By Andy Carroll, ASF
Every 2 to 3 weeks, I explore trends influencing small-staff philanthropy by spotlighting articles, reports, and essays in the media. I cast a wide net, considering a variety of ideas, innovations, debates, and critiques. Read previous posts in the series
Building Deeper Relationships
As some call for more rigor and rational decision making in philanthropy, there is a countervailing interest in the power of human relationships. Advocates point out that greater impact can be achieved when funders and grantee organizations engage more openly, develop trust, and exchange critical information freely. I believe both camps hold wisdom—that greater impact is achieved when donors and grantees cultivate both rigor and relationships. In a recent book on fundraising, Jeffrey Walker and Jennifer McCrea call on grantee organizations to build deeper, longer-term relationships with donors, which can “lead to discovery and growth” for both parties.
Technology for Social Change
Amy Sample Ward and Allyson Kapin advise nonprofits seeking social change to focus their social media efforts on building real engagement, in an Alliance for Justice blog. They recommend building trust and commitment with constituents. Kapin writes, “Just because you have 500,000 followers on Twitter doesn’t mean your organization has 500K people who are advocating for your issues. I would much rather see organizations have 5,000 people who were committed to their campaign…”
Unleashing the Potential of Foundation Endowments
Though still small, the number of foundations doing impact investing is growing, according to a new report by the US SIF Foundation. The report is designed to help foundation staff and trustees encourage their institutions to get involved. Impact investing is the practice of aligning the broader portion of a foundation’s assets with its programmatic goals. Small-staff foundations are part of this vanguard, and the report profiles several ASF members.
Food Banks Anticipate More Cuts and Higher Demand
Not only were families in need affected by the $5 billion in cuts to the federal food stamp program in November, but they are facing additional cuts as Congress pursues $9 billion in cuts to the program over 10 years. The November cuts meant that a family of three lost at least 20 meals per month; a family of four lost about 23. Food banks across the nation are attempting to increase donations to serve longer lines of people. Yet the groups also report they are reaching the limits of their capacity to meet more demand.
More Older Workers (Not Just the Young) Start Businesses
With so much attention focused on young people starting businesses, it is surprising to learn that older Americans also are highly entrepreneurial. According to research by the Kauffman Foundation, “people from ages 55 to 64 started 23.4 percent of companies in 2012, up from 14.3 percent of new entrepreneurs in 1996.” As our population ages, this is significant not only for productivity and job creation, but also for social entrepreneurship.
A blog in the Harvard Business Review explores the special mix of attributes that makes older workers creative and entrepreneurial, and highlights the Purpose Prize, an annual award for social entrepreneurs and innovators in the second half of life. Profiled is award winner Gary Maxworthy, who uses insights and skills developed during a career in food distribution to start an organization that distributes fresher, more nutritious food to food banks.
ASF Senior Program Manager Andy Carroll writes resources, designs workshops, facilitates seminars, and manages a Discussion List for ASF members. He also dedicates a significant portion of his time to managing ASF’s Leadership Initiative that defines, validates, nurtures, and celebrates the ways small-staff philanthropists lead. Andy has 25 years of experience in nonprofit organizations, and he enjoys talking with members about their questions, interests, passions, and plans for making a difference.
