Global virtual summit launched to support the charity sector’s response to Covid-19
- The summit is supported by charity sector conference and training organisations around the world, made possible by Salesforce and hosted on Fundraising Everywhere
- Conference live streamed on April 2nd between 12pm – 6pm BST / 7am – 1pm EST
- Two virtual conference tracks on charity and fundraising response, plus additional resource library to support skills and well-being
- Other charity conferences supporting the project by providing individual content
- Free for everyone and available globally
The Resource Alliance is delighted to be part of a consortium, working together to respond to the situation faced by the charity sector as a result of COVID-19.
With growing concerns from charities about how to respond in this time of crisis, the virtual conference has been curated to help connect charities and fundraisers, enabling shared learning to support a response with confidence and clarity.
Each session has been hand-selected and curated with COVID-19’s impact on the charity sector as its focus and will be presented online on April 2nd between 12pm – 6pm BST / 7am – 1pm EST.
Sessions are 45 minutes long including live Q&A with the speaker. Two tracks will run consecutively on Fundraising Everywhere’s website, fundraisingeverywhere.com, which attendees can interact and choose from throughout.
Attendance is free but attendees must register at fundraisingeverywhere.com/covid19.
Attendees can choose between the twelve live sessions on offer and will have access to all recorded content afterwards, plus a bonus video resource library, for as long as the pandemic impacts the sector.
Other charity sector partners including the Institute of Fundraising, Charity Comms, CharityDigital and Third Sector are supporting the project by using their speaker and charity connections to provide individual content.
The live stream will be subtitled in English for live viewers and available in other languages post-event.
Speakers and sessions
Planned sessions include:
- Setting up a response task force
- Working with your board during a crisis
- Diversifying quickly
- Creating digital campaigns
- Mobilising volunteers during a lockdown
- Becoming digital focussed
- Campaigning in a crisis
- Adapting strategic objectives during a crisis
- Changing plans with funders
- Engaging with HNWI during a crisis
- How to survive and thrive through and beyond COVID-19
- Turning cancelled events digital
Plus a bonus resource library on:
- Community fundraising during COVID-19
- Telephone fundraising
- Legacy fundraising asks during a pandemic
- Remote working
- Time management
- Well-being
- Engaging with the media
- Running virtual events on social media
- Supporter experience during COVID-19
- Making sure your COVID-19 response is inclusive
Confirmed speakers so far include:
- Beth Kanter
- Charity So White
- Ian Mitlock (Charity Excellence Framework)
- Kishshana Palmer
- Ligia Pena (Greenpeace)
- Rebecca Davies (Save The Children)
- Sam Laprade
- Tereza Litza (Lightful)
- Wayne Murray (Audience)
There will also be live hosting from Fundraising Everywhere’s co-founders, Nikki Bell and Simon Scriver to engage with speakers and attendees. The virtual platform hosts a chat function where attendees can get involved with their own discussions and network with each other and speakers.
#FRO2020 SPEAKER LINEUP ANNOUNCED
Over 2,500 people have already registered for Fundraising Online 2020 (#FRO2020), the free online conference from the Resource Alliance taking place on the 29 & 30 April 2020.
As the impact of COVID19 forces much of our activity online, #FRO2020 offers valuable insight, tools and ideas on how individuals and organisations can innovate and accelerate their social change efforts in the digital world. All sessions will be accompanied by a live Q&A with the speaker giving you the opportunity to learn and engage for free, from anywhere across the globe.
Following the exciting announcement of two of our keynotes, Ailbhe Smyth and Sophie Chen, we now have even more incredible speakers confirmed, looking at everything from Facebook fundraising to regular giving recruitment, the power of storytelling to examples of community campaigns in Brazil. Scroll down for more upcoming #FRO2020 highlights.
With an ever-growing programme encompassing a wide range of digitally focused topics and global perspectives, we’ll be sharing even more #FRO2020 speakers and sessions very soon.
Keep updated and register for #FRO2020.
Adapting regular giving recruitment for the digital world: One journey from traditional to digital regular giving recruitment while harnessing the power of movement building and activism along the way
Kathryn Holloway and Alex Aggidis 🇬🇧
How were Friends of the Earth inspired by the digital activism of global climate activists? Like many NGOs, regular giving is the financial backbone of Friends of the Earth, and as a campaigning organisation they have depended on people power to pressure decision-makers.
