Philanthropy

There is an electric feeling in the air and a sense of optimism that feels so fresh - as though we’ve finally sloughed off the woolly, fear-laden misery of the last eight years.  I would say it feels like spring, but there is snow on the ground. 

Last night’s victory by Barak Obama was historic - a clear example that America is empowered to choose its future direction with Americans setting the course.  While there is much to celebrate, there is much to do. 

In acceptance and conciliatory speeches alike, the candidates, each a role model in service to the country, emphasized that we must get on with our work – and there is much work to be done. Obama’s words put it clearly into perspective:

“So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers – in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.”

What can this new spirit of service look like? 

For starters, both Obama and McCain are co-sponsors of the Serve America Act sponsored by Edward Kennedy to usher in renewed commitment to strengthen community service and increase funding for innovative, non-profit programs.  Tripling participation in Ameri-Corps, incenting non-profit programs to reach scale, and helping to recruit more volunteers are just a few key initiatives of the Act.  

Newly introduced, it will be the will of both parties to protect this bill from bogging down in the too-much/not-enough-government-intervention debates surrounding philanthropy and the charitable sector.  Our politicians must remember, they are among the strongest role models for service that our country has to offer – and now, they must lead to make this vision a reality.

Beyond the government and its role in promoting service and responsibility, there is the opportunity for each American to find a place where they can serve.  On their neighbourhood block’s safety watch, with their religious organization’s food drive, fundraising for a NGO working in the developing world, as a young person starting their own social venture, mid-career service on the board of a local non-profit, as a retired person contributing their professional skills to the Peace Corps…and most importantly, as an ordinary citizen being aware of and curious at the world around them.  The options are limitless.

But hard work starts now.  Don’t wait.  Yes you can.

On Wednesday, I joined thirty of my fellow citizens to listen as my city and a local non-profit presented a land use and transportation plan for the next sixty years.  The meeting, promoted as a call to arms, was slightly lackluster - as the city didn’t seem full of passion for the plan, the non-profit fixated on letter writing as their strategy, and the audience moaned “we’ve seen this, done this before”.  As the conversation swirled around the issues, the goals, the players - someone mentioned the “1,000 Friends” strategy.  Reaching across neighborhoods, disciplines, organizations, and politics to develop a coalition of committed citizens who could stand up to the status quo (currently, single family home developers and the city council).

In two hours, no decision was reached on many of these fronts and letter writing was dismissed as a waste of talented peoples time.  Still, at two hours, no one had left.

This meeting struck a chord because it was such a contrast to the imagery I consumed when I returned home.  The Democratic National Convention was on, and Joe Biden was up to bat.  All week long I’ve watched, with my heart beating a little faster and my hopes rising a little quicker that this could really work, this time.

The similarities between the two events came as I read the many-paged 2008 Democratic Platform  and wondered, how on earth is all of this going to get done?

Being this the philanthropy blog, I did a quick search of the word in the document and sadly only came up with two entries.  But upon a closer read - the topics are all there: health care, global health, education, environment,  poverty, and on and on.  There is nothing easy about what the Democrats are trying to accomplish.

In both my local area and across the country, it will take 1,000 Friends - or higher multiples of this number - to make the change which we are seeking.   It will take “no one leaving” even when the strategies and tactics feel a bit loose-knit and ambiguous in their outcomes.  If you think too much about the challenges, it is overwhelming - but just knowing that people share your desire is energizing.

A bit of an idealistic blog to end this week, but one that is also a call - to apply your time, treasure, and talent to those areas in which you care the most.  And if you’re not sure where to start, the Democrats certainly have created a list from which you can borrow.

Michelle Obama’s comments last night at the Democratic National Convention focused on “values” - the values with which she was raised and the values she hopes to pass to her daughters.  Amidst the comments on Hilary Clinton’s 18-million-cracks-in-the-glass-ceiling, mention of the historical significance of the convention’s timing (anniversaries of the 19th Amendment and MLK Jr’s “I have a dream” speech), and her own decision to leave the law office to work in public service - my mind started swirling around the ”next generation” in philanthropy. 

For the past few years, the sector has increasingly discussed the lack of leadership that the non-profit and philanthropic sectors will face when the baby boomers begin retiring.  Commentaries abound on the internet here, here, and from Canada’s sector here.  Websites aimed at young professionals in philanthropy including YNPN, FLiP, and EPIP are striving to provide resources to the prepare the next generations of non-profit, philanthropy, and grant making leaders.  Additionally, conferences such as Nonprofit 2020 are trying to give voice to those who are seeking to become the next leaders.

Earlier this year, the Meyer Foundation in partnership with CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Idealist.org published a survey of emerging nonprofit leaders, the largest to date.  The result was Ready to Lead which asked nearly 6,000 next generation leaders how they foresee the upcoming leadership challenges and opportunities within the sector.  While the survey addressed potenial barriers, including work-life balance, compensation, and professional develop - it was illuminating that one in three respondents aspire to be an Executive Director (ED) someday and 40% of these respondents say they are ready now or within the next five years to take up this leadership role.

While many of the articles and blogs published on this topic give light to the problem the sector is facing - there are still few concrete examples being shared on how organizations are internalizing and strategically applying this information.  I’m on a hunt to find these examples. 

Still, Ready to Lead is clever in its format, giving current non-profit ED’s, the next generation, Funders, Board of Directors, and Leadership Capacity Builders some tangible steps to follow.  Coming from the next generation perspective, these recommendations empower us to take the next steps.  We become accountable for the success of the sector - we become leaders ensuring its future.  It’s much better than continuing the melancoly warnings of demise.

With all of that in mind, Hilary is on the stage tonight and this lesson is in her story as well.  We must make the space for new leaders to emerge.

Catching up on some reading, this Chronicle of Philanthropy article sparked my interest - and goes back to my musings on counterterrorism laws and the sector.

“Donors who want to provide aid in areas of the world threatened by terrorism should consider forming partnerships with the U.S. government to distribute their money, a top federal official said last week.”

While it’s exciting to hear that Democrats will discuss proposals aimed at helping the sector during next week’s convention and it’s thought-provoking to consider increased support for non-profits from the next administration or a potential Department of Global and Human Development, it’s difficult (for me) to wholeheartedly endorse the U.S. Treasury’s proposal to distribute donor’s funds to areas of the world threatened by terrorism. 

(Gentle snark:  Haven’t we been told that this is a global war on terror?)

Still, no matter where along the spectrum your opinions fall - the increasing interest the U.S. government is taking in the work of the non-profit sector is undoubtedly a great conversation for the this fall and the next administration.