Barbican Centre’s Post

More key findings from our survey of Springboard grantees, in partnership with AMPT: Advancing Nonprofits! #25yearsofspringboard - Model for Support: 100% of grantees surveyed shared that Springboard Foundation Fund’s approach is among the best they have experienced in philanthropy. - Cohort Model and Network Building: 100% of surveyed Springboard grantees told us that our cohort model successfully created a collaborative and supportive community among grantees. - Professional Development and Capacity Building: 100% of grantees shared that Springboard's professional development is valuable and comprehensive. - Survival During Crisis: 100% of grantees shared that Springboard funding and other support offered played a significant role sustaining organizations during the COVID pandemic. - Credibility With Other Funders 92% of surveyed grantees shared that funding from Springboard made other funders more comfortable investing.

Insights from Ali Knight on how intermediaries can partner and put community first: Prioritize Community Expertise; Commit to Equity in Process and Outcome; Build Trust through Ongoing Support.

Keeping Up With The Tectonic Shift In Philanthropy? That's what Jen Shang and Adrian Sergeant called it - tectonic - "from the comparatively “easy,” single-focused act of fundraising to a more complex mix of relationships that focus on what can be derived when shared values are at work. More than just gathering donors, tomorrow’s philanthropy will thrive on creating partners and empowering philanthropists who are vested in both the processes and outcomes of social change efforts. It will nurture true, deeply held and sustainable connections between “donors” and beneficiaries." Except tomorrow's philanthropy began many a yesterday ago and is unfolding today even as so many organizations remain fixated on "the single-focused act of fundraising." They haven't shifted: ➡️ From soliciting too often to eliciting more frequently ➡️ From chasing gifts to building philanthropic partnerships ➡️ From asking donors to give to their organization to showing donors how they can give through them to achieve significant, sustainable societal gains ➡️ From prizing dollars raised above all to placing the premium on donors retained ➡️ From cash counting to community building Each day, they fail to shift, philanthropic momentum shifts away from them. It begins with a shift in attitude, followed by a shift in language as suggested below. Its shifts fundraising from what we do to donors to what we do with those whose support we strive to earn.

Insightful Civil Society Media Ltd article by Alex Hayes about why so many Trusts and Foundations have closed applications, changed priorities, or decided to spend down their funds and exploring the added pressures this is causing. Charities closing, merging or streamlining is by no means new. However what we are witnessing seems different to what we have seen before. Totally agree with Alex that it is going to take some cross-sector deep thinking by funders, government, funded organisations - and I would add donors - to co-create solutions to navigate the charity sector through this.

Fundraising isn’t just about counting dollars raised-- it’s about building lasting relationships and fostering community. As we engage with our supporters, shifting the conversation from what we need to what matters to them is key. At MIU, we’re working to launch two major campaigns that reflect this approach: 📚 The Great Teachers Campaign: Celebrating and supporting the faculty who have dedicated their lives to education and the development of consciousness. 🌿 The Health and Wellness Campaign: Connecting what we value at MIU with external, non-MIU donors who already see the importance of these principles in their own lives. By focusing on shared values and the broader impact, we’re engaging donors in a way that makes them feel connected and involved in causes they care deeply about. #Fundraising #DonorRelations #CommunityBuilding #Philanthropy #NonProfitLeadership #MIU #GreatTeachersCampaign #HealthAndWellness #DonorEngagement #Impact #HigherEducation

More key findings from our survey of Springboard grantees, in partnership with AMPT: Advancing Nonprofits! Model for Support: 100% of grantees surveyed shared that Springboard Foundation Fund’s approach is among the best they have experienced in philanthropy. Cohort Model and Network Building: 100% of surveyed Springboard grantees told us that our cohort model successfully created a collaborative and supportive community among grantees. Professional Development and Capacity Building:  100% of grantees shared that Springboard's professional development is valuable and comprehensive. Survival During Crisis: 100% of grantees shared that Springboard funding and other support offered played a significant role sustaining organizations during the COVID pandemic. Credibility With Other Funders: 92% of surveyed grantees shared that funding from Springboard made other funders more comfortable investing. #25yearsofspringboard

There is a lot to unpack in this article but the one thing that stands out is that as grant makers we only make up around 10% of all income that goes to organisations across the country. That maybe a National statistic but as a grant maker who supports small, grassroots organisations across Kent and Medway often our grants can be the difference between delivering a service or not so the responsibility feels enormous and the impact can be significant on the applicant and their beneficiaries when we reject an application. As a Community Foundation we want to do as much as we can to support the sector so we will always try and help with guidance and advice even if we can’t support directly ourselves and we can only hope this goes some way to strengthening our local communities during these challenging times. Having worked in the fundraising space for most of my career I know how resilient the sector is but inevitably and sadly not all organisations will make it through this current crisis. I can only hope that the people who are reliant on these organisations are able to access support elsewhere when they have to reduce services or sadly close and this is the real tragedy.

How can architects drive impacts for charities? Building Designs Online explores how architects can lend their uniques skills to support charities through projects that can benefit communities. Read more > https://zurl.co/ulyo

MacKenzie Scott has made a significant contribution to address the housing crisis, awarding over $150 million in grants to 17 organizations working on affordable housing and homelessness. Recipients include Habitat for Humanity International, which received $25 million to expand access to affordable homeownership, and the National Alliance to End Homelessness, which received $10 million to support housing-first strategies. Philanthropy News Digest (Candid) provides a detailed look at how these funds will drive critical housing initiatives: https://bit.ly/3Z5OC9t #WomensPhilanthropy #Philanthropy #Nonprofits #Funders

Empowering Change: Transforming Communities with a $2,000,000 Mission Be the Change as we work on developing resources like the Canadian Renters Fund, Emergency Sleep Network, and Women Under 40 Foundation to help close the power, access, and dignity gaps in Canada. Dear Change-Makers, will you consider donating $25 to my fundraiser as we create a lasting impact and positive change in Canadian communities? Be the Change with Solutions 4 Lyfe! https://gofund.me/63e2dc53