Jim Pitofsky, SEA CHANGE
| Brief
Biography |
Kay Sohl, Technical Assistance for Community Services
| Brief
Biography | Session
Handouts |
Tracy Brown, Moderator
| Brief
Biography |
How do you connect rural groups with a service like SEA Change?
-
Rural Funders Network
- Staff member will be a scouter for Social Entrepreneur or agencies in the community
What tips do you have for agencies to adapt to Engaged Philanthropists?
(i.e. cultural shifts, consensus decision-making)
-
BIG CHALLENGE! This is happening on boards right now ($, expertise, and access are attractive)
- Intense focus, speed, goal focus vs. non-profit environment. Resentment builds… Board is divided.
- Strategy -
-
Bridge people identified to help engaged philanthropist make the transition and funnel their energy.
- Organizational Development is key.
- Match is critical - styles, resources, logistics, communication of roles, vision
- Figure out what activities that board and member can do within their workstyles and expertise.
- Be prepared.
Tips on a Nation-wide range model in which support is provided in a technical, advocacy - i.e. financing the support - free/fee?
-
Emerging model is that national organizations will offer support via web/phone.
- Face to face consultation needs are more of a 'link up' of local consultants
- Nature conservancy model analysis by Harvard Business School is a good example
- 'Duh' technology - an obvious answer to a problem.
(eg: give people access to voicemail so they can get messages and get the job!)
When funders want information to help... How much information do you give?
- Difficult challenge
- Infrastructure development with measure outcomes can be discussed without compromising.
- Get the funder to buy into looking at the whole system.
- Less engaged grantmaker is more difficult.
- Empower the organization to be honest
Openness among technical people is a problem...(for example, donated server crashes!) Technology is changing so fast, installing databases or accounting systems is very difficult. What is your advice?
- Need to move towards a new model. They need to be at the table from the beginning... planning and mission. Must be as invested as the rest of the organization.
- People have to ramp up their technical skills to understand the systems and information. At least, senior management must be up to speed.
- Don't segment what people do... creating a gulf.
- Need to know what to ask for!
Funders need to give permission to the agencies!
Training of volunteers from business in the "nonprofit culture"
- 1st stage -- Engaged Philanthropy
- 2nd stage -- will be more in-depth
The Donor as the Engaged Philanthropist
- Challenging dynamic
- Roles nust be clear, expectations discussed. Who makes the call on the final decision..
- Engaged Philanthropist and Executive Director must be able to check their egos
- Expectations must be cler, and Engaged Philanthropist must follow through on what is promised.
- (Don't put all your eggs in one basket...) High-powered people must deliver on deadlines.
- *Better way if for planning/strategy done by Engaged Philanthropist and others implement.
- Honesty problem - How much are you willing to tell them about what is really going on in your agency?
- Need to let go of the "scarcity" way of thinking.
Resources
Back
