Philanthropy TV

Published on June 26, 2009 in Blogging & technology. 0 Comments



I just finished watching the first episode of The Philanthropist, a new prime-time television show about an adventuring multi-millionnaire who has an epiphany and shifts his impressive talents from making money to giving it away.   This first show finds Teddy Rist bushwhacking through the Nigerian jungle to deliver cholera vaccine to a hurricane-ravished village.  I particularly enjoyed all the Nigerian people along the way who told him he was an arrogant American and should get lost.  He was undaunted.  The show was perfectly cheesy and melodramatic—looking forward to next week.

This is a huge step up from the last philanthropy-focused show I checked out, Oprah’s Big Give.  If you missed that, it was sort of an amazing race to give away money.  Contestants competed to creatively and effectively give away larger and larger amounts of money in short amounts of time.  In an early episode, a woman who used her $1000 to buy out the inventory of a flower stand and hand out the flowers to passing motorists left me speechless (as did the judges’ favorable remarks about this act of random generosity).

The protagonist is apparently loosely based on the life of businessman-turned-philanthropist Bobby Sager, founder of the Sager Family Travelling Foundation and Road Show.

One interesting question about the show is whether it will actually raise awareness and money for global causes.  On the website, the show’s stated intention is that “This is not just a television show…but a philanthropic force.”  Co-creator Charlie Corwin dubs it the first “Obama drama” alluding to the new zeitgeist around service.  Indeed, there are links to health and relief organizations working in Nigeria.  Presumably, next week the links will be to organizations working in Myanmar, where the episode is shot.  I hope to see some coverage of the results, and also some shows featuring domestic issues.

So if you are free next Wednesday night at 10pm, and you like James Bond-esque adventure, you might check it out.

 

Thoughts about the Economic Downturn

Published on April 29, 2009 in Nonprofit sector. 0 Comments



It’s on everyone’s minds, and I’m getting asked more and more often to comment on the economic downturn.  Here are a few thoughts:

 

Clearly, these are difficult times.  Increasing demand for services and decreasing donations are placing a strain on nonprofit organizations, particularly health and human service providers.  Individuals are watching their budgets and less likely to spend on arts and cultural activities, affecting the earned income of arts and cultural groups.  A general mood of hunkering down means less money is in circulation, affecting us all.  This is likely to last for some time to come.  Our donors need inspiring messages so they will be moved to continue their contributions.

 

If only we were more organized…we might see more funding coming from the economic stimulus package.  From what I hear, states with strong nonprofit sector advocacy organizations are starting to see stimulus dollars flowing to their social sector.  This is a lesson for the future on identifying and working toward our common interests as a sector, and a reminder to value our intermediary organizations (and to demand good leadership from them!).

 

Some good things are happening societally.  Some of the same behavior changes our social sector organizations have been trying to foster for many years are suddenly coming to pass, not as a direct result of our efforts, but because the downturn has forced behavior change.  Driving is down, public transit is up.  Seed sales are at an all-time high, and everyone I know is talking about whether to get chickens for their backyard.  Library usage is up.  Predatory lending is down.  People are showing care and concern for their neighbors.  They are buying locally in the hopes that their local shops can stay afloat. Let’s remember that there is a silver lining to this time, and celebrate it.

 

People are open to new ideas.  There is a strong feeling that the usual ways of doing business are not working any longer.  Naturally, this is very destabilizing and scary for many.  It also presents an opening for creativity and innovation, within our organizations and outside of them.  If you have a different approach, this may be the time to test it out—you are likely to get more support for it in the current environment.

 

It’s time to value volunteers again.  I’ve commented before on the paradox of the growing professionalization of the voluntary sector.  Well, this may be a time when the balance of power will shift back toward volunteers somewhat.  While I acknowledge that it does take time to manage and plug in volunteers, volunteer labor is still cheaper and more sustainable than professional staff in many instances.  Volunteer programs ground an organization in the community, spread expertise, build community ownership and awareness of your issues, and leverage more hours of service.  Consider how you can respond to the following trends:

  • Volunteers may be hesitant to drive across town for volunteer service—how can you engage neighbors in your organization?
  • Lots of impressive folks are out of work but are seeking meaningful engagements until their next job materializes—how can you tap these folks?
  • Recent college graduates are facing a very difficult job market—they may be willing to work for less or consider a year of service. I know my cousin would rather work for you than at his current minimum wage job at a convenience store.  His major?  Neuroscience.

What are your thoughts about managing through this era?  Whatever we do, we need to keep talking to each other and recognize that we are not alone.

How to do strategic planning: an accessible, jargon-free primer

Published on March 25, 2009 in Strategic planning. 1 Comment



Look at things from the 30,000 foot level, clarify your theory of change grounded in evidence-based practices, maintain a laser focus, establish a sustainable business model, identify your hedgehog concept, get the right people on bus, and demonstrate measurable impact.  If you execute well, your organization is sure to become a strange attractor of resources, go to scale, become a thought leader advancing your field, maximize good outcomes for customers, and achieve world peace.