In this session you’ll learn how they diversified their Individual Giving programme into a digital space after witnessing uprisings across the globe with climate activists and movements like Greta Thunberg, the youth climate strikers and Extinction Rebellion inspiring collective climate action.
From local to digital – Brazilian examples of community campaigns: The power of local giving campaigns to mobilise the community and create online engagement
João Paulo Vergueiro 🇧🇷
Learn how a community-based and personalised approach, together with digital technologies, has generated great fundraising successes around Dia de Doar – Brazils’s version of #GivingTuesday.
In this session João Paulo will share examples of Brazilian community campaigns built around Dia de Doar. He’ll make the case that it’s more effective to reach people in their local communities with the goal of developing their own neighbourhoods.
The power of storytelling: Leveraging the power of storytelling to create social change
Supriya Paul 🇮🇳
The session will include key insights from Co-Founder Supriya Paul on Josh Talks’ unique approach of telling stories, through relatable role models and vernacular languages in India. She will also share the tangible and unique impact their channel has had and the change they are creating in Indian society.
Supriya will also share the strategy behind crafting a good story and choosing the medium of dissemination to ensure it reaches a wider audience and can help individuals/organisations to achieve their objectives.
It’s not just about birthdays: Five reasons why you have to adapt to social fundraising & how to deal with the lack of data
Nick Burne 🇬🇧
In this in-depth, tools-agnostic workshop, featuring recent real-world case studies and benchmarks taken from over 300,000 Facebook fundraising transactions, you will learn the seven different types of supporter that you can engage with and where to spend your time and effort for the biggest rewards.
You’ll also learn the #1 most compelling message strategy that engages Facebook fundraisers and lets you raise more. Plus, how to get supporter relationships off Facebook so you can develop multi-channel relationships, as well as how to drive more fundraisers, how to navigate the tricky waters of GDPR and PECR, not forgetting the top tricks for blowing up your own fundraisers and much much more.
More sessions to be announced!
Look out for other #FRO2020 sessions soon, including:
- Embracing data-driven fundraising
- Generating more income from happier supporters
- Using Facebook Messenger as the new donor conversion channel
And much more!
Make sure you signup for #FRO2020. We’ll keep you up to date with all the exciting speaker and session announcements, and share details of exactly where to catch the sessions on the day.
As the COVID19 pandemic progresses the work of social impact organisations will become increasingly difficult over the coming months, especially for those on the frontline of this crisis.
However, we know that by combining the talents, expertise and dedication of our global community of friends and experts we will be able to tackle the unprecedented levels of change ahead of us together. The Resource Alliance will continue to be a platform for connection, friendship, knowledge and advice. Our commitment to serve our global community will not be diminished.
We are still planning confidently for IFC 2020, still over 200 days away, but after consultation with our partners in South Africa and Brazil together we have made the decision to postpone our South Africa and Brazil IFC Pop Ups until the situation stabilises. We will continue to carefully assess the situation over the coming weeks and, in the spirit of complete transparency we will share any updates with our community as they become available. Our commitment to serve our global community will not be diminished.
Our team are on hand to listen to your questions, concerns and ideas. Contact us on social media or at contact@resource-alliance.org when you need us.
In the meantime, do what you can to keep safe, stay informed and look after each other.
The Resource Alliance is proud to introduce four new Trustees
We are delighted to announce the appointment of four new Trustees to the Resource Alliance Board.
Each of these incredible women bring a wealth of experience, talent and wisdom to our leadership, and we are greatly appreciative of the contribution they have already begun to make.
Here’s more on Nana, Naila, Ingrid and Willeke.
NANA ASANTEWA AFADZINU
Ghana 🇬🇭
Nana is Executive Director of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), with 19 years’ experience in the civil society sector. Nana is a passionate advocate for an effective, efficient, influential and sustainable civil society in West Africa.
A lawyer by profession, Nana has worked extensively on governance, human rights, philanthropy and capacity building with national, international, continental and regional organisations. Nana spearheaded the establishment of a legal division for the Women’s Initiative for Self-Empowerment (WISE) and volunteered as WISE legal counsel.
NAILA FAROUKY
Egypt 🇪🇬
Naila has built an award-winning career across several continents. She is a Peabody Award recipient with experience in executive project management, media production and strategic development and communications. In 2014, she took on the role of CEO at the Arab Foundations Forum (AFF), a membership-based network of associations and foundations in the Arab region.
