Lisa Greer: Philanthropy & Fundraising

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In this episode we talk to Lisa Greer, philanthropist and author of "The Essential Fundraiser's Handbook" and "Philanthropy Revolution", about how philanthropy and fundraising interact and what we could be doing better. Including:

• Have fundraisers become too reliant on the tools they use, rather than the deeper skills of relationship building?
•  Do the incentive and reward structures in many nonprofit fundraising departments make it harder for fundraisers to focus on long-term relationship building? 
• Should nonprofits show gratitude to donors? How can they do this in appropriate ways?
• Do we need to distinguish more clearly between the idea of expressing thanks towards donors and debates over public recognition and naming rights?
• What impact is the forthcoming intergenerational wealth transfer is going to have on philanthropy and fundraising?
• Do Next Gen wealth holders have distinctive characteristics when it comes to their attitudes towards philanthropy, or their methods of doing it?
• What can nonprofits do to develop relationships with donors from younger generations?
• Is there still a justification for nonprofit galas in this day and age?
• Why are recurring donations important, and how can nonprofits harness them effectively?
• Why, despite the huge growth in DAFs in the US (and elsewhere) does there remain widespread suspicion about them in the nonprofit sector?
• Would better awareness among fundraisers, and a norm of encouraging/enabling DAF donations potentially help to overcome concerns about money getting “warehoused” in DAFs?
• How can a nonprofit determine when a donor is making unreasonable demands or acting in an inappropriate way?
• Is it ever possible to manage these situations and keep the donor on board, or is it better simply to end the relationship?
• Is fundraising sufficiently recognised and valued in the nonprofit world?
• Why are there such high levels of burnout in fundraising (and in nonprofits generally) right now?
• Why has the debate between between “Donor-centric fundraising” (DCF) and “Community-centric fundraising” (CCF) become increasingly fractious? Is there room to find common middle ground?

Related Links:

• Lisa's Website
• Lisa's Substack blog, Philanthropy451
• Lisa's 2021 SSIR article "Leading with Humanity" (an extract from her book "Philanthropy Revolution" with Larissa Kostoff).
• Philanthropisms podcast conversations with Kate Symondson on next gen philanthropy, Ian MacQuillin on fundraising ethics and Emma Beeston and Beth Breeze on advising philanthropists.
• Philanthropisms podcast on gratitude and recognition