Maria De La Cruz, JD

Exponent Philanthropy is exploring new ways funders can increase their impact! Read and download "How Grantees Think Funders Can Improve" today. This report surveyed over 400 nonprofits across six foundations over the last two years. It highlights how funders can improve in effect and process. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4aCklUc.

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If We Truly Valued the Donors We Had Wouldn't we: Survey and/or interview them about what institutional attributes they find most important and impressive to ensure we hire fundraisers who embody them? Tell fundraisers their most important job is to perpetuate and deepen relationships with those assigned to their portfolios? Require fundraisers to demonstrate that they have studied donor profiles and developed engagement plans attuned to their donors' passions and sensitivities? Equip fundraisers with questions to ask so they can fill gaps in those donors' records to ensure they are managed well over time? Check in with those donors after a few months to make sure all is going well with their new development officer? Work with the development officer to learn what each donor does and does not want to receive knowing how many complain of being bombarded with information? Make sure any solicitation is well-thought-out and respectful as evidenced by the number of conversations preceding it and interest expressed by the donor in a particular initiative? Conduct annual stewardship interviews or surveys to make sure donors feel that their gifts have been well-stewarded and they feel respectfully treated, then compare results year over year to make sure gaps are not growing? Show fundraisers how they can help donors develop multiple connections to the organization? Yet, how often do we see fundraisers: Selected on the basis of bravado Pushed into the field with too little training and no review of their plans Expected to solicited after a set number of visits with no review as to whether what is being solicited aligns with donors' interests Not required to show evidence of relationship or affinity building Gone after two years so that donors not only experience giving fatigue but breaking-in-new-fundraiser fatigue So let's be honest. While many organizations have a stewardship office, few have anything that looks like an asset management plan or the awareness of how important one is. Despite what we give lip service to, is it not a fact that we care little about how positive an impression our fundraisers make or how well they treat their donors as long as they bring home some bacon? So here's the lesson that must penetrate or our thick organizational skulls: A stewardship office, no matter how good, cannot compensate for: Leadership attitudes that treat donors like cordwood Fundraisers who don't reflect values and ideals touted by the organization Fundraising imperatives that favor insensitive fundraisers or desensitize good ones Donors being made to feel like ATMs accessed by revolving fundraisers Inappropriate or inept solicitations Most organization leave much too much to chance. They need to build awareness around donors as invaluable organizational assets and, at minimum, hold themselves to ethic articulated in the Hippocratic Oath:  "I will do no harm or injustice to them."

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Donor Qualification: Try Flipping the Tables What if we straight out asked for meetings with prospective donors to learn what would take for our organization to qualify for their philanthropic consideration and, if qualified, what process they would expect to follow before making a commitment? Sometimes our tap dancing around the issue of why we want to meet works against us. Us: "I'd just like to meet and get to know you" or "We'd like to explore some ways of getting you involved in our organization." In the mind of the prospect: "But you're a fundraiser, so it's apparent why." We want to establish our credibility from the very beginning while showing we won't engage in an ambush ask or jam anywhere along the way. We want to show that we are facilitators but they are in charge of the process. We will always preview the purpose of each meeting requested and at the end of that meeting, ask permission explore the next step in that process. The clearer we are in our intent, the more we allay concern and build credibility. The tone of the questions we put to prospective donors, as with the suggestions below, is all important. These questions show that: We come to learn We understand that support has to be earned We are facilitators and negotiators not glib, glad-handing grabbers We should put these questions only to those have a record of giving elsewhere and if in that record we see a philanthropic interest that aligns with one of our organizational capabilities. Ideally, those that we put the questions to might have some other engagement or direct knowledge of our organization - as might be the case with the patron of an arts organization or someone who has attended one of our events. If such a meeting was granted, it would be wise to be prepared for openings such as questions about your organization's strategic emphases or competitive strengths but never come or work from a brochure. Never. Donors want to work with adaptive, resourceful facilitators not drones. Remember that anyone who agrees to meet with you will form the next most powerful impression of your organization by the way you conduct yourself. Yes, friendly and inquisitive are nice attributes but donors will be more impressed by seriousness of purpose and a your personal determination to make differences in the lives of those you serve. Those who rebuff the opportunity for such discussions do you the favor of telling you that they are not yet receptive to any fundraising appeal. That, in and of itself, is immensely helpful and allows you to reallocated your time and fundraising strategies accordingly.

