Jay Frost

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!!!!!!! The second round of grantmaking for the Environmental Justice Data Fund (EJDF or “the Fund”) will be supported by a $4 million fund, created and seeded by Google.org. The EJDF aims to help frontline communities historically underserved and disproportionately impacted by climate change and environmental injustice in the United States use data to address environmental hazards, with special attention to matters regarding air and water quality. The Fund will support eligible organizations to unlock resources, increase their access to federal infrastructure funding, and advocate for new policies that empower communities to address past environmental harm and pave the way to a more sustainable, climate-resilient future. The new round of grantmaking was designed based on insights from the 2022 grantmaking cycle, which demonstrated a high need in the field to address environmental hazards, especially related to air and water quality. The fund remains dedicated to the principle that supporting data work will help advance justice and build power within local communities. By providing those most impacted by environmental injustices with valuable information, they are empowered to confront these issues and develop community-led solutions. The Fund will prioritize projects that serve frontline communities and consider a broad range of approaches to using data to advocate for environmental justice at the local and regional levels (please see below for how the Fund defines “frontline communities”, “environmental justice”, and “data” for this opportunity). It will provide organizations with flexible project funding to increase their organizational capacity to incorporate quality data work into their environmental and climate justice programming. The fund expects to make two to four grants of $500,000 and six to eight grants of $250,000. The Fund encourages grantees to leverage grant funds for matching opportunities, if applicable. Deadline: August 30, 2024.

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The final Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP Global) Fundraising Effectiveness Project report on #donoractivity for 2023 was released April 7. There is a lot of data to interpret. 📈 📉 📊 💻 Please join us on Thursday April 25 for a conversation with Ben Miller, Chair of FEP, to do a deep dive on the data and discuss ways in which we can improve our proficiency and efficacy. While overall numbers are down, we are optimists, and appreciate the fact that there is an area of brightness and hope in last year's #nonprofitsector : an increase in new #donoracquisition – the first time since 2020! – our challenge for 2024 is to retain those donors! This presents an opportunity to revisit how we thank and engage the donors who improve the quality of the world in which we live. Register via 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eeSmPPS5 Access complete report via 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e_SnRgR4 Visionary Philanthropic Consulting, LLC Tim Smith Michael Shippam David Krause Melanie R. Sabelhaus Jason Blumenthal Jelena Spasic Ava Willis-Barksdale Linda C. Coughlin Jon Kevin Gossett, ACFRE #fundraising #philanthropy #industrytrends #dataanalytics

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The Far Side of Fundraising Tip of the Week Clever words - be they in the form of a case for support, an appeal or a solicitation - cannot make up for a poorly conceived fundraising initiative. Like it or not, philanthropy is a marketplace. Some things have strong donor appeal, some very little. Strategic fundraising entails putting forward concepts that advance mission and resonate with philanthropic values. It is foolish to believe that donors will respond to whatever you want or need if you have charismatic fundraisers making compelling appeals. It's even more foolish to attempt to do so when you give fundraisers the wrong vehicle and less than clever words.

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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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Today, we embark on a thrilling journey into the heart of nonprofit excellence—exploring the captivating realm of impact reporting. So, don your “Attitude of Gratitude” cap, and let's dive into the art of showcasing your organization's impact with flair! ⭐ Defining Impact Reporting – The DRG Way Impact reporting is a powerful tool to highlight the tangible, positive changes your organization brings to the world. It's not only about numbers—it's also about telling a compelling story of transformation, and placing donors in the roles of superheroes. ⭐ Using Impact Reporting to Ignite Engagement – The Secret Sauce The “secret sauce” so to speak, lies in weaving great stories and impact into your narrative. Think "generosity vs. philanthropy," by emphasizing the emotional journey your donors embark on with each contribution. By focusing on extreme gratitude, you create a lasting connection, turning one-time donors into lifelong advocates. ⭐ Getting Started with Impact Reporting – DRG Style Now, where to begin? We're here to guide you through the process: 1. Define Your Impact Goals: Before you start reporting, clearly define what sort of reporting you will be doing. Are you planning to create reports for individual donors or more broad-based reporting to be delivered to multiple donors at once? Ideally, your organization should be doing a combination of both of these. 2. Determine the types of reports. Above, we mention individual and broad-based reports, but now you need to determine what types you will offer. Digital, printed, or both? What is meaningful to the donor? Do they like lots of financial data or do they prefer a story? Pay attention to the needs and wants of your donors, and your projects will be significantly more meaningful and productive. 3. Choose Your Metrics Wisely: Select metrics that align with your impact goals. Whether it's lives touched, communities transformed, or ecosystems restored – always pick metrics that tell a compelling story. 4. Craft a Compelling Narrative: Infuse your content with signature charm. You can often use humor to make your impact stories memorable. Whether it's a quirky video or a witty infographic, be sure to lean in your organization’s unique characteristics wherever you can. 5. Engage Your Audience: Leverage social media, newsletters, and events to engage your audience actively. Encourage them to share their thoughts, experiences, and ideas. Turn your impact reporting into a two-way street of communication. We have also put together DRG’s Guide to Best Practices for Impact Reporting for you in this weeks blog. It’s time to put on your innovator's hat, and start crafting impact reports that not only highlight results, but also inspire a wave of positive disruption in the nonprofit sector. By Christine McGuire https://ow.ly/o9O450S4BQu

