapse, ...the list is getting longer). Currently the ANNUAL financing gap to the 2030 SDGs is (according to UN estimates), around $4 trillion. This is the same as Germany's or Japan's Gross Domestic Product. This is a staggering number and concept that the money missing to achieve the SDGs is the same as the monetary value of ALL finished goods and services made in Germany or Japan on an annual basis. And yet, the world economy is worth around $100 Trillion, so $4 trillion = 4%. That ...almost...sounds doable? too optimistic? maybe When it comes to asset managers, total discretionary assets under management (AUM) of the 500 biggest managers amounted to USD 113.7 trillion at the end of 2022, down by 13.7% from the end of 2021. The largest, BlackRock, manages $10 trillion and the next biggest 2, Vanguard ($9 trillion) and Fidelity ($4 trillion). Surely, investing into solutions on a planet that is actually liveable with resources being consumed at a sustainable pace is what its at? Otherwise, what will be managed in 20 or 30 years?

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Stop Trying to Wow Donors Into Philanthropic Submission: Increasingly, donors are asking for more “how” and less “wow” in concept papers, proposals and cases for support. In particular, they are asking how your organization proposes to: Tighten its focus to ensure greater mission realization Convert private support into significant, sustainable societal outcomes Relate the dollar amounts requested to specific outcomes Evaluate and report on the progress being made on projects they have funded Adjust and adapt to current and emerging societal trends Successful fundraising, in light of these expectations, must be: Less mass-marketed, more micro-targeted Lower in gloss, higher in content Less dependent on adverbs, more reliant on action items Less about telling, more about resonance Adhering to these new realities will make for more responsive and relevant organizations, not just improved fundraising results. Indeed, being more responsive and striving for greater relevance will be essential to sustaining and securing organizations' “market share” of private support in a declining philanthropic market. 

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In the ever-evolving world of nonprofit fundraising, engaging donors in a meaningful way is more crucial than ever. Fundraising affinity groups are a powerful tool to foster deeper connections and drive sustained support for nonprofit organizations. Read our latest blog. #catalystconsultingservices #catalyst4change #affinitygroups #fundraising https://lnkd.in/eBaVdQgR

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“This report summarizes findings from an extensive field and literature scan and interviews with 30 informants, including practitioners, funders, researchers, consultants, and staff members from several foundations. The report makes recommendations for foundations to consider in identifying and working with intermediaries to support racial equity, power sharing, and community voice. An adaptable tool was also created to help foundation staff navigate decision-making points and options for determining when and how to best work with intermediaries.” Working with Intermediaries Strategically

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“Eventually, we will look back on this moment in history as a turning point for workers’ power and voice, where Black workers led a transformation in how we think about and create good jobs that benefit workers, businesses, and communities. Further, we will reflect that building Black voice and power at work helped empower Black voice and power in our democracy, at a time when—more than ever—we needed to protect basic rights and freedoms for all. Philanthropy has a chance to help make history—or be left behind.” Why Philanthropy Must Support Labor Justice - Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly

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Start making your Development Committee more effective today. Check out these tips!

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If you're searching for top nonprofit talent for your organization, you'll want to follow these "5 Good Tips" from our newest guide: 1. Intentionally show off your good work to prospective employees. 2. Leverage your polished and professional brand in your search activities. 3. Be forthcoming about office culture, salary ranges, and employee benefits. 4. Find new and creative ways to share about the open position. 5. Consider hiring a Search Agency like Arthur Alley! Download your copy of the full "5 Good Tips" guide to learn more about each component of an effective recruiting process. https://lnkd.in/eAnn2QGv #EmployeeRecruiting #Hiring #Nonprofits #NonprofitJobs #SearchSolutions

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Tough Love for Donors #2 ❤️🖤❤️ Most donors want what’s best for the organizations they support. They trust the board and staff leadership to stay the course defined by their mission statement. As I hinted last week, there is a vocal minority who want the money they give to advance their own purposes, whatever strain it puts on the organization. Attempts to steer the boat from shore rarely go well. ⛵️ Some funders have a concept that they are purchasing power with your organization when they donate. It’s as though their gift (whatever the size) has made them a majority shareholder. Generous contributions are an “investment” in the mission and our collective future, but the analogy ends there. Hopefully, the orgs we work for have honed their mission down to the most optimal approach to the issue they address. That mission is the North star, and no funder should be allowed to take us off course. I've heard this defined as "mission drift" or "mission creep." Funders who require you to swing out of your lane shouldn't be indulged. I’ve experienced donors and institutional funders asking me to compromise privacy policies and/or build programs outside the stated mission while dangling cash like it’s a golden carrot. 🪢 The classic "strings-attached" donation: “I can make this gift if you do X.” ∓ The "negative contingency" (thanks Alexandyr Kent) : “I will pull my support unless you X.” 🧐 Evaluate these quid pro quo statements, explicit or implied, carefully. 🧐 If you compromise, you’ll regret it. You’ll create a monster of entitlement and diminish the integrity of the organization. 💰 Maybe announcing that 6 or 7 figure gift to the board or staff is tempting. 💰 🫷 BUT🫸 You have agency here. Stand your ground. I’ve mentioned a couple requests above that prospective funders have made throughout my career that would’ve compromised the mission I was supporting. Luckily, in both cases, I was backed up by leadership who agreed we shouldn’t engage under those terms. Have you had to address funders offering gifts or threatening to withdraw unless action is taken to conform the organization to their own personal value system? How did you respond? Let me know! #fundraising #nonprofit #donors

