scott harrison

Kudos to Ben Gose & The Chronicle of Philanthropy for shining a light on the opportunity for philanthropy to improve its track record in rural America. It's good to see a serious amount of ink coupled with nuance and care on this subject. As mentioned in the article, my research has found more than $465B of opportunity for rural America in #IIJA, #CHIPs, & #IRA, but rural communities - esp the poorest - will struggle to access it. What a chance for foundations! And for those foundations focused on racial equity...rural is where the dual burden of place & race manifests most strongly. If you have a racial equity agenda, you should also have a rural agenda. So glad to see well-deserved credit given to Katrina Badger, MPH, MSW & RWJF, which is truly this era's rural philanthropic leader among national foundations, as well as other philanthropic entrepreneurs such as Ann Lichter & Resource Rural; Heidi Binko & Just Transition Fund; and Charlie Brown & Trust for Civic Life. And the article mentions place-based foundations such as BLACK BELT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, LOR Foundation & Ford Family Foundation that are at the cutting edge of this work. The article also references the incredible work of practitioners such as Jim King of Fahe, Kimber Lanning of Local First Arizona, CEI (Coastal Enterprises, Inc.) (tune into the next #ReimagineRural episode for more on them ;-), Partners for Rural Transformation, and too many others to mention. It's a great introduction that demonstrates just what good investments are available for foundations that take an interest - the opportunity for impact is huge. The data has been consistent for decades, and forthcoming research will again reinforce it: rural America receives a disproportionately low share of philanthropic resources, which is especially distressing given rural places dominate the map of the nation's most deeply disadvantaged places. It's high time we changed that. #RuralMatters #RuralPhilanthropy #RuralEquity

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365 Fundraising Truisms #70 While it is easy to celebrate all that philanthropy helps to accomplish to make this world better, we must also not fail to realize that philanthropy can also produce negative outcomes, especially when people use philanthropy to gain power, influence, authority, access and more in very unhealthy and inappropriate ways. Check out more fundraising knowledge on the web at www.5toolfundraiser.com and the YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gGkWXTYV. #fivetoolfundraiser #fundraiser #philanthropy #fundraising #nonprofit #nonprofits

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Today, we embark on a thrilling journey into the heart of nonprofit excellence—exploring the captivating realm of impact reporting. So, don your “Attitude of Gratitude” cap, and let's dive into the art of showcasing your organization's impact with flair! ⭐ Defining Impact Reporting – The DRG Way Impact reporting is a powerful tool to highlight the tangible, positive changes your organization brings to the world. It's not only about numbers—it's also about telling a compelling story of transformation, and placing donors in the roles of superheroes. ⭐ Using Impact Reporting to Ignite Engagement – The Secret Sauce The “secret sauce” so to speak, lies in weaving great stories and impact into your narrative. Think "generosity vs. philanthropy," by emphasizing the emotional journey your donors embark on with each contribution. By focusing on extreme gratitude, you create a lasting connection, turning one-time donors into lifelong advocates. ⭐ Getting Started with Impact Reporting – DRG Style Now, where to begin? We're here to guide you through the process: 1. Define Your Impact Goals: Before you start reporting, clearly define what sort of reporting you will be doing. Are you planning to create reports for individual donors or more broad-based reporting to be delivered to multiple donors at once? Ideally, your organization should be doing a combination of both of these. 2. Determine the types of reports. Above, we mention individual and broad-based reports, but now you need to determine what types you will offer. Digital, printed, or both? What is meaningful to the donor? Do they like lots of financial data or do they prefer a story? Pay attention to the needs and wants of your donors, and your projects will be significantly more meaningful and productive. 3. Choose Your Metrics Wisely: Select metrics that align with your impact goals. Whether it's lives touched, communities transformed, or ecosystems restored – always pick metrics that tell a compelling story. 4. Craft a Compelling Narrative: Infuse your content with signature charm. You can often use humor to make your impact stories memorable. Whether it's a quirky video or a witty infographic, be sure to lean in your organization’s unique characteristics wherever you can. 5. Engage Your Audience: Leverage social media, newsletters, and events to engage your audience actively. Encourage them to share their thoughts, experiences, and ideas. Turn your impact reporting into a two-way street of communication. We have also put together DRG’s Guide to Best Practices for Impact Reporting for you in this weeks blog. It’s time to put on your innovator's hat, and start crafting impact reports that not only highlight results, but also inspire a wave of positive disruption in the nonprofit sector. By Christine McGuire https://ow.ly/o9O450S4BQu

