Peter Laugharn

Are you a donor? Grantmaker?  Do you have 10 minutes? Help our colleagues at 21/64 and the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers (NNCG) gain valuable insights on how you engage philanthropy consultants or advisors to advance your giving. Click here to start the survey >> https://lnkd.in/ejBbSgt7

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Are you a donor? Grantmaker? Do you have 10 minutes? Help our colleagues at 21/64 and the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers (NNCG) gain valuable insights on how you engage #philanthropy consultants or advisors to advance your giving. Click here to start the survey >> https://lnkd.in/gu_e_PEY

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Hello #nonprofit #funders - this report is for YOU! 🤩 If you're looking for examples of innovative grantmaking 💰 that can bring organizations together to collaborate and solve complex problems this report is a rich 🎁 treasure trove of information that will change how you think about grantmaking. If you've ever felt a twinge of "ick" 🤢 because your grantmaking strategies are set up to make organizations compete, here's a breath of fresh air. Funders: you can nurture collaboration! 🤝 How you do that takes careful planning and a constellation of authentic relationships. There are also pitfalls to avoid! I hope this report is necessary reading for every grant maker who finds themselves in a position to move nonprofit missions forward.

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This recent piece by FSG argues that foundations committed to systems change need to take an ecosystem approach guided by the principles of trust based philanthropy to inform strategy development, program implementation, and learning and evaluation. This reorientation takes funders from positioning themselves as central to positioning themselves as one component of an ecosystem. This results in, among other things: Strategy development moving from being developed internally to being co-created with ecosystem partners; Strategy implementation expanding beyond siloed grantmaking for organizations to support for collaboratives and community-led solutions; and Learning and evaluation expanding beyond grant-level outcomes and accountability with proscribed outcomes to co-developing systems level outcomes and learning. The authors provide helpful examples and frameworks for each stage of the strategy lifecycle. For those of you who fund in systems change, what resonates with you?

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A Fourth of July Note to US Impact Sector Colleagues... Between the barbeques, pool parties, friends, family, and fireworks, let's remember what brought us here and what remains to be done. Many of us are thinking and talking a lot about politics these days. Most of the conversation centers on political parties, their candidates, and the fall elections. But some issues directly impact the liberty of nonprofits, their volunteers, and staff today. As this piece by Rajasvini B. of Solidaire Network in Inside Philanthropy article points out, some politicians are trying to redefine the rights and responsibilities of charitable organizations and those who lead and support them. This is very serious stuff. It involves threats of restrictions on activity, removal of nonprofit status, and prison sentences. There are many opinions on what nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations can and should be doing in 2024. But most of us probably agree that they should be allowed to do what they do and to keep doing it without threats, coercion, or punishment. Efforts to restrict the activities of legitimate nonprofit organizations and penalize their supporters, sometimes threatening loss of charitable status or incarceration, are a dramatic change to a social contract that has existed in some form since before the birth of the Republic. As we celebrate the 248th anniversary of our nation, the role of the impact sector is of singular importance in addressing the needs of the local, national, and international community. Let's keep this in mind today and every day and work together to ensure that nonprofit organizations are unhampered in serving the public in the years to come. https://lnkd.in/ePRHYkYW

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Whilst its hard to see that any progress has been made, to the contrary - it looks like 0 progress made and everything got worse, with recent years breaking through the 1.5C targets. We mustn't give up hope that the many initiatives that have been kicked off as a result of these agreements, have prevented worse things from happening... too optimistic? maybe But working in the sustainability and SDG space has never been more exciting, with many people sharing that a just transition to a more sustainable, de-growth and circular economy is, ...possible. The questions is how fast, to prevent worse things from happening (Climate Catastrophy, Ecological Collapse, ...the list is getting longer). Currently the ANNUAL financing gap to the 2030 SDGs is (according to UN estimates), around $4 trillion. This is the same as Germany's or Japan's Gross Domestic Product. This is a staggering number and concept that the money missing to achieve the SDGs is the same as the monetary value of ALL finished goods and services made in Germany or Japan on an annual basis. And yet, the world economy is worth around $100 Trillion, so $4 trillion = 4%. That ...almost...sounds doable? too optimistic? maybe When it comes to asset managers, total discretionary assets under management (AUM) of the 500 biggest managers amounted to USD 113.7 trillion at the end of 2022, down by 13.7% from the end of 2021. The largest, BlackRock, manages $10 trillion and the next biggest 2, Vanguard ($9 trillion) and Fidelity ($4 trillion). Surely, investing into solutions on a planet that is actually liveable with resources being consumed at a sustainable pace is what its at? Otherwise, what will be managed in 20 or 30 years?

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Watch the complete video of our President and COO, Diallo Smith, alongside other panelists in the full discussion "How Justice Demands Are Changing Philanthropy Dynamics" at the recent Mackinac Policy Conference. https://lnkd.in/gabsk__4

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"The fullest expression of trust-based philanthropy's goals is when it creates space for both parties' relative strengths and assets to fully contribute toward a shared impact objective." Thanks to The Bridgespan Group for this thoughtful analysis of trust as a critical facet of social impact, and for inviting me to add my perspective (link to my article in comments). https://lnkd.in/gQUJnJJQ

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Stop Trying to Wow Donors Into Philanthropic Submission: Increasingly, donors are asking for more “how” and less “wow” in concept papers, proposals and cases for support. In particular, they are asking how your organization proposes to: Tighten its focus to ensure greater mission realization Convert private support into significant, sustainable societal outcomes Relate the dollar amounts requested to specific outcomes Evaluate and report on the progress being made on projects they have funded Adjust and adapt to current and emerging societal trends Successful fundraising, in light of these expectations, must be: Less mass-marketed, more micro-targeted Lower in gloss, higher in content Less dependent on adverbs, more reliant on action items Less about telling, more about resonance Adhering to these new realities will make for more responsive and relevant organizations, not just improved fundraising results. Indeed, being more responsive and striving for greater relevance will be essential to sustaining and securing organizations' “market share” of private support in a declining philanthropic market. 