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"I hate boards." Boards, councils, advisory committees. Call them what you want. The truth is I have heard non-profit leaders express this sentiment of frustration time after time. And to be fair, there are some really terrible boards out there. But it doesn't have to be that way. Maybe the problem is, you aren't inviting the A Team to be a part of your committee. So why are you surprised when you don't get an A Team effort? My Co-Host Greg Jeffrey highlights five ways you can build an A Team of volunteers in this week's podcast episode. Check out the comments for the link. #justask #nonprofits #development #boards

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Great article by Ghada Abdel Tawab, Otto Saki & Sally Roever. Civic space has always been a powerful tool for organizing, sharing ideas, and holding power to account. It catalyzed the end of apartheid, advanced reproductive rights for Latin American feminists, and fueled global climate change movements. However, civic space is elastic: it can expand widely or be forcibly restricted. Workers, the world's largest organized movement, intuitively understand the importance of civic space. Despite facing immense challenges, they are using this space to counteract authoritarian abuses. A powerful example is the resilience of waste pickers. These 20 million "invisible environmentalists" play a critical role in urban sustainability, recycling 60% of the world's plastic and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, they face severe marginalization and unsafe working conditions. Supported by WIEGO, Latin American waste pickers spent six years building their collective voice to secure a hearing at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. This milestone moment marked the first official recognition of waste pickers' rights by a major human rights body. Victories like these protect and expand civic space and inspire other workers to organize for better conditions. The global waste pickers' movement has influenced UN Plastics Treaty negotiations, promoted extended producer responsibility, and inspired a documentary showcasing their fight for rights. In May 2024, the International Alliance of Waste Pickers held its first Elective Congress, a vibrant civic space where waste pickers from around the world elected their leaders and united for international recognition. Hosted by Argentina’s Union of Popular Economy Workers, this historic Congress was a milestone decades in the making. Together, let's support and expand civic space for all workers, ensuring they can continue to fight for their rights with dignity and justice. #LaborRights #CivicSpace #EnvironmentalJustice #WastePickers #GlobalSouth #WorkersUnite #HumanRightshttps //https://lnkd.in/gbhayubd

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Do all capital campaigns need a fundraising consultant? Read on to learn about different types of fundraising counsel and how they can benefit your organization! #nonprofitfundraising #nonprofitcapitalcampaign #capitalcampaign #capitalcampaignconsultant

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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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It's an honor to be included in The Work Times' list of "The Top 100 Nonprofit Influencers & Leaders Shaping Change." While I recognize lists like these can be transitory, and including my name might be somewhat arbitrary, this came at a time when I really needed a boost. Finding my name among such inspiring individuals has given me a renewed sense of purpose and motivation for the months ahead. Thank you! How could I--and could we--not be inspired by all the other people on this list? Each and every one is giving their heart and soul to making this world better for us and those who come after! I've been fortunate to know and interview a number of these fine folks for the Philanthropy Masterminds Series already, including Vu Le, Amy Sample Ward, Gail Perry MBA CFRE, Dan Pallotta, Kivi Leroux Miller, Julia Campbell, Beth Kanter, Barbara O'Reilly, CFRE, and Andrea Kihlstedt. Others on this list I dream of interviewing on the road ahead include extraordinary changemakers like Allison Fine, Phil Buchanan, Devin Thorpe, Edgar Villanueva, Chris Anderson, Bryan Stevenson, Wendy Kopp, scott harrison, Jessica Jackley, Premal Shah, Zainab Salbi, Jeffrey Skoll, Mike Bloomberg, Darren Walker, Peggy Dulany, SHANNON WATTS, Gov. Wes Moore, Ben Rattray, and David Miliband. There are so many more impact sector leaders, often toiling tirelessly in obscurity, that I wish were receiving this kind of attention and support. I can think of another hundred in minutes. How about YOU? Who would be on YOUR list of the most inspired and inspiring figures Nonprofit Influencers & Leaders Shaping Change today? #Grateful #Nonprofit #Leadership #SocialGood