Prior to joining AFF, Naila spent 14 years at Sesame Workshop where she was responsible for managing overall strategic project management and development, production, content and creative aspects of Sesame Workshop’s multi-media Sesame Street projects in the MENA region, sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
INGRID SRINATH
India 🇮🇳
Ingrid is the founder Director of the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy (CSIP) at Ashoka University, the first academic centre in South Asia to focus on these themes.
As well as her roles as Executive Director of CHILDLINE India Foundation and CEO of Hivos India, Ingrid served as Secretary General for 4 years at CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, an influential global network of non-profit organisations.
Ingrid has served on several advisory boards including: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Fair Share of Women Leaders to mention just a few.
Read more about Ingrid here.
WILLEKE VAN RIJN
Austria 🇦🇹
Willeke is a highly experienced resource development manager currently heading up the Strategy and Analysis team at SOS Children’s Villages International, the world’s largest charity focused on providing a loving home for children around the world.
Prior to that Willeke spent 13 years at Oxfam as a global fundraising strategy advisor for affiliates all around the world providing strategic fundraising oversight, R&D of new fundraising markets and channels, and entry set up and market development of new fundraising departments and personnel.
Read more about Willeke here.
Resource Alliance Statement on IFC 2020 and Coronavirus (or Covid-19)
STATEMENT FROM MARCH 2020 – Please revert to update here
First, policy issues aside, our hearts and thoughts are with all the individuals, families and organisations impacted by the Coronavirus around the world. We particularly offer our deepest compassion and commitment to the members of the social impact community we serve, and the countless people and causes each of you serve. This is an incredibly challenging time for work that is already challenging in the best of times. We offer our sincerest hope that that Coronavirus does not stop us from doing that work but becomes a test of our creativity and our will to thrive and succeed on behalf of all those we serve.
In that spirit, with IFC 2020 taking place in the middle of October (still 7 months away), the Resource Alliance team continues to plan confidently for the event. This is the 40th anniversary of our beloved gathering and we are working diligently to deliver the best IFC ever. The theme of Accelerating Change seems all the more profound in the current climate.
We will continue to carefully assess the situation over the coming weeks and, in the spirit of complete transparency, share any updates with our community as they become available. If, for any reason, we decide to reconsider any aspect of IFC 2020, we will work with each of our registered delegates to offer a full refund of registration fees*, as well as offer the opportunity to participate in other online and offline events and forums throughout the course of the year.
In the meantime, we continue to plan for IFC, in addition to our online conference, Fundraising Online (or #FRO2020), at the end of April. We hope you will be able to join us for both opportunities to connect, share and learn!
If you would like any further information, have any questions or want to share your thoughts with the team, we encourage you to get in touch with us at ifc@resource-alliance.org — as always, the collective wisdom of our community is our greatest source of inspiration and advice.
*Please note that the Resource Alliance cannot cover any additional costs incurred such as flights/travel fares or visas. If individuals or organisations make the decision not to attend the event (aside from any government enforced travel bans), our standard cancellation terms apply.
Change Accelerator: Sandy Cipriano
Our Change Accelerator for March is Sandy Cipriano, Founder of Cupcakes of Hope, who aim to create awareness and raise funds for children with life threatening diseases, predominantly done through a love of baking cupcakes. Every month Cupcakes of Hope helps 80 -100 little cancer patients by paying for their medical and day-to-day expenses.
How did you get into social impact sector?
I’ve always volunteered as a student. It was not always easy, but it felt good knowing that I could and did make a difference. Unfortunately one of our family friends lost their 3 year old daughter to cancer. Seeing what this family went through, I felt I could do something to help similar families during one of their toughest journeys.
We run a family restaurant and we decided to do our first fundraiser in 2009, we raised R5 000 for one little patient. Our yearly fundraisers grew bigger every year and in 2011 we introduced cupcakes as a fundraising tool. That year we set a New World Record for the MOST CUPCAKES ON DISPLAY, 21 000, and raised R200 000 for children with cancer.
I absolutely loved seeing how the whole community came together to ‘bake’ a difference and I felt that we could help more children if we get the whole South Africa involved so we decided to registered Cupcakes of Hope as a Non Profit Company in 2012.
Since we started our foundation, we have helped more than 2 000 patients as well as 16 other cancer charities in South Africa, and raised over R10 million. This is by far the SWEETEST way to help SAVE a life.
