Comments on: The Future Of Fundraising

By: Daryl Upsall

Daryl Upsall — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:25:03 +0000

This is really great advice and a wonderful introduction to a great report by Adrian and team. Well done folks.

By: Molly Cannon Stevenson

Molly Cannon Stevenson — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 21:09:16 +0000

I would also add to the list : For hiring managers, be clear about the difference between fund raising and sales. A professional’s accomplishments in sales do not necessarily translate to philanthropy. And, the tendency to treat cultivation and solicitation as sales leads to a predictable result- a transaction versus long-term relationship-building. Donors who perceive fund development professionals as sales people may also see them as predators and vote with their feet….

By: Adrian Salmon

Adrian Salmon — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 22:33:33 +0000

Hi there again – I so agree with Stephen. I’m also struck by the preamble to Adrian’s report, where Adrian says that on average, the US gives 2% of household income after tax to charity, whereas figures from research done at Bristol University suggest that in the UK it’s around 0.4% of household spending and as a proportion of household income. Also static over the last 30 years.

Which implies that the US population is potentially up to 50X more generous than the UK? Is that crazy, or possible, do you think?

By: frank

frank — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:21:12 +0000

Thanks for the summary / comments Roger!! Adrian Sargeant and Jen Shang along with the group of 35 folks at the summit did some great discovery.

And it’s awesome to see people picking up the dialog around the web!

By: Joanne Fritz

Joanne Fritz — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:11:24 +0000

Thanks for the grt summary! I haven’t gotten to the report but I’ll be sure to share this list with my readers. These recommendations are so far reaching….very ambitious….very needed.

By: Earthdog Fred

Earthdog Fred — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:36:38 +0000

These “philanthropist” should probably start their charity internally first by paying their workers a decent salary, or at the very least not give them a run around on their health benefits: http://lawblog.legalmatch.com/2011/10/27/questions-win-wrongly-denied-workers-compensation-benefits/

By: Stephen Best

Stephen Best — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:20:26 +0000

From the choir, damn good advice.

I would add “A large number of monthly donors who give small amounts is more desirable than a small number of donors who give large amounts.” The former support your organization, the latter own it.

A large number of contributors who give monthly and modestly can be a political force. A few major donors rarely are.

A large number of contributors who give monthly and modestly are recession proof. Major donors aren’t.

That being said, some large donors are truly wonderful people, embrace them, make common cause with them. But be wary of large gifts and the strings attached to them. Never, never depend on them.