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Mindsets That Make For More Certain Fundraising Success The right fundraising mindsets are those that are most attuned and resonant with philanthropic hopes and philanthropic decision-making. If the mindsets aren't right, the strategy and tactics flowing from them will prove largely ineffective no matter how imaginatively conceived or well executed. All too common is the elevation of an administrative voice, one that expects the donor to help with the smooth running of the place and respond to the practicalities of balancing the budget, taking care of maintenance and building a reserve. Those are significant issues but they are not primary philanthropic motivators. The donor may be willing to listen to the administrative voice once they have bought into the cause, identified with the leaders, and come to believe in the organization's determination to grind out differences no matter how great the challenges. The first voices the donors must hear are: The voice of outrage - this cannot stand The voice of compassion - we can and must step in The voice of hope - we see a way to make a difference The voice of determination - we have no other choice but to try Or some amalgam or variation of these voices. The voices must sound human and clearly sound in deep, dedicated service to humanity. For same strange reason that is too infrequently the case, but there most surely is a more certain way to inspire, assure and motivate the philanthropic.

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As fundraisers, whose job is it to be generous? Is it possible YOUR generosity might be as important as your donors'? Most of us in the world of philanthropy understand something about being generous with money. For a start, not everyone IS generous with money. Having money doesn’t mean people give it away. We understand that our best donors get that it FEELS GOOD to give. But recently, I’ve double-clicked on some deeper applications of generosity that have nothing to do with money and everything to do with feeling good. So, what does it mean to be generous – not just with money, but with your heart and spirit? Here’s an example from my life: For some of us, as our parents age, their commitment to the rules and details of reality wanes. And regularly I find that the rule follower in me jumps in to correct and to straighten out any confused details. I am helping to orient – or at least to un-disorient – right? But after, I feel icky. It never feels good to be *that* person, the stickler about details. And the word generous came up recently about these interactions … and has invited me to wonder if I might not actually find a more generous space – a place where I show up, give the gift of my attention and … play along. My partner Kevin shared a story with me about his own father, who died with dementia in 2020. One day during a visit, his father was telling him a story about killing a dragon. Hunh? It was disorienting, he recalled, because it was very detailed, and his father really believed it happened. Upon corroborating facts with his father’s girlfriend, he discovered that his father DID have a story: he had been out in the garden and got harassed by … not a dragon, but a dragonfly. Which he eventually swatted away. And Kevin had an "a-ha!": in an eroding memory ecosystem, an interaction with a large insect could easily morph into something more story-worthy. And he understood that a good story made his dad happy. So, then, it wasn’t hard for him to create that generous space and play along. And that’s a kind of generosity that is different from cash. Many of us get stuck in a world -where there are dragonflies, but no dragons -where we are attached to our reality, to the rules as we see them. Where we are so attached, in fact, that we can’t make space for someone else’s experience. Where rightness or sticking to the story feel more important than our own generosity. So, to my fellow fundraisers and humans, here’s an inquiry to help you transcend the world of dragonflies: How might you expand your definition of generosity in service of your own and your donors’ humanity? #fundraisers #fundraising #nonprofit #generosity #coachingculture #philanthropy

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Thank you Mike Geiger, MBA, CPA for your message in today's Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP Global) Daily on how fundraisers can take steps to help stop individual giving declines through advocacy! Join us and read Mike's post on how to let your Members of Congress know you support the Charitable Act, and how your local AFP Chapter can be a part of these efforts during U.S. Lobby Week August 5-9. Also happy to answer questions on how you can be engaged in this important public policy work. #fundraising #nonprofit #advocacy #publicpolicy #philanthropy #charitableact

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