What is your driving force for accelerating change?
I believe that EVERY ONE can make a difference in this world – all you need is a bit of time and LOADS of LOVE! I also believe that every act of kindness has a ripple effect with no end.
If you could “wave a magic wand” and accelerate your organisation’s success, what’s the one big thing you’d most like to accomplish?
I believe that Cupcakes of Hope has created a community of volunteers (our Cupcake Angels), who are between the ages of 3 and 90, from pre-schoolers to firemen, from nurses to accountants, who stand side by side to change the world for the better.
Together we are ‘baking’ a difference in the lives of children with life threatening diseases. I would love to see more people from different socio-economic backgrounds, working together for a great cause.
On National Cupcake Day we see our Cupcake Angels coming together, working side by side to ‘bake’ a difference in someone’s life.
What one piece of advance would you give to future change accelerators who want to make a big impact in their work?
In my case I started with a fundraiser to help one patient and little did I know that it would be ‘the spark’ to ignite Cupcakes of Hope. My message to accelerators is to always dream BIG, and believe that you can make a difference.
Find your passion, in our case it was using our God given talent of baking cupcakes, and try and use that to make a difference in a cause you believe in!
So let your light shine bright and it will inspire others to do the same.
This week International Women’s Day took place. Tell us about a women who has inspired/helped you accelerate change in your life or work.
I always talk about two ladies who had a huge impact on me when I was growing up.
The first one was Oprah Winfrey, as I loved watching her Angel Network shows. The foundation of Cupcakes of Hope is actually based on one of the episodes I watched, where a young 15 year old girl wanted to make a difference, but she did not have money. So instead she visited old age homes and spoilt the ladies by doing their nails and hair… showing me that you don’t always need money to make a difference and that sometimes all people need is a bit of time and loads of love.
I alway knew that one day I would meet Oprah, but I always thought that I would be flying out to America to attend her show, instead Oprah actually came to visit us as she has had dinner at our restaurant in Vereeniging, not once but on three separate occasions. For me this was a full circle moment meeting someone who has inspired and touched millions of people all over the world.
The second woman who inspired me is Mother Teresa, who said ‘we can’t all do great things, but we can do little things with great LOVE” – and that is what Cupcakes of Hope is all about.
Our Cupcake Angels are spreading Cupcake LOVE all across South Africa and my dream is to see Cupcake LOVE being spread all over the world, helping even more children fight their battles because they don’t deserve to fight this battle alone.
Do you know a inspirational Change Accelerator? Nominate them for our next newsletter and to be entered into our global awards by emailing us here.
Session Leader Applications for IFC 2020 are now open
Each year, we select 20 members from the international fundraising community to become a member of the fun and vital Session Leader team at the IFC, with the opportunity to network with world-renowned speakers and delegates from all over the world.
In exchange for your help, we will provide you with accommodation and food as well as a significantly reduced registration fee of £700.
What does a session leader do at the IFC?
You will be the first point of contact for your assigned speaker if he or she requires any assistance before, during or after their session.
In addition, session leaders will work as a group and act as an information point for delegates, speakers and the Resource Alliance staff.
Session Leader requirements
We select an international group of 20 people who themselves work in fundraising, come from a country with an emerging philanthropic culture, may be from charities with a small training budget or fundraisers staring out as consultants.
It is most important that we have an international, vibrant and flexible team that knows how to have fun and work hard too!
If you application is successful, you will be required to pay the discounted registration fee of £700 by 31st August 2020. You will also be responsible for your own travel to/from IFC 2020, including all arrangements, payments and required travel documents.
You will be required to arrive at the IFC by midday on Monday 12th October, and to leave after 3pm on Friday 16th October. Please consider these factors before applying to be a Session Leader.
How to apply to become a Session Leader at IFC 2020
To be considered for the role, please apply by 26th June 2020. You will be notified on the outcome of your application by 13th July.
Carolina Nyberg-Steiser Bursary Programme
In October 2017, Greenpeace campaign Carolina Nyberg-Steiser lost her life in the Brazilian Amazon in the course of her work. As Head of Partnerships, Artists & Influencers at Greenpeace, she raised millions in funding that enabled not just Greenpeace, but the wider environmental and human rights movements, to drive change for a better world.
