Nonprofit Management

Remember, I’m a curator. That’s why I write so many blogs with resources and research.

A curator wanders around and collects good stuff and then shares it with others.

ARTICLE: Competitive Positioning in the Social Sector: Why Knowing Your Competition Is Essential to Social Impact Success  (I don’t like the term “competition.” I actually disrespect it. Maybe the article could use “marketplace positioning instead?)

Here’s what Wikipedia says about curators and curating and curation: First, the word “curator” comes from the Latin, “curare” – which means “take care.” Of course, we mostly think of curators for museums or galleries or libraries or archives.

Here are some descriptors that I really like: Content / subject specialist. Interpretor of the material. Responsible for acquisitions.

ARTICLE: Nonprofit Map of Police Killings Could Aid Action Planning (Maybe the NRA could read this article. Maybe U.S. elected officials could build up their guts to actually do something big about gun control.)

Historian Elaine Gurian says that museums should operate so that “visitors could comfortably search for answers to their own questions regardless of the importance placed on such questions by others.”  Gurian’s approach is about curators facilitating and assisting, not just teaching.

I see myself as a curator. I read a lot. I have a huge library – both print and electronic. I read outside of the NGO sector and outside of fundraising and governance and planning. I collect information – and apply it. Gosh…I can even apply thoughts from romance novels, spy novels, and science fiction fantasy to work in the NGO sector and to life itself.

ARTICLE: Do Hospitals’ Religious Affiliations Affect Quality of Care? (Please please please tell me that this doesn’t happen, wouldn’t happen.)

I love finding information and sharing it with you. I love reacting to information and sharing my reactions with you. I love learning together.

And all these articles come from the same place! The Nonprofit Quarterly – print and daily online. www.nonprofitquarterly.org. I love this publication!! I subscribe. I give a contribution every year. I write for no pay.

Why? Because NPQ is a thinking person’s magazine. Not just tips… Actual analysis. Exploration. Strategic thinking.

Why: Because NPQ challenges the status quo. Asks tough questions. Writes about difficult issues.

Why: Because NPQ regularly writes about social justice – and its dominant partner, injustice.

Why: Because NPQ makes me think and then I combine their stuff and my stuff and look at other stuff — and all my work is better.

So sure, I’ll keep curating for you. And if you subscribe, we can curate together.

One of my favorite magazines is the Nonprofit Quarterly. I love the print publication and the daily online feed.

You probably think this magazine is all about the nonprofit sector. You know… things like fund development and governance and planning and budgeting and ethics and marketing and… You’re right. But not only those things…

NPQ also writes about what’s happening in society and what the nonprofit sector could SHOULD be doing about what’s happening. Things like public policy and advocacy and political action.

• NPQ writes about Ferguson, Missouri (that race thing if you don’t follow the news in the U.S.) – and the other Ferguson-type stuff like Trayvon Martin and NYC and and . NPQ writes about racism.
• Because if the nonprofit sector – and every single NGO – doesn’t have some concern about racism and poverty and government and public policy … Then why does this sector exist? If every single nonprofit is not interested in what’s happening in society … not just the nonprofit’s tiny part of society … then how can this sector matter all that much?

So read this article. EVERYONE read this article, “Teenager’s Murder Conviction Vacated – 70 Years Too Late,” written by Shafaq Hasan, from USA Today. Learn about the youngest American ever executed, 14-year old George Stinney, Jr.

• Share this article with everyone you know. Your friends and family and and and ….
• And remember that a publication serving the nonprofit sector – serving the professionals and volunteers working in the sector – writes about racism and other societal issues….. with the hope that nonprofits are doing something about it. With the hope that the NGO sector will stand up and speak out.

Do you subscribe to NPQ? Think about joining up in 2015.

And speaking of racism… Read “We Want Real Justice, Not Dead Cops,” by Carl Gibson and Binta Baxter. Posted on 12-24-14 by Reader Supporter News.

• And read the piece from Kareem Abdul-Jabar, “The Police Aren’t Under Attack. Institutionalized Racism Is.”
• And here’s another stunning piece about white privilege and racism… what white people do NOT have to tell their white male children.

Have you thought about that?

As you read and watch Ferguson and NYC and every next killing or unemployment or poor education or or …

Are you looking at your own nonprofit organization? Are you looking at student enrollment in your schools? Are you looking at the audiences for your arts and cultural activities?

And how about board composition? And how about staff composition?

Do you TALK ABOUT THIS REGULARLY in your organization? Do you say things like: “No more white people for our board? It’s time to reach out more and better!”

Do you TALK ABOUT THIS REGULARLY in your organization? And make sure that if you have lots of white people on staff – you make darn sure that future hires are African American and Latino and Asian and… Do you intentionally look for qualified staff that aren’t white?

Do you have a formal diversity program and leadership development program in your organization?

Do you regularly evaluate your diversity and define your diversity and explore how it feels to be diverse and marginalized? Do you talk about race/ethnicity and gender and generation and physical and mental challenges and socioeconomic status and class and sexual identity and sexual orientation and and and ….