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The benefits of conducting feasibility studies run well beyond establishing the viability of your capital campaign. They have a special way of generating interest and excitement and of capturing important data. You never know what they will produce, but when correctly run, they almost always open unexpected doors. #nonprofitfundraising #nonprofitcapitalcampaign #capitalcampaign #capitalcampaignconsultant

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🚀 I’m excited to announce the launch of Impala for Fundraisers! As someone who’s been deeply involved in the nonprofit sector, both as the CEO of Impala and as the leader and fundraiser of my own nonprofit, I know firsthand just how difficult fundraising can be for nonprofits. That’s why I’m so proud of what our team at Impala has built. Impala for Fundraisers is here to revolutionize the way nonprofits approach fundraising. Our mission at Impala has always been to empower and elevate philanthropy by connecting the entire sector on a unified platform. With this new product, we’re making that vision a reality. Here’s how we’re changing the game: 🔍 Data-Driven Prospect Matching: Impala for Fundraisers automatically ranks the most relevant foundations for your organization, based on their alignment with your mission, their capacity to give, and—most importantly—the relationships that connect you to them. 🌐 Relationship-Driven Philanthropy: Philanthropy runs on relationships. With Impala for Fundraisers, you can identify connections between your organization’s board, team, and existing funders to every relevant prospect - we’ve already mapped over 1 billion connections - turning your most valuable assets into actionable leads. 💰 Smart Fundraising Asks: Impala for Fundraisers recommends personalized funding ask amounts based on donor capacity, giving history, and your organization’s past received grants—maximizing your fundraising potential with every ask. How to get started? Sign up on our website to get instant access to the FREE version of Impala for Fundraisers and its unique capabilities. You can upgrade to our premium version at any time, like dozens of organizations already have.   I’m eager to hear your thoughts and feedback as we continue to lead innovation in the nonprofit sector. 👉 Read more about our latest launch - https://lnkd.in/dhzNbxCQ 👈 #ImpalaForFundraisers #NonprofitInnovation #FundraisingRevolution #nonprofits #grantseeker #fundraising #foundations #Nonprofit #Fundraising #Philanthropy #Innovation #Impala #philanthropyrunsonrelationships #prospectresearch

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CCS Fundraising released the 13th edition of the 2024 Philanthropic Landscape Report, providing timely insights into the philanthropic sector. Key highlights from the report include: * The top global philanthropy causes in 2023 included disaster relief, health, and human rights. * Though individual giving, the largest share of total giving, grew by 1.6%, total donors dropped 3.4%. * Foundation giving surpassed $100 billion for the second year in a row. * There are now an estimated 2 million Donor-advised Funds (DAFs) in the US. *Corporate philanthropy as a giving source increased to $36.3 billion but remained the smallest share of total giving. *Building four pillars of AI readiness – People & Culture, Centralized Data, Global Data Governance, and Ethics & Security – can enhance fundraising success. #fundraising #fundraisingstrategies #fundraisingtips #fundraisingtrends #fundraisingdata #givingtrends https://lnkd.in/geBNpwnY

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Despite the fact that collaborative funds are being talked about as the next big thing in philanthropy, there's still a lot we don't know about their value-add to philanthropy. Often the discussion centers on how they enhance the experience and impact of donors. This new piece from Jennifer Stout draws attention to the importance of examining the experiences of grantees who receive funding from collaborative funds, as compared to their experiences with "direct funders". For The Freedom Fund, our understanding of how grantee partners perceive us largely comes from continuously seeking feedback (more on that here: https://lnkd.in/eEa6u7F6). We also see a big part of our role as identifying and building relationships with groups who have tremendous potential for deep, sustainable impact but who more traditional funders might overlook. As Jen says, we need more research across the field to draw broader conclusions and make the case for why collaborative funds, when structured appropriately, can fill gaps and do things differently.

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An impact report is a pivotal opportunity – a chance to enhance your organization’s donor retention and stewardship, leading to long-term sustainability and growth. Retaining existing donors is significantly more cost effective than acquiring new ones, and if you steward those donors by keeping them informed, appreciated and engaged, they’ll likely increase their contributions over time and become valuable advocates for your cause. But how can you use your impact report to build those relationships? Storyraise co-founders Josh Kligman and Jeff Rum have compiled six key steps for impact report success, allowing your report to work for you. View the full ebook here: https://lnkd.in/eV549RYA