Greenpeace and the Resource Alliance, with the support of Carolina’s family, have developed a bursary programme in her name with an aim to empower other incredible young women who care as deeply for the wellbeing of our planet, and the people that inhabit this earth, as Carolina did.
Applications for IFC 2022 are now open
The Carolina Nyberg-Steiser Bursary is open to women up to 36 years of age, working in the Social Impact Sector. Make sure you apply before Monday 4th July 2022.
Recipients receive access to IFC 2022, with a masterclass and onsite accommodation included (from 18th – 21st October). The bursary programme will also cover to cost of your travel to and from the Netherlands, and provide you with a mentor to support your learning journey.
“Receiving a Carolina Nyberg-Steiser Bursary program place was an incredible privilege. Attending IFC Asia gave me the opportunity to challenge my thinking, learn from thought leaders and network with people from all around the world with diverse perspectives and incredible stories. More than anything it left me with a profound sense of purpose and connection and invigorated my determination to come together with like-minded people to change the world.”
Karen McGrath, Global Marketing Manager at Act for Peace, Australia
Carolina’s Story
Carolina dedicated her working life to the protection of nature, bringing people together to save what is best in this world. She could reach deep into the heart of an issue, grip it, and then reach into your heart and leave it there.
Carolina’s conviction was always that if we are to win the greatest challenges of mankind, Greenpeace must forge new alliances and collaborations that create a greater and more permanent impact than what we could achieve alone. The partnerships Carolina created and the millions she raised enabled not just Greenpeace, but the wider environmental and human rights movements, to drive change for a better world. The influencers who accepted her invitations to join their voices with ours helped to engage millions of people to speak powerful words of truth.
Her skill in securing enthusiastic support from powerful people was inspiring. With her colleagues she freely shared these skills, as freely as she shared her deep and passionate affinity for the world she sought to protect. At home and across the globe Carolina always acted with courage and sought to empower and enable, lifting others up to reach new heights in their work and their leadership.
“Carolina was an incredible young woman with a huge heart and astonishing determination and at just 29 years of age she had, with grace, intelligence and sheer force of will achieved so very much. In everything she did in support of Greenpeace’s mission, Carolina was courageous, inspiring and uplifting. She sought to empower others to reach new heights in their work and their leadership.”
Celeste Stewart, Fundraising Director at Greenpeace Nordic
Previous participants in the Carolina Nyberg-Steiser Bursary Programme
Programme Manager for Buffalo City Sports Academy, South Africa
Fundraising Events and Marketing Manager for The Chaeli Campaign, South Africa
Fundraising Assistant for the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, South Africa
Story Lead at TSIBA, South Africa
NOMFUNDO DLANGISA (SOUTH AFRICA)
Chief Financing Officer for Dream Factory Foundation, South Africa
Chief Operating Officer, Feenix, South Africa
Communications & Stakeholder Manager for Shine Literacy, South Africa
Development Coordinator for S-CAPE, South Africa
Project Coordinator and Development Facilitator for Built Environment Support Group, South Africa
Alpha South Africa Equipping Team Leader, South Africa
ECD Programme Director for Zero2Five Trust, South Africa
Marketing and Communications Manager for Symphonia for South Africa
Program manager for Sizanani, South Africa
Communication and Partnership Associate for Restless Development Nepal
Digital Campaigner for Greenpeace Canada
Founder of Manos de Colores: Artesanías del Ecuador
Fundraising officer for Transparency International, Cambodia
Global Marketing Manager – Ration Challenge for Act for Peace, Australia
Co-Founder for VIGYANshaala, India & UK
The world is full of change makers accelerators.
You no doubt know a few yourself – change accelerators are people who are:
- forward thinking
- progressive and bold
- advanced in their thinking and daring in their approach
- brave and not afraid to push forward
- leading the way and drive change in enterprising and fearless ways
- making an impact that is both faster and bigger
You already have someone in mind, don’t you?
We would love to shine a light on them and share their inspiring stories with The Resource Alliance family around the world in our monthly newsletter.
But first we have to meet them! And we’re counting on you to make the introduction.
Just email your suggestions of who you think we should interview as part of our regular Change Accelerator feature and why, and together we can celebrate those amazing individuals who dare to live life in the fast lane of change.
Change Accelerator #1: Joanna Sustento
To kick off this month’s feature we would like to introduce our first change accelerator Joanna Sustento – Joanna was one of our incredible IFC 2019 closing plenary speakers.