Do you work desperately hard to ensure cultural competence in your organization? Do you work desperately hard to create a diverse, inclusive, welcoming community and work place and society and country and world?

If not, why not?

Thanks to the Nonprofit Quarterly for stimulating this particular blog – with their article: “The Nonprofit Sector Has a Ferguson Problem”. And if you’re an AFP member, check out all the recently-compiled diversity resources in the AFP Resource Center.

Check out the Critical Fundraising Blog at the new Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy at Plymouth University.

WOW! Some great blog talk about various topics…topics that frustrate you and me… make us fundraisers angry… might stimulate your  board members and staff colleagues.

Here are just two of my current favorites:

• Overhead in the nonprofit sector
• Separating philanthropy from fundraising – because it’s “dangerous” in an educational session to conflate the two. Oh my gosh…. Hank Rosso would role over in his grave. Surely any decent fundraiser knows that fundraising is the servant of philanthropy. And without fundraising (which, of course, includes asking!), there wouldn’t be much giving!!!!!!!!!!

Check out this round up of blogs – published in November – that have adopted a critical fundraising mode of inquiry. Use these blogs to engage your staff and board and fund development committee in conversations.

But wait… Let’s step back. What is “critical fundraising?” Critical and analytical thinking. Consistent and coherent debate and argument. Scientic approach to evaluating research. Read the whole description here. Then raise your right hand and pledge that you’ll participate in this new journey. Because historically, we haven’t necessarily been so great at this approach.

Is fundraising a real profession? Research in fundraising and philanthropy is relatively new. Research about the “why” not just the “how many” is relatively new. What we have been passing on for generations is what works and what doesn’t based on practical application, doing fundraising. And some of that stuff is darn good – even great. And very very useful. But we know now that we need to know more. We need to apply the social sciences and humanities. We need marketing academics and and… We need to partner academia and practice.

By the way… one last tip. Read The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools. Authored by Drs. Paul and Elder. Various versions (sometimes limited) online. Teeny. Tiny. Just 23 pages long in my 4 x 5.5 inch copy. Check out the Foundation for Critical Thinking.

“Develop yourself, first.”

Recently, I was emailing a gentleman in Uganda. He has recently founded a nonprofit to help children. He wanted my advice about how to develop his organization.

I responded that he needed to develop himself first.

Things like:

• Why does he need to start an organization? What else is happening in his community to help children?
• What does it mean to be a nonprofit / NGO? What are the laws and the expectations?
• How will you fundraise? What does fundraising mean?
• Who will serve on the board? What is a board? What does the board do? Why does it matter?
• And so much more…

His response when I made the statement: Develop yourself, first.

“I will always remember this statement: ‘You need to develop yourself professionally. Not develop an organization. Develop yourself.’ I think that is what’s been missing in my head.”

Thank you, Roman. Your response to me has helped me fine-tune my own thinking.

Because far too many nonprofits actually behave like they hate their donors…or at least dislike their donors…or mostly aren’t very aware of their donors…or mostly kinda ignore their donors…

Why do I say this? Because the behaviors displayed by so many nonprofit organizations DEMONSTRATE this behavior. Sure, it’s unconscious. But it’s pretty darn dumb. And being unconscious or ignorant isn’t an acceptable excuse.

I’m actually on vacation in France right now. Haven’t looked at email in 4 days. The house is quiet. No one is around. Just moi (me). So I’m trying to get through several hundred emails.

And here’s what I’ve read today so far:

— Self Destruction: Komen and the Pink Fracking Drill Head.……”Susan G. Komen has proven itself to be tone deaf where its constituency is concerned, and its new alliance may raise questions among even the most devoted.”

— Does your fundraising brand have anything worth saying? “Unless and until your culture is expressed clearly through your customer experience, you have nothing worth communicating.”

And these two items remind me of two other older items:

— Tom Ahern’s e-news about poverty porn. Like we should talk about our donors this way?

— Eric Friedman criticizes donors in his book Reinventing Philanthropy: A Framework for More Effective Giving… Why? Because donors don’t think adequately clearly and respond with their hearts. Let’s just keep the criticism happening…. (I’m being sarcastic! Check out my article.)

And now I’m annoyed enough that I’m going back to vacation!! Bye.

Talking about change isn’t changing. Outlining how we will make the change isn’t changing. Identifying what needs to change and committing to change still isn’t change. Nothing is change except actually changing.

Ashley reminded me of that a few weeks ago when we were emailing. And she is soooo right. But we soooo often forget. Or maybe we mistake the change for the talking about change. And then we realize there wasn’t any change and we have to talk about change again. But maybe this time…we could actually change so that change happens.

Convoluted enough for you? Hmmm… But it’s a serious point. Thank you, Ashley!

Ashley is the executive director of RIUDL (pronounced “riddle”). And RIUDL is the RI Urban Debate League. RIUDL exists to empower young people and their voices. The RIUDL program keeps kids in schools. And while I remember The Great Debate with Denzel Washington, RIUDL isn’t that kind of debate. RIUDL is a social justice organization – and that’s why I choose to work with them.

Warning! This is a pretty weird blog. But I just couldn’t stop thinking about it. So here goes.

