Charitable Solutions

Happy New Year people. We can still say that right? I hope you had a wonderful and well-deserved break. I also hope you managed to switch off for at least some of your holiday. But I’m guessing you may have spent a little brain time reflecting on last year, and perhaps had some thoughts for changes you want to make in 2025. Over the next month or so, I thought I’d share a few of mine I’ve had over the last few years. Starting Thursday, look out for my series - “This year, I won’t do this again”- on promises I’ve previously made to myself as a charity leader, and often ignored, year on year. Much to my detriment. And some of the subsequent positive changes I’ve eventually made too. You never know, they may help you too. I’d imagine they could also apply to any role, in whatever sector. Take what you need. Indulge me the rest. Enjoy. #DrivingChange #CharitableSolutions #CharityLeadership #Coaching #HappyNewYear #Promises #ThisYearIWon’tDoThisAgain

#DrivingChange #CharitableSolutions #CharityLeadership #Coaching #HappyNewYear #BringItOn #FindYourVoice #Reimagination #KeepItSimple #Positivity

#MerryChristmas #CharityChristmas #DrivingChange #Fundraising #Coaching #CharityLeadership #CharitableSolutions

Yes. You heard it right. Twenty-one pages. I s**t you not. I’d never seen anything like it. I showed it to a few people with much more important jobs than me. Shock. Horror. Disbelief. Plenty of WTFs. It was a true gift that kept on giving. For about the next 5 years it seemed. Well beyond the 12-months shelf-life it was intended for. So, back to Christmas. As an all-thumbed male, I am hopeless at wrapping presents. For one, I always use far too much tape. I do this to try and disguise my poor wrapping skills. To hide all the excess and unnecessary bits of paper I use to fill in the holes that I somehow manage to create. Basically, I use too much paper and tape to hide my lack of ability to complete what should be a relatively simple task. To get to the core, the gift; which I’d like to think has potential; there’s definitely been some thought behind it, it’s a mission for the recipient to get through the almost impenetrable barrier of paper and tape. By the time they get there, the sentiment, however well intended, may be lost. The moment, gone. We say it’s the thought that counts. As long as that thought involves a thorough understanding and consideration of the recipient. The gift is about them. Not you. This Christmas, keep it simple. Maybe use a gift bag? Also, next year, perhaps use less paper next year in your team’s performance measurement process? By condensing it down to the core essentials, you’ll gain a greater understanding of their role; their needs and wants. And you’ll not stress them out with a mission impossible year ahead. Quality over quantity and all that. Win-win. Call it a Christmas bonus for your team. #DrivingChange #FindYourVoice #WakeUp #visionary #charityleadership #mentoring #marketing #reimagination #Love #KeepItSimple #ChristmasCharity

Every charity has a story. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes far from not. Often hard to hear, let alone digest or accept. But always inspiring. From initial concept idea over a coffee to making significant community impact and all the mahi, challenges, tears and laughter along the way. Your story can be very personal. But is anyone listening? Any charity, any business, any product or service, must have a great story to first grab the audience’s attention, before you can expect any sort of engagement, support, and ultimately, money. My bugbear (as you may have previously gathered) is those charities who think they can jump from zero to full noise overnight. Just because of one simple fact, they support a wonderful cause. That is probably true. But in NZ we have around 115,000 non-profit organisations, including over 27,000 charities, all supporting wonderful causes. Why would anyone choose you over the thousands of others? Through working with small to medium NZ charities (SMCs) over all these years I have seen a consistent gap in high quality funding applications; too much focus on the paperwork vs establishing a relationship with the potential funder. Grant writing is NOT just form-filling. It’s a chance to tell your story and to build long-lasting, personal relationships. I am not a fan of arms-length grant writers. As a charity CEO, I’ve always found it very hit and miss. Some are great. But some can be expensive and unfruitful. Some can cost you more than they bring in. Some have no real interest in your organisation. It can be very impersonal. And expensive. Charitable Solutions provide nose-to-tail, fully immersed, big picture Business Development Solutions for SMCs keen to stay in the real world. A pathway that culminates in the grant application, rather than just sending applications out blind. From market research to organisational in-depth analysis, funder relationship development, to the application itself, and impact reporting accountability. A bespoke, honest, realistic, and cost-effective service based on your actual needs. It’s essential that we are over the full workings of your organisation, we understand and align with your vision and values, bring a solid EQ, and are an integral member of the team. Fundraising in isolation simply doesn’t work. False promises are not in my DNA. Nor is charging you to write an application that I know full well you’ll never get. My specialist subjects are – Community Development, Social Services, Education, and Health. I’d prefer to keep swimming in my chosen lane. I wrote my first grant application almost two decades ago. I’ve trained people in grant writing. Some have forged very successful careers. Let’s start with a chat. I’d love to hear your story. #DrivingChange #Storytelling #GrantWriting #Fundraising #coaching #visionary #charityleadership #charitymarketing #experience #RealWorld #BusinessDevelopment #Relationships