In 2013, Joanna lost her entire family to Super Typhoon Haiyan – one of the strongest storms in human history, which claimed more than 10,000 lives in just two hours.
Since then, she has been telling her story around the world to put a human face on the climate crisis and to highlight the devastating impact of climate change.
Watch Joanna’s amazing IFC 2019 closing plenary talk >>
IFC 2020: Super Early Bird tickets now available
The IFC is so much more than a conference. It is an interconnected, global community of fundraisers, change accelerators, radical disruptors and thought-provokers.
Over the years, the IFC has been the world-leading forum for sparking change, amplifying thinking and challenging the norm.
In October, we will come together for our 40th anniversary for in-depth masterclasses, inspiring Big Rooms and a cutting-edge workshop programme. But more than that, we’ll be bringing together some of the brightest minds to generate and share ideas and explore new ways to deliver sustainable impact – new ways to ACCELERATE CHANGE.
Our Super Early Bird pricing has just launched so when you book your place at IFC 2020 before 31 March, you’ll receive a saving of £150 across all ticket types.
Simply use the code “SUPEREARLY” to receive this saving.
A snapshot of the IFC experience
Encapsulating the magic of the IFC is no easy feat, you really do have to see it to believe it, however our fantastic filming partners Raw London on have produced this short film to give you a small taste of what it’s like to be part of this amazing global fundraising community!
And if that’s not enough, take a look at our Facebook gallery.
We’re excited to open the call for speaking proposals for Fundraising Online 2020 (#FRO2020), a completely free-to-attend virtual conference from the Resource Alliance taking place on Wednesday 29 & Thursday 30 April 2020.
We are looking for experts, trailblazers and changemakers in the digital sphere to join our line-up of digital savvy speakers. Over 5,000 participants from 120 countries tuned in during the two days of the conference in 2019. We expect #FRO2020 to be even bigger and better, so apply to speak if you’d love to share your knowledge on such a big stage.
The deadline to submit proposals is Thursday 20 February 2020.
In terms of speaking topics, we have a strong focus on digital fundraising, engagement, innovation and disruptive and emerging tech trends.
#FRO2020 sessions will cover all elements of how charities and campaign groups can use digital to engage with the public at scale. From the very best of digital fundraising, public engagement and movement building to the most insightful guides on how to deliver effective digital activity across web, social media and email, as well as the most practical and applicable use of new technologies. Sessions will be underpinned by case studies and examples from around the globe.
Register for #FRO2020
Whether or not you are applying to speak, make sure you complete the free registration form below to sign-up for #FRO2020. We’ll keep you up to date with all the exciting speaker and session announcements, and share details of exactly where to catch the sessions on the day.
While there are many causes striving to meet all kinds of needs, the Resource Alliance is dedicated to meeting the needs of social causes and the people who work with them. DTV’s Derek Humphries spoke to Resource Alliance CEO Kyla Shawyer about the changing world of social good.
DH: Just to set some context for readers who don’t know the Resource Alliance, how would you sum up the organisation?
KS: We’re here to support changemakers, fundraisers, people who want to make the world a better place. Fundamentally we do that by connecting people so that they can share their learning and create new ways to make an impact.
Historically we’ve done that through flagship events: IFC in the Netherlands, IFC Asia in Bangkok and gatherings in India, South Africa and elsewhere. Today and moving forward, it’s not just about events but about a 24/7 conversation via digital channels, events, and any media necessary! We’re powered by a massive array of worldwide volunteers, and by thought leaders and practitioners who generously share their skills and insight for the greater good.
DH: I know you must meet thousands of changemakers worldwide. Would you say they face common issues?
KS: Of course there are regional variations in terms of culture, political context, rate of economic development, humanitarian and environmental crises, and so on. But there seems to be a universal thirst for better, faster change. For new thinkers and social good entrepreneurs there is frustration that they are stifled by bureaucracy, often thwarted by a no-risk culture that fears change and cannot countenance the failure.
We are all working in the same profoundly disrupted world; in many places an increasingly polarised world where people are more and more keen to find a sense of purpose, an outlet for their values. That’s great news for good causes if they can truly align their organisational values with those of people who want to turn their own personal values into action.
DH: There’s been much doom and gloom in the world of fundraising, and talk of a model that is broken, so it’s good to hear your optimism!