First,  read Maureen Dowd’s op-ed piece “Alone Again, Naturally.” (August 19, 2014, New York Times) Her column forms the basis for this blog.

I’ve read the column several times now. Each time, I wonder if your organization or mine or the others behave like Dowd describes President Obama.

“Above the grubby political scene, unearthly and apart…” (Dowd wrote). Does your organization avoid public policy and advocacy work? Do you feed the hungry but avoid fighting for policy changes to reduce hunger? Do you only look at your own mission and forget about the rest of the community and its issues?

“Unlike L.B.J., who devoured problems…Obama’s main galvanizing impulse was to get himself elected. Almost everything else…seems like too much trouble.” Does your organization remain safely in the status quo, focused on mission without any attention to what affects your mission? Does your organization avoid all risks and steer clear of any potential conflicts?

“His circle keeps getting more inner.” How often does your organization go beyond its narrowest group of stakeholders? Do you reach beyond limiting borders to ask cage-rattling questions, engage in conversation, learn and change?

“The White House believes a presidential speech on a politically charged topic is as likely to make things worse as to make things better.” (Dowd quoting Ezra Klein in Vox.) Do your leaders avoid taking positions in subjects that affect your organization and those you serve? Do you remain silent because you don’t want to offend a donor or a prospective donor or that very powerful board member you have?

“For [Obama], eating his spinach is schmoozing with elected officials.” (Dowd quoting Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri). Is that the way your CEO behaves – staying at his desk and avoiding community events, lunch gatherings, etc.? Do your board members hang out with each other and friends at events? Do your board members – and staff, too – understand that there job is to mingle and schmooze, going up to strangers and engaging in conversation?

“Sure, the president has enemies…But as F.D.R. said of his moneyed foes, ‘I welcome their hatred.’ Why should the president neutralize himself?” Is your organization at the right tables in your community? And, if necessary, do you fight to be at those tables? Are your leaders known as the quiet folks who aren’t seen much? Does your organization communicate regularly with its donors? Do you remind your donors that they are the heroes, not your organization?

“The country needs its president to illuminate and lead, not sink into some petulant expression of his aloofness…” Does your organization lead? Do your leaders speak out? Remember… silence is consent.

Our President makes me sad. And organizations and people like our President make me sad. To what degree are you willing and able to take risks…you and your organization? To what degree does your organization welcome challenges, embrace cage-rattling questions,  intentionally reach out and engage? To what degree do you, your leaders, and your organization speak out.

The world needs a strong nonprofit/NGO sector. And the sector needs strong organizations and strong leaders.

Which one do you choose – change or irrelevancy?

I absolutely LOVE this statement; “If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less.” (General Shinseki)

Sometimes an organization can’t afford not to change. Because if the organization doesn’t change… then it becomes irrelevant. Instead of promoting change, try focusing on irrelevance.

By the way, irrelevance usually isn’t sudden. It’s more gradual. Your organization just pokes along. Maybe a bit (or a bunch) of benign neglect (see my 07-14-14 blog). A few dashes of change denial.

And gradually, you’re barely there. Then you notice (or maybe not!) that you’re pretty much irrelevant.

Maybe we need to stop promoting change and start proactively avoiding irrelevance. Actually, that’s what good strategic planning does. Good planning tests your relevance, helps you change – or helps you intentionally and gracefully go out of business.

What a fiasco we all made together.

It started back in the olden days, apparently. Some nonprofits started claiming that the entire donor gift went directly to program. What a terribly (not) brilliant idea! Who was it? Some fundraiser? Some board member? Some “thinking I’m really smart” CEO?

Like it doesn’t cost anything to raise money? Like it doesn’t require fundraised money to do program? Like there isn’t some form of infrastructure — albeit often inadequate because all those (not) smart leaders were promising 100% of my gift and yours went to program.

Is this part of the poverty mentality? People who work in nonprofits do it for love and salary isn’t important? People who work in nonprofits do it for love and don’t need a decent computer or a good database or training or or ….

And then those charity watchdog groups got in the act. Inventing grades and inventing evaluation criteria like the cost to raise a dollar. But most of those watchdog groups didn’t seen to know much. And apparently didn’t bother to ask the nonprofits. (Because why? Nonprofits are suspect and need to be watched?)

Rest assured, I believe in nonprofits being better watchdogs of themselves. Yes, this can be done. I believe in educated qualified watching by others. But this fundraising cost (and overhead) fiasco? Really?

And we nonprofits let it happen. And the charity watchdogs got yelled at. And finally took out a big ad in The Chronicle not really saying they were part of the people who built the fiasco. Their ad was more like they were now the leaders in offering a balanced view.

BUT… This rant was actually not the purpose of this post. I just got to ranting!

Here’s the purpose of this post: I hope you are all subscribers to the Craver and Belford Agitator Newsletter. Read the July 3rd, 2014 issue: “How to talk to donors about fundraising costs and ethics,” July 3, 2014.

Because the fiasco of fundraising costs and overhead costs is continuing. And your own board members and donors could be caught in the ugly web!