Resources and Update

Published on February 3, 2009 in Leadership and Recommended reading. 1 Comment

Greetings!  Here are a few resources that I just became aware of and wanted to share.

  •  501 Studios produces “Movie Mondays“–short videocasts featuring advice on fundraising from experience development directors.   This week, listen to the fabulous Susan Howlett on the importance of gratitude.  Update:the Movie Mondays link above will always show you the current movie.  To see Susan’s video, you can now access it via her website, www.susanhowlett.com.
  •  Peter Senge is the keynote for the upcoming 2009 Northwest Leadership Summit: Economic Success in Times of Change on May 5 at Town Hall.  The Summit is a program of Seattle University Center for Leadership Formation.

LPC is thusfar surviving the economic downturn just fine.  I’ve been busy reading David Allen’s Getting Things Done, and preparing to move the LPC office to my new home in Seward Park.  Here’s to a lighter carbon footprint and spending my breaks out in the garden!

More on economic downturn

Published on December 19, 2008 in Blogging & technology. 0 Comments

Here’s a link to a post on La Piana Associates’ blog about Managing in bad times.  It offers good advice:  “Don’t hunker down.”  Speaking of hunkering down, we are all snowed in here in Seattle.   Here’s hoping for some warmer weather soon!

Weathering the Downturn and New Models of Organization

Published on December 14, 2008 in Leadership and Nonprofit sector. 2 Comments

It seems to be a big topic of conversation these days!  I’ve been mulling what the downturn means for our sector, but haven’t figured it all out yet.  On Thursday, I had the pleasure of engaging in great conversation with an impressive group of nonprofit leaders at United Way of King County’s forum on Nonprofits and the Economic Downturn.  There was clearly a lot of fear and dread in the room, but also resolve and pockets of hope and faith, and a great sense of relief at finally feeling part of a community that is facing this issue rather than a lonely executive director pouring over budget scenarios in her office.

Funders offered remarks to open the session, and they were fairly grim in their outlook:  the downturn is likely to be long and impact grantmaking significantly.  They emphasized fiscal prudence, prioritization (discontinuing some activities that are not core to mission fulfillment), efficiency (outsourcing, sharing costs, consolidation), and transparency as keys to surviving in a more competitive funding environment.  There was also considerable talk about measurable impact.  They also gave a nod to creative, out-of-the-box thinking, and noted that this may be a time when people are more open to doing things differently.

Unfortunately, there was no clarion call to change and reinvention.  Despite the fact that business as usual is not going to cut it for most nonprofits over the next few years, a vision for a new social sector has not yet emerged.  But there are some promising, creative approaches bubbling up around the country.  While I can’t offer a clear vision myself, I intuit that the new path(s) will incorporate some or all of the following:

  • An inspirational call to service (a la Obama) that appeals to a new generation of activists
  • Flexible structure that welcomes and accommodates “individual contributors” (more like a movement, less like a hierarchical organization)
  • Ability to tap social networks and communicate effectively through Web 2.0 channels
  • Success for folks who have a large network of relevant relationships and a positive, trustworthy “personal brand”
  • Declining emphasis on expertise/holding proprietary knowledge and increasing recognition of the power of sharing information/”open sourcing” strategies, curriculum, etc.

What do you think?

Sound advice for small organisations

Published on October 29, 2008 in Nonprofit sector, Sustainability and capacity building. 0 Comments

I know what you are thinking–typo in the header!  No, the Pierce Arrow is simply going international.  Thanks to Voice for Song linking to my earlier post about the economic downturn, I’m now aware of a cool effort in New South Wales to support and defend the value of small nonprofit organizations.  I concur that small, community-based organizations are a vital part of the ecology of the nonprofit sector.

In particular, you may want to check out Surviving the Squeeze–How small NGOs can thrive in the current climate.  It offers sound, progressive advice for “helping nonprofits thrive” in any climate, and at four pages it’s a quick read.

New Research on Customer Service at Food Bank and Meal Programs in WA

Published on October 28, 2008 in Nonprofit sector, Race and social justice and capacity building. 0 Comments

The reports I authored about food bank capacity and customer service for Washington State’s Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development are now available online at http://www.cted.wa.gov/site/271/default.aspx.   As some of you know, I have been working with emergency food providers statewide for the past two years.  This project follows on a capacity building/best practices report that I worked on with Washington Food Coalition (also posted at this site).  Over this time, I’ve learned a great deal about the challenges and rewards of running a food bank or meal program, and increased my respect for the incredible network of (predominantly) volunteers that feeds hungry families statewide.