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Years ago, our colleagues at BoardSource wrote an advocacy manual for the nonprofit sector. They named at the time that "when it comes to our missions, the impact of changes in public policy is rarely neutral. And – as leaders of our organizations – that means that we cannot be neutral either." I submit that this call has never been more important to answer. In my latest message to the PNY community, "Building Bridges: Philanthropy’s Journey Towards Active Advocacy," I delve into the transformative power of advocacy in philanthropy and how it extends our capacity to effect real change. This is not just about funding; it's about fostering movement building, influencing policy, and standing up for the necessary systems changes that ensure nonprofits, communities and individuals thrive. The journey is ongoing, and each step forward reinforces the belief that our collective voice can lead to enduring societal benefits. I invite you to read more about how we can all contribute to this dynamic field of active advocacy. Let’s continue to push boundaries together. Your thoughts and feedback would be immensely valuable as we navigate this path forward. #Philanthropy #Advocacy #SocialChange #Leadership

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Questions We Can Ask To Turn Advancement Toward More Sustainable Practices I feel it, so do many of you. We're forming a critical mass of new thought. We're moving from gift getting to partnership building, from fundraising to philanthropic facilitation, from measuring success not just on dollars but donors retained and donors enlivened, from "acquiring donors" to attracting and nurturing kindred spirits. There's real movement toward the substantive and the sustainable. Each one of us can contribute and help this movement gain momentum by asking the right questions at the right moment every day. Every day. Just a few questions. We have to have the courage of our convictions but we also have to be diplomatic, respectful and professional. You won't cause anyone to rethink their assumptions, if you remain quiet, frustrated or disillusioned. You won't cause anyone to come on board our wagon by scoffing, bristling, or rolling your eyes (even if done inside your head). You know what to do. You've done it a thousands of times with donors and volunteers and others. You rebuff the unfounded and redirect the mistaken by asking "But what about...." You create alignments by asking, "Could we look at this together?" You don't put yourself above or below others. You engage as equals using the most effective community building and relationship building tool ever invented - genuine conversation. We learn and grow together by listening to and learning from each other. That's it. That's the only practical and sustainable way forward. So, as someone who has labored long but joyously in this vineyard and tried to make it better, may I ask a favor of you? Will you commit to asking at least a few good questions each day? Will you share this idea with others and ask them to share with you what they have learned so we can all learn together? Do you see how thousands and thousands of thoughtful practitioners around the world, by asking a few good questions each day, can become the water of hope that wears down the rock of transactional complacency and eventually turns from a trickle to a river racing to a new sea of possibility, a new way of achieving what we want together? Yes, of course it will never be perfect but water, not rock, brings life and feeds life. Choose to be water. Feed the trickle. Share your questions. Even if you don't always get the right answers, remember good questions never go away. They live and persist, waiting for good answers. They are seeds borne on the water of hope looking for fertile ground in which to take root. Be a sower. Sow a few thoughtful questions every day.

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💡 If you work with non-profits, then it’s no secret that it's getting harder and harder for them to reach their fundraising objectives. As a foundation or fonds de dotation (French endowment fund) a simple way help is to provide multi-year funding.   👇This article from KV Philanthropy Consulting offers a few insights as multi-year vs one-off donations and what impacts they can have for both associations and foundations. Don’t hesitate to let me know what you think! (Vous trouvez également la version française via le lien ci-dessous) #Donation #Multiyear #foundation #fondsdedotation #nonprofit #charity #association #grantmaking #fundraising #philanthropy

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In a recent meeting with a client about strategies to engage major donors, they said "we don't have time to build relationships with funders!" I've heard similar responses over the years as a consultant, but for some reason this time it really hit me: this key aspect of development (especially major gift fundraising) is precisely the thing nonprofit leaders often just don't have time to do. In the frenzy and everything-is-a-priority aspect of our work, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we don't have time to nurture and build key relationships. But, given how important this activity is to the sustainability and success of your organization, finding time -- or maybe making the time -- is critical. I share more on how to make this time and to best use the little time you have in my April blog post on cultivating and forging strong ties with donors. https://lnkd.in/gqUrPcuU

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Valuable lessons to be learned.

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