Motivation to work in the charity sector – Part 2/2 Why would anyone choose a charity career over a corporate one? Recruiting and retaining high quality charity employees remains a huge concern. Referring again to Dan Pellotta’s 2013 ‘The way we think about charity is dead wrong’ TED talk, he asks why a graduate would choose a career in charity when they can make so much more money in the corporate world over their lifetime? And then give back to charity should they feel inclined as a philanthropist or volunteer. Makes much more economic sense to pick corporate to anyone wanting a comfortable, secure life. After two decades in charity, and even longer in the public sector, obviously my brain is a bit lacking in the economic common-sense department. However, I know that my big heart and desire to help others makes up for this in spades. But big hearts do not pay the bills. Back in June, I posted, “A charity can’t run on peanuts alone. Neither can its staff.” I spoke of a disillusioned charity professional who had to leave an organisation they were hugely proud of and passionate about, simply because it was no longer financially sustainable for them or their whānau to do so. Peanuts don’t pay the bills either. It’s no secret that charity (and other public sector) workers are undervalued. Even seen as inferior by some to our corporate counterparts. And pay, working conditions, respect, even acknowledgement, often reflect that low level of value. No one is supposed to get rich in the charity world (however, a few exceptions do spring to mind), but fair pay and respect should be universal. So why do we do it? People working in charity, paid professionals or volunteers, are in the main, intrinsically motivated. Let’s consider what a few motivation researchers think. Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) implies we are internally driven by the charitable act itself through a sense of volition or choice. Rather than external forces and pressures. This is our purpose. Our calling. Our sense of value and connection. However, if we consider Equity Theory (Adams, 1963), our motivation is based on our perception and importance of fairness. What I put in should match what I get out. I’m not sure the rife sense of disillusionment and demotivation within the sector agrees all is good and fair right now. And the old chestnut - Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (1943). How are we supposed to grow & realize our potential (self-actualise) if our more basic needs are not met first? I believe ‘Charity’ can also mean ‘love’. An unselfish desire to help and care for people, places, animals, our environment, and so on. Above all else, we’ll always have big hearts and a whole lotta love to give. That’s still a place I want to be. The world needs more of it. #DrivingChange #FairPay #collaboration #FindYourVoice #WakeUp #visionary #charityleadership #mentoring #marketing #reimagination #Love #IntrinsicMotivation