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Participatory grantmaking breaks down the harmful hierarchies, top-down dynamics, and funder-vs-grantee binaries that dominate traditional philanthropy. Mama Cash’s entire grantmaking portfolio is fully participatory because self-led communities know best what works, and self-determination is radical change. Find out how and why grantmaking can and should become participatory: https://bit.ly/3TzPCQ1 participatory #ParticipatoryGrantmaking #FeministActivismWorks

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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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Unrestricted funding enables nonprofits and organizations to address complex challenges more effectively. EGA member, Shena Cavallo of Global Greengrants Fund co-authors this insightful article, which outlines the problems that arise from restricted funding, and how flexible funding can support more effective partnerships for lasting change. Restricted funding can have several implications, such as: • Driving competition and making collaboration more challenging • Forcing organizations to navigate complex funding requirements which diverts their time away from impactful work • Hindering effective rapid response to emergencies or security threats that activists, organizations, and movements can face “It is critical that donors understand how highly restricted funding — when it is the norm instead of the exception — can hinder and even undermine the intended impact of their investments, especially at the grassroots level. “ 👉Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eFiwtcGy

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Stop 'talking the talk' and start 'walking the walk' ❗ This report is full of actionable insights on how funders can put systems thinking to better use when it comes to philanthropy 👏 No one can change a system or make long term-changes alone! So it's brilliant to see this forward-thinking approach of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and their continued effort in getting funders to increase their impact through collaborating 🤝 Read more ⤵️ #philanthropy #grantmaking #charities #systemschange #report #impact

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Elevate your fundraising skills with our expertly crafted resources at Fit Fundraising! Discover our top picks like "The Donor Engagement Strategy Playbook" and "Rainmaking: The Fundraiser’s Guide to Landing Big Gifts". Plus, enhance your learning with our virtual training program "Giving Is Down. Now What?"—free copy of Rainmaking included! Perfect for nonprofits looking to boost their fundraising results. Dive into these invaluable resources today: https://lnkd.in/e68f466j 💼📈 #FundraisingSuccess #NonprofitResource

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Let's talk government grant reform. You've likely heard about ongoing efforts to equitably reform Minnesota state grantmaking that began last legislative session and include increasing oversight capacity and reducing barriers for nonprofits who provide essential services across the state. (Check out the latest: https://lnkd.in/dqeQD2ER) But have you heard about federal government grant reform efforts? There's big news for nonprofits receiving or seeking federally-funded grants. The federal Office of Management and Budget released its major rewrite of the Uniform Guidance, the set of common rules governing most federal grantmaking to charitable nonprofits, state, local, and Tribal governments, and others. Noteworthy changes include: - Guaranteed 15% reimbursement rates for indirect costs (up from 10%) - Notices of funding opportunities will be streamlined and simplified - Single Audit threshold will increase to $1 million Why It Matters: These significant reforms, effective October 1, 2024, correct longstanding challenges in the government grants process that have limited nonprofit effectiveness, discouraged qualified organizations from seeking and performing under federal grants, and wasted billions of dollars and countless hours in needlessly complex application and reporting requirements. The reforms will enable greater access to federal grants for those who may be most well suited to serve the populations many federal programs are designed to serve, but have not been eligible or able to compete for grants under the current rules. More from National Council of Nonprofits: https://lnkd.in/dN3ECvRc

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In fundraising, it is crucial not only to tell but show your donors how their contributions are making a difference within your mission and vision. You must communicate your organization’s impact to your donors regularly and effectively so they are more likely to encourage repeat donations. A donor impact letter is a key tool to accomplish this task. Check out my recent post on how and why you should build donor impact letters into your organization’s communication mix. https://lnkd.in/e_wt2iHK #fundraising #nonprofits

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In this Advancing Philanthropy article, learn how naming rights can be an additional source of income for your nonprofit, how to calculate the value of naming rights, and how to generate a gift agreement that benefits you and your donor. https://ow.ly/S1Eh50RP4Wh (Available Exclusively to AFP Members) #fundraising #nonprofit

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THIS IS URGENTLY NEEDED! Youth climate activists - AND WOMEN- across the country are under resourced and underserved within the climate movement. Now more than ever, we need philanthropy to help organize and catalyze the groundswell we need. What the Youth Climate Justice Movement Needs from Philanthropy - https://go.shr.lc/3QrIS6k #Philanthrophy #climateaction #WMMSummit2024

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Are you a donor or a grantmaker? Help our colleagues at 21/64 & the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers (NNCG) gain valuable insights on how you engage philanthropy consultants or advisors to advance your giving. Click here to start the survey > https://bit.ly/49FGn76

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I just want to amplify this new study. That’s being done around community centric fundraising and philanthropy. Are you using community centric fundraising principles? Have your lead fundraiser or your entire fundraising team sit down together and fill this out.

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Check out my new article in AFP's Advancing Philanthropy! The article provides some great tips and tricks on how to motivate your fundraisers when working in small shop nonprofits. If you're looking for ways to inspire your team and help your organization achieve its goals, this article is a must-read. Don't miss out on this valuable resource!

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Grants Simplified, Success Amplified With Instrumentl, your grant work becomes effortless. Prospect, track, manage and succeed – all from one user-friendly platform. https://lnkd.in/efwVPvGY

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Developing a fundraising strategy is key for non-profit space planning. This free webinar hosted by Raza Development Fund and Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy provides helpful insights into capital campaign planning and more. Register here: https://bit.ly/3yZILJo #UnidosUS #NonProfit #Strategies

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