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Over-reliance on major donors has led to a decline in overall donor numbers and newly retained donors, causing a significant drop in total donations. By improving donor acquisition and making new supporters feel connected and valued, nonprofits can stabilize and increase their funding, ensuring long-term success and impact. Implementing community-building tactics, empathetic engagement, and personalized thank-yous can effectively boost donor acquisition and retention. #DonorRetention #NonProfit #Fundraising

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excellent piece and a must-read for anyone in philanthropy and nonprofit sectors. Underlying assumptions and philosophical frameworks are often unseen and unexamined, yet have lasting influence in society. We must work to intentionally align our values with our structures, cultures, and actions, and this necessitates an understanding of how we got to where we are. https://lnkd.in/d6mQrSQG

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Interested in learning strategies to help you better advocate for inclusivity and justice in your communities? Explore Urban Institute and Race Forward Government Alliance on Race and Equity’s new Equity Resource Navigator, a tool designed to help local leaders find resources to advance equity in the communities they serve.  Check out the webinar for a live demonstration of the navigator and learn how equity work across the United States is evolving:  https://urbn.is/3yIGCle  #Equity

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The National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers (NNCG) and 21/64 are partnering on a survey to assess the practice of philanthropy by understanding the behavior and attitudes of grantmakers and the consultants and advisors who serve them. If you are a donor, staff at a grantmaking institute, or a consultant or advisor who works in the field of philanthropy, take this survey and share your insights on the role of consultants and advisors in helping Grantmakers advance their philanthropy:

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The National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers (NNCG) and 21/64 are partnering on a survey to assess the practice of philanthropy by understanding the behavior and attitudes of grantmakers and the consultants and advisors who serve them. If you are a donor, staff at a grantmaking institute, or a consultant or advisor who works in the field of philanthropy, take this survey and share your insights on the role of consultants and advisors in helping Grantmakers advance their philanthropy:

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Are you a donor or a grantmaker? Help our colleagues at 21/64 & the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers (NNCG) gain valuable insights on how you engage philanthropy consultants or advisors to advance your giving. Click here to start the survey > https://bit.ly/49FGn76

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The National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers (NNCG) and 21/64 have partnered to explore the ways that consultants and advisors help foundations and donors achieve their goals, and how consultants and advisors can better serve the needs of their clients. If you are a donor, grantmaking foundation staff or trustee, consultant to grantmakers, or philanthropic advisor who works with donors, this survey is for you! It will take no longer than 15 minutes. Learn more and take the survey: https://lnkd.in/drfkGKgv

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At what point, if you have repeatedly declared "new" approaches to philanthropy to be superior, only to declare another "new" approach actually superior, or if you have repeatedly published such pieces, do you stop and adopt a more humble stance that embraces the reality that it's nuanced and complex and context-dependent, and that few approaches are really new? This is the question that runs through this blog post I wrote, just up this morning. https://lnkd.in/eJfTFVgb

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Inclusive philanthropy matters. Have you ever been at a fundraising conference or training and realized that critical voices are missing? We see it everywhere, and this gap highlights the urgent need for inclusive philanthropy – where everyone’s voice is heard and valued. Thanks to a recent introduction from Sterrin Bird, CFRE (thank you!) I have gotten to know Tesha McCord Poe and her incredible work. She is doing so many wonderful things in our space but I'm particularly excited about a new offering - The Academy. On September 27, 2024, her company Joy-Raising is hosting a day designed to equip you with the skills and insights needed to incorporate an inclusive lens in your philanthropy efforts. Here’s what you’ll gain: Inclusive Strategies: Learn to craft events and solicitations that truly resonate with diverse communities, refine your messaging for broader impact, and enhance board engagement. Expert Insights: Hear from leaders who are actively creating more inclusive philanthropic practices. Community Building: Connect with fellow changemakers committed to inclusivity and social impact. If you're interested, there are some great earliest (love that) and early bird discounts available as well, so snag one quickly! You can learn more and register here! ➡️

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Does your company distribute grants? run employee engagement programs? do other social impact work? What about measuring, managing and tracking the effectiveness and impact of its CSR work? The Corporate Measurement & Evaluation Community of Practice is conducting a benchmarking survey to understand the state of M&E across the corporate landscape - who is doing it, how, why and what tools and approaches are being used. If you are directly responsible for measuring and reporting on the impact of your companies CSR work, or you have visibility into it, we'd like to hear from you! https://lnkd.in/gv9Deiwi Please note, We have taken special care in crafting the survey so that we aren’t repeating information that can be found elsewhere. This benchmarking will complement that done by ACCP and CECP.  The responses are 100% confidential and data will only be reported in aggregate.  More information on the Corporate Measurement & Evaluation (M&E) Community of Practice in comments.

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