Sean Triner ponders what we have actually leaned from our experiences in the worst recession in living memory. So the recession happened and if we believe what the pundits tell us, it's been and gone. Of developed world countries, Australia suffered less than Europe and North America. And some countries, like Australia are breathing a sigh of relief, feeling like the recession is over. But if you are reading this in Greece, Portugal, the UK or many other countries you probably don’t have the relief of that sigh just yet. But the lessons still apply. What did we learn? Back in October 2008 over 100 fundraisers gathered in a hastily convened session at the IFC in Holland. Shortly afterwards, books, papers, blogs, seminars and reports looked at and offered advice on fundraising in a … Continue Reading
IFC 2010: Celebrate 30 Years of Changing the World
For 30 years the International Fundraising Congress (IFC) has showcased ideas that have helped fundraisers change the world. To celebrate the 30th IFC, they've invited 30 of the sector's leading minds to share weekly insights into the future of fundraising... For more information on the IFC, check the Congress Website. … Continue Reading
Fundraising 101A
A continuation of earlier posts from the IFC's survey on the state of the economy and what we as fundraising professionals should be doing to ride out the storm. The strategic and tactical decisions made by charities will have more influence on their fortunes than the recession itself. Charities have more control than they think they do so long as they focus on program fundamentals, do not panic and focus on the long-term. Board members and senior management need to understand the current financial data and stop making unrealistic expectations. Work like a for-profit organization to gain increased long-term growth. Develop messages, themes and scripts around why we need our donors now more than ever. Strengthen current partnerships to weather the storm rather than looking for new ones. … Continue Reading
Back to Basics
In reviewing the survey results I wrote about yesterday, there are a few key comments that showed up consistently. You'll recognize most; they fall under the heading of Fundraising 101. Key concepts we all know, but to often forget. Remind donors they are wanted, needed and appreciated. Invest time, intelligence and money in massively improving the donor experience with your organization. Make sure donors who do withdraw their support for economic reasons are still communicated with and are being shown appreciation. Most will return IF ASKED when times get better. Do what you are good at better, retain your strengths, cut your losses and seize new opportunities (lower media costs as an example). Demonstrate value for money – consistently and across all activities. Engage the public in … Continue Reading
Keep A Long-term View
I recently attended the International Fundraising Congress in the Netherlands. It was a heady experience with over 950 delegates representing 60 countries. Meeting and learning from colleagues on a global scale is becoming increasingly more valuable for all of us as we compare and benchmark with our peers. As you can well imagine, the state of the economy was on everyone's mind, played into many sessions and was the focus of a special mini-plenary on the last morning. But what was most interesting: attendees were upbeat about plans for the next year and saw opportunities in the challenges being presented. Over the course of the Congress, an online survey was undertaken to explore the implications of the global financial crisis for fundraisers. The views of 100 leading worldwide fundraising … Continue Reading
Europe Gives Thumbs-Up to Online Fundraising
At the recently concluded International Fundraising Congress in the Netherlands, Blackbaud Europe, Ltd. released findings from the 2008 European State of the Not-For-Profit survey, incorporating results from the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. Fundraising results concluded that the European countries have similar but diverse strategies to bring income into an organization. Online donations were an expected growth area, with 57% of Dutch respondents, 51% of German, and 45% of UK respondents expecting to see increases through this donation method. … Continue Reading
Our Flat World
I spent last week at the International Fundraising Congress in the Netherlands. It was a heady experience with over 950 delegates representing 60 countries. Meeting and learning from colleagues on a global scale is becoming increasingly more valuable for all of us as we compare and benchmark with our peers. Though I was disappointed to be not only the sole delegate from Israel, but (as far as I could tell) the only participant working in the Jewish world. Over the next several weeks I be highlighting lessons learned from the world's top fundraisers and also bringing you thoughts from this diverse audience on the current state of the global economy and the projected effects on philanthropy. What was most interesting, is that almost without exception and despite the current 'economic mess', … Continue Reading
How the Dreams of Donors are Changing Philanthropy
The following is an extract from Kay Sprinkel Grace’s e-book – Donor-Driven Philanthropy: How the Dreams of Donors are Changing Philanthropy (and Redesigning Our Future as Fundraisers). It will form the basis of the closing plenary at the upcoming International Fundraising Congress in Amsterdam. I'll be there, and expect to have a great deal to say on international fundraising next month. Donors’ dreams about making the world a better place are driving their philanthropy, says Kay Sprinkel Grace, so should fundraisers become ‘dream brokers’ to manage those dreams? None of us can fail to have noticed how philanthropy has changed over the past decade (especially the last three or four years). Donors are demanding greater levels of accountability, stewardship and transparency; and … Continue Reading
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