Motivation to work in the charity sector – Part 1/2 A few weeks ago, I was reminded of Dan Pellotta’s 2013 ‘The way we think about charity is dead wrong’ TED talk. The sobering truth that non-profits are handicapped in their mission to help people the world over. He discusses compensation, advertising and marketing, taking risks, expectations of time, and profit to attract risk capital and investment. Based on his 2008 book - ‘Uncharitable – How restraints on non-profits undermine their potential’ and of course there’s last year’s movie of the same name. That was 16 years ago. Not much seems to have improved. Indeed, I’d argue it’s got worse. For me, the charity world was a lot easier to navigate and succeed in pre-GFC. Back then, I remember having very public argument about charity ‘overheads’ being the devil by the media and people who just don’t understand. We all had to keep our overhead % as low as possible. It was like comparing apples with pears. You can’t have a one-size-fits-all rule for charities that are so operationally different. A charity that provides a face-to-face vital service directly to the community is of course going to higher ‘overheads’ than one that simply fundraises and donates to an external service provider. It’s like saying teachers, doctors, nurses, emergency workers are all overheads. Short-sighted, ignorant, and utter rubbish. I still do not understand why many, and in NZ very much so, believe that 101 ways to becoming a successful corporate (e.g. aim high, pay your good employees well, spend money on advertising/marketing, aim to grow) should not apply to the non-profit sector. Often to the extent that these proven business practices are deemed too risky, dodgy, even immoral or criminal when applied to charities.  AKA “uncharitable”. In a way, we are also guilty of promoting this self-fulfilling prophecy. If we ourselves don’t see ourselves as businesses, equal to any corporate, then how do we expect people outside our space to do so? So, with all this against us, what motivates millions of us to work in this seemingly impossible sector? One definition of work motivation is, “a set of energetic forces which initiate work-related behaviour, and determine the form, duration, and intensity of that behaviour.” (Pinder, 1998) It’s certainly not for financial reward (although a few exceptions spring to mind). ‘Making a difference’ is always a big one, as is a genuine desire to help others less fortunate than ourselves. A need for connection and community. To work with other like-minded people. Intrinsic satisfaction and personal integrity. There will be many different reasons. So, what’s yours? More to come in Part 2. #DrivingChange #coaching #visionary #charityleadership #charitymarketing #mentoring #experience #reimagination #Motivation #IntrinsicMotivation #MakingADifference #Connection

Resilience, Bloody-Mindedness and Hope - State of the Community & Voluntary Sector Report 2024 – Part 3/3 After two quite depressing posts in this mini-series, It’s time for some light and celebration that hope is still alive, kicking, and fighting. Non-profit organisations are the backbone of our communities. Charity people are resilient, providing essential services that touch the lives of countless New Zealanders. They navigate a complex landscape with unwavering commitment, even as they face mounting pressures that stretch their resources to the limit. This resilience from our iwi, community, and volunteers shines through year-after-year in this report. There is huge strength and innovation within the sector – organisations continue to find creative new ways to meet growing demands and support their communities in increasingly difficult circumstances. Our challenges are great, but so is the resolve of those working tirelessly across our sector. We do not give up easily. Call it what you want. Dedication, stubbornness, bloody-mindedness. We work hard. Even when no one’s watching. Failure’s just not in our DNA. We understand that it’s not all about us. We are not the centre of the universe. There is a much bigger purpose at play. Supporting the community we serve, improving quality of life for individuals, whānau, and society as a whole. Even though reduced funding is front of mind, money isn’t our greatest motivator. If it was, we would have chosen a different career. Charity people are intrinsically motivated, finding meaning in our work, realising our inner purpose, and mostly driven by non-financial rewards such as being valued, appreciated, personal integrity, and a knowledge that our effort is making a positive impact. But we still need funding to survive. Charity people need to be paid. And paid fairly. It is crucial that we keep advocating for policies and funding that not only sustain but strengthen our sector, ensuring we can continue to be our mahi that impacts so many in Aotearoa. There is an urgent need for greater support and recognition of this vital work. Our previous Finance Minister said this country RELIES on the generosity of strangers. Donors, volunteers, fundraisers, good people ……. aka charities. This Government’s Social Investment 2.0 has promise. The desire to make a difference for vulnerable groups over the long-term by addressing challenges in a more evidence-based way. Let’s remain hopeful that this focus on lasting change is itself a long-term commitment. An apolitical one that remains beyond the next government cycle. We must keep that hope alive. Without hope, we lose our purpose, our motivation, our impact. Keep fighting good people. Kaua e mate wheke, mate ururoa. #DrivingChange #coaching #visionary #charityleadership #charitymarketing #mentoring #experience #reimagination #Resilience #ReducedFunding #Collaboration #CharityHeroes #Hope #Motivation #KeepFighting