KS: Isn’t it the Chinese character for the word crisis that is made up of the two characters for threat and opportunity? I prefer to see the opportunity.
I do recognise what you mean when you talk of a broken fundraising model. But fundraising also has many beacons of brilliance that we should not overlook. The broken part is fundraising that is transactional and shallow-touch. But there is plenty of truly values-driven, deep-engagement fundraising that is working for organisations.
While fundraising remains vital, today more than ever we must recognise that creating change is not merely about money. It’s about all forms of capital: human, financial, and intellectual. It’s about unlocking the potential of whatever it takes to create change. Giving money is just one way we measure that.
DH: What gives you real hope that we may be heading in the right direction?
KS: People! Without a doubt people. I’m lucky enough to meet extraordinary people who are doing amazing work, often unsung, unnoticed, all over the world. I was recently in Bangkok for our IFC Asia event. We had a dozen people from Nepal, bursary-funded attendees from Bhutan, Australia and elsewhere, tech industry leaders sharing their insights, and every one of them with important knowledge to share and with much more they want to learn. It’s such an enriching and generous community.
Then there’s new ideas. Take something like Jeremy Heimans’ thinking, articulated in his book New Power. There’s rich thinking there in terms of how we understand old power and new power models, and how we decide which to use or whether to blend them.
I’m also encouraged by what I’ve seen through initiatives such as our Leadership Forum,. Here we aim to create space not just to share great ideas, but to convene people who will generate new breakthrough thinking. That non-competitive, truly collaborative space is a rare thing and we need to create more of it.
I’d say my hope also comes from the huge generosity our community has in sharing its know-how. It’s an open source mindset. At the Resource Alliance it’s been part of our DNA for nearly 40 years, and today we can use technology to share know-how and engage people in debate like never before.
DH: When you look at something like IFC Asia, what learnings do you take from it for yourself?
KS: I took a great lesson from Katy Grennier who spoke in the closing keynote session. She vividly brought to life the need for radical collaboration. We can all speak the jargon of 360-degree stakeholder consultation, but Katy breathes real life into this. She talks about the broken system, or systems, that we all blame for the world’s ills. What we need to do is
acknowledge that we are the system. To change the system, we need to challenge ourselves to listen differently, to engage with different people and to take radical responsibility for our own actions.
We all want to see change, and that means that we ourselves must be willing to change. That’s not always easy, but it’s vital.
DH: Disruption, radical collaboration…what do these things mean for your own organisation?
KS: In terms of events, it means ensuring that we constantly bring in fresh viewpoints, and that also means being more diverse and inclusive. That’s not a mere good intention, it’s something we vigorously pursue through robust KPIs. For example, at IFC this year we will have 62% female speakers. Nevertheless, we’re far from perfect. For example, our board has reasonable diversity in terms of nationality, but still has a male gender bias which we are proactively tackling. None of these things change unless you change them.
As for disruption, as an organisation and across all forms of social good work, we can’t afford to just ‘keep up’, we need to lead. And in doing so, our approach to leadership, the models we use, and how we put those models into practice must go beyond ‘fundraising’.
DH: Where you look across the sector, where do you see the most exciting changes taking place?
§ I’d first of all challenge the idea of a sector. What we see instead today is more of an ever-changing ecosystem of individuals, organisations, and movements. It’s highly fluid and rapidly changing. That can be unsettling given the human need for certainty and security. But it’s thrilling in terms of our ability to mobilise and engage large groups of people swiftly.
I’m hugely impressed by the social entrepreneurial start-ups that we see springing up worldwide, although there seems a particular energy across Asia. And I love the way some big, established INGOs are challenging themselves around how they are structured and truly embracing strategies of engagement. Then there’s the huge activity around crowd-funding, from individual campaigns that start small and suddenly accelerate to $20million, to the numerous individual crowdfunders inspired by simple, unfiltered storytelling such as those of Humans of New York.
Meanwhile, pretty much everywhere there are devoted intrapreneurs, changing established organisations from within. These people rarely get the same recognition as high-profile entrepreneurs, but their work can be every bit as effective.
And of course, even as we speak, there will be new initiatives taking off that we know nothing about yet. In all parts of the world we see initially loose ecosystems of changemakers morphing and uniting rapidly to find unexpected power through common cause. It’s a dynamic and invigorating time to be a changemaker.
‘This is article is from an interview that first appeared in Fundraising & Philanthropy magazine.’