These projects also reflect a newer area of practice for me:  research and evaluation.  Nonprofits who take on the challenge of conducting research–alone or in partnership with outside experts–have an opportunity to define for themselves what matters and how to measure it.  In some cases, they can also demonstrate the effectiveness of “indigenous” community-driven strategies and influence funder investments. This is an exciting area of capacity building, so I look forward to continuing my involvement in this arena and growing my own capacity to conduct useful and methodologically sound research for clients.

Nonprofits proud to be “unbusinesslike” these days

Published on October 6, 2008 in Nonprofit sector. 2 Comments


I’ve been wanted to put pen to paper regarding the financial times, but have been preoccupied with other matters.  This is a fascinating time—very difficult for many, very thought provoking for many more.  From the beginning, I have been interested in the “silver lining” associated with the economic downturn.  Reports that public transportation use is up, home gardeners planted a record number of seeds this year, and retail sales are down hardly alarm me.  People thinking before they spend?  Apparently, a new idea for many privileged Americans. 

 

A critical question for those of us working in the nonprofit sector is “What does this mean for nonprofit organizations?”  Before answering this question, we can’t quite stop ourselves from an “I told you so” moment.  After being harassed endlessly to operate in a more business-like manner, we would all like you to notice that businesses have problems, too—big ones! 

 

A friend of mine who prefers to remain anonymous writes:

As I’ve been following the financial meltdown, I’ve been pondering the push in recent years towards philanthrocapitalism, social enterprise, microenterprise and the impulse towards treating nonprofits more like ‘businesses’.  I have no quibble with the last – if you can’t manage your books and figure out how to bring dollars in, then you’ll cease to exist – but the tension between unfettered free-market capitalism and what a community needs to survive on a civic, spiritual or non-tangible level is enormous.  The condescending attitude that nonprofit boards have a lot to learn from for-profit boards seems to have been turned on its head here.

 

Also, the situation we’re facing is a ‘credit crunch’, where, as the New York Times says, “banks become more fearful of giving out cash”.  Now we know what happens to foundations who ‘choose’ not to give out a certain percentage of their cash - they cease to be foundations.  It may be incredibly foolish of me to ask why banks aren’t required to commit a minimum percentage of their assets to credit - maybe they are - but by using language like ‘fearful’ and ‘reluctant’ the NY Times is either anthropomorphizing a business or pointing up the goddamn truth - people make these decisions and this sounds less and less like a credit crisis and more and more like a hold-up.

Jan Masaoka comments in the current issue of Blue Avocado:

The next time someone says to you for the umpteenth time, “Nonprofits should be run more like a business,” say back to them: “Like which business?”

This month, with huge financial firms tanking and passing the pain to thousands of employees, shareholders, customers and taxpayers, it’s a good time to remember that if Lehman Brothers or AIG had been run more like nonprofits, they might not be in the trouble they are in today. If these firms had been run like nonprofits, they would have placed community well-being above executive pay, profits, and competitiveness.

Want to read more?  Visit the Nonprofit Quarterly for many more nonprofit leaders “sounding off on the bailout.”

 

Seasonal blogging

Published on July 6, 2008 in Consulting and Recommended reading. 0 Comments

Well, I haven’t had much time to blog lately.  Lots going on in my personal life, an interesting array of consulting projects, and the summer are keeping me busy.  Maybe blogs should be dormant during the summer months–my laptop screen just isn’t very visible out in the sunshine.  This entry will violate the rules of single topic blogging by providing you with a general update from LPC.

First of all, I just checked my website statistics.  Apparently, my month-long blogging hiatus hasn’t made traffic suffer too much.  In June, over 1,000 unique visitors made over 3,800 visits to my website and blog.  Of course, more than half of these were probably automated bots or spiders.  And I have little idea how to interpret the stats.  Still, it sounds exciting, and it is definitely true that adding a blog to make my website more dynamic has resulted in more traffic.

I am working with some fabulous clients at present, including Food Lifeline, Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, Southwest Youth and Family Services, New Beginnings, Peace Community Center, Cascade Regional Blood Services, Chaya, University District Service Providers Alliance, Chelan-Douglas Volunteer Attorneys, and Make-A-Wish Foundation of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.   I’m grateful for these fabulous opportunities.  At the same time, I know what you are thinking, and you are absolutely right!  I hope to close out a few of these very soon to preserve my sanity and enjoy the summer.

In other news, I recently joined the board of directors of the Whidbey Institute.  I have learned a great deal through WI programs, and I encourage you to check it out and let me know if you are interested in learning more.

Hopefully, I’ll someday have some book news for you.  I am hoping to find time soon to dig into two provocative new books:  The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution, in which David La Piana debunks conventional planning and offers an alternative approach that his firm has tested with good results; and, The Revolution will not be Funded:  Beyond the Nonprofit Industrial Complex.

So, stay tuned but don’t hold your breath!