Collaboration and the Fear of Speaking Out - State of the Community & Voluntary Sector Report 2024 – Part 2/3 It doesn’t take eagle eyes to see the sector’s financial wellbeing and overall mojo have taken a massive hit. With 115,000 non-profit/for purpose organisations, including over 27,000 registered charities, greater collaboration or mergers could be a potential solution. In an ideal, stable world, most would agree that this would be more efficient and effective for making positive change. However, our world is far from stable, with the report suggesting the opposite is currently happening. Due to increased competition for funding, there has been a reduction in collaboration. Charities have become more siloed. The funding process is broken. Too much focus on service provision instead of tackling root causes. It discourages isolated organisations to build relationships, collaborate and work collectively in a holistic manner. Partnering with corporates has got so much harder too. Understandably, businesses’ priorities are to keep their own doors open and pay their employees, rather than supporting a community non-profit. A silver lining is there does seem to be more collaboration between Kaupapa Māori organisations. I think we could all learn something from that. The fear of speaking out, already rife, seems to be on the rise too. “The political climate feels volatile at present, and we have concerns about the implications of speaking out.” Tier 3 organisation. The threat of government funding cuts forever looms over organisations’ heads which would mean they would cease to exist. There are ramifications of speaking out. Even ‘constructive feedback” can = removal of funding. Basically, funders hold all the cards. Cancel culture means freedom of speech is not always welcomed. “You spend much more time justifying yourself” – effectively communicating impact and value. It’s difficult to always demonstrate/measure qualitative outcomes such as ‘improved quality of life’ or ‘relationship development’. Funders do like to compare apples with apples, using standardised funding requirements and measures of ‘success’, when in reality each community organisation is unique with its own individual community and specific challenges. Internally, it has become harder to recruit and retain volunteer Board members as many don’t want the additional mahi, paperwork, or potential liability issues. Boards need to be very professional. Government seems to think there are people lining up to sit on volunteer boards, where in reality it is the opposite. So, how do we work together better? Not only for our own survival, but for future of the whole sector. Part 3 will bring some light. I promise. #DrivingChange #coaching #visionary #charityleadership #charitymarketing #mentoring #experience #reimagination #Resilience #ReducedFunding #Collaboration #CharityHeroes #Volunteers

Changes in the funding ecosystem - State of the Sector Report 2024 – Part 1/3 The 2024 ‘State of the Sector – Community & Voluntary Sector Survey Report’ came out recently. A huge thank you to the team at Community Networks Aotearoa for their mahi on this insightful annual research. As you say, sobering and inspiring. There are several positives. But sadly, mostly not. Here’s a few snippets that stood out for me. The sector “is crucial for the quality of our society, and for individuals to live healthy, safe and fulfilling lives.” JB Were, 2021. Charity people are resilient, with unwavering commitment, even as they face mounting pressures that stretch resources to the limit. There is an urgent need for greater support and recognition of this vital work. The sector has been hit by a triple whammy - increased demand for services, increased operational costs, and a more competitive and strained funding environment. We haven’t bounced back yet from the shock of the Covid pandemic. It seems like it’s especially tough for small to medium charities (SMCs). (Tier 4 – under $140K, Tier 3 - $140k to $2M). Like many others, we are suffering a direct and negative impact of cost-of-living crisis and greater complexity of issues for everyone – those using services, those working in organisations, and for the organisations themselves. Combined with changes in government policies, and a more competitive funding environment that is not matching increased demand for services (Up for 77% of respondents) = struggling. Precarity and vulnerability are standard. “Just not enough money, too much work, and always feeling stretched.” Tier 3 organisation. Too much valuable time spent chasing funding, at the expense of looking after the community. People are being left behind. Having to increase hourly rates to offer fair pay and reflect inflation, but then cutting hours and/or staff numbers to be able to afford this increase. Increases workload, reduces services/impact. All running costs have increased, but funding does not increase to match it. In fact, funding has reduced. Having to do more with less. Begging for every cent. Existing hand to mouth year-by-year funding – impossible to plan long-term and provide security for employees. Long-term viability in tenuous. Removal of multi-year funding. Struggling to find funding for operational costs/salaries vs project funding. Many funders want ‘new projects’ but will only fund them in the short-term. Not sustainable. Benefits to the community are not always immediate. They can often take years. Funders are not good at waiting. The sector can’t wait either. Time is not our friend. You can’t exist on goodwill alone. Part 2 next week. #DrivingChange #coaching #visionary #charityleadership #charitymarketing #mentoring #experience #reimagination #Resilience #ReducedFunding #Collaboration #CharityHeroes