What We're Reading Now
Fund-Raise in a New Way
28 May 2013
Allison read The Generosity Network: New Transformational Tools for Successful Fund-Raising in the 13 May 2013 edition of PhilanthropyNYU and got excited for a new approach to philanthropic endeavors. (The book on this topic hits shelves 24 September 2013.)
Tags: allison read, communication, leadership, nonprofit
I thoroughly enjoy being with people who want to donate their time, talent, and financial resources. Everyone I know who helps their university, a nonprofit, a faith-based organization, or other cause has at some point found themselves challenged by the demands for more funds, volunteers and other kinds of support. Too often I think we address these challenges using the same, sometimes tired approaches.
This is why I’m so excited that Jennifer McCrea and Jeffrey C. Walker have written, The Generosity Network: New Transformational Tools for Successful Fund-Raising. You’ll have to wait until September for the book, but I think the author’s short interview with PhilanthropyNYU will certainly whet your appetite.
I serve on the University of Virginia Council of Foundations and Jeff Walker is our Chair. I have seen firsthand how his approach to fund-raising helps my fellow volunteers learn “how to open conversations with people [and] have a walls down discussion about their passion and interests” before we try to raise money to address a need. This excerpt from the interview sums up the spirit of a lot of what I see in Jeff’s leadership and anticipate I'll find in the book.
PhilanthropyNYU: As Jennifer’s friend Katya Andresen says, “It’s impossible to talk about generosity without being vulnerable, impossible to be truly generous without opening yourself up.” How can we obtain greater openness and mindfulness in our daily interactions with people?
Walker: Being a role model for others is important. If in your dealings with them you are open, listen well, [and] have a managed ego they are much more likely to model that for you. I have found that sitting with people and talking about some of the big questions, “what is happiness and should we work to be happy”, “how can we end poverty”, “how can we help great teachers stay in their jobs?” are wonderful ways to allow people to experience open, connective discussion. We have a tool called, Jeffersonian Dinners, that provides a model for those opening discussions. We have held hundreds and hundreds of these “whole table conversations” around the world and while the topics and people vary the openings and connections from them always occur.
After watching Jeff lead over the last few years and reading this interview, I feel certain the book will be a great combination of theory, success stories, and practical tips for “building or being a part of the Generosity Network.”
p.s. If you’re curious about the incredibly transformative dialogue you can have with 8-14 people using a tool called the Jeffersonian Dinner, check out Jeff’s blog post earlier this year on HUFFPOST IMPACT.
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