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Trust-Based Philanthropy: Building Sustainable Partnerships for Long-Term Impact.. The philanthropic landscape is evolving. More grantmakers are shifting towards trust-based philanthropy, a transformative approach that simplifies grantmaking processes and prioritizes meaningful partnerships with nonprofits. This model challenges traditional, transactional frameworks by offering unrestricted funding and removing burdensome reporting requirements, enabling organizations to focus on their missions. What is Trust-Based Philanthropy? Trust-based philanthropy is rooted in the belief that funders and grantees are partners in creating social change. It recognizes that organizations, particularly those led by marginalized communities, often possess the expertise to solve pressing issues but face systemic barriers in accessing resources. Key principles of trust-based philanthropy include: 1. Simplifying Grant Applications: Streamlined application processes reduce the administrative burden on nonprofits, allowing them to dedicate more time to their core missions. 2. Providing Unrestricted Funding: Flexible funding empowers organizations to allocate resources where they are needed most, fostering innovation and resilience. 3. Prioritizing Relationships: Building authentic, transparent relationships with grantees fosters mutual accountability and respect. 4. Championing Equity: Trust-based grantmaking seeks to address power imbalances by prioritizing support for historically underfunded communities. The Benefits of a Trust-Based Model For grantmakers, trust-based philanthropy shifts the focus from micro-managing funds to driving sustainable impact. Nonprofits benefit from: Greater Autonomy: Flexible funding supports holistic growth and adaptation to unforeseen challenges. Reduced Administrative Costs: Streamlined reporting saves time and money. Enhanced Relationships: Open dialogue between funders and grantees builds trust and drives collaboration. Examples in Practice Several foundations have successfully implemented trust-based approaches: The Whitman Institute has long championed trust-based philanthropy, offering multi-year, unrestricted funding to its grantees. The Ford Foundation launched its BUILD initiative, providing flexible funding and capacity-building support to social justice organizations. Looking Ahead Trust-based philanthropy is not just a trend—it’s a call to action. As we collectively seek to address systemic inequities, this model offers a way to empower communities, foster innovation, and build lasting change. #TrustBasedPhilanthropy #Grantmaking #Philanthropy #Nonprofits #SocialImpact #Equity #Sustainability #Grantmakers

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✨Join us for our ImpactVest Alliance Q3 CEO Roundtable Podcast: “It's Strategic: Greater Impact, Greater Profits.” 🌎   This roundtable discussion focuses on strategic impact and how businesses can position themselves for returns while maximising positive societal effects. Saxon Knight, Founder of House of Saxons, discusses her organisation's efforts to empower trauma survivors through business skills, highlighting the challenges of attracting investors in difficult industries. Tanner Snider, VP of Investment Strategy at Gold Leaf Farming, shares how their sustainable farming practices balance strong financial returns with environmental and social responsibility. Obet Aparicio, Chief Operating Financial Officer at the Hispanic Social Assembly, emphasises how the Hispanic Social Assembly is positively impacting fair trade practices in Latin America while advocating for fair wages. Tune in to the ImpactVest Alliance Q3 CEO Roundtable episode: “It's Strategic: Greater Impact, Greater Profits.” ✨ #StrategicImpact #SustainableFinance #ImpactInvesting #ImpactVestAlliance https://lnkd.in/eBXVEg8p

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Whether you’re seeking tools to hone fundraising strategies, create a high-performing culture, or develop your executive presence, KDD Philanthropy will help you excel through an approach rooted in in-house experience. #leadership #community #relationships #philanthropy #fundraising #webinar #kddphilanthropy #goals #advancement #talentdevelopment #training #virtualtraining #nonprofit #highereducation #coaching

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Please read and implement these helpful tips from democracy experts Tatyana Margolin and Yelena Vicki Litvinov at STROIKA, Inc. in order to build resilience for what is to come for civil society and independent media very soon…

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Excited about the new donor portal focused on Indigenous land tenure rights. Hopefully, by the end of the year there will be $2B in philanthropic commitments to support Indigenous land tenure. It’s a human rights imperative and also a #climate imperative. According to One Earth modeling, IP land tenure is a critical solution to reverse biodiversity loss and rebalance the climate system. IP lands have been shown to be as effective (or more effective) than protected areas, stewarding more than 37% of the world’s high-value carbon sinks.

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Policies are only as strong as the public's willingness to embrace them. Without that public support, you CANNOT demonstrate that policies promoting (insert...sustainability, food/climate justice, plant-based food systems, etc) have traction. Without teeth, these policies have to be constantly babysat by the organizations who pushed for them ($$$$$) or they risk being forgotten & diluted...and eventually scaled back and scrapped. And you try reimplementing a repealed policy. Last week, I had the honor of attending the Reducetarian Foundation Summit in Dallas and met with so many amazing people focused on grassroots change. Many of them were young and already so accomplished... a few of them had been working in community advocacy for decades. They will all tell you the same thing: The collective actions of individuals and communities build momentum and give policies their staying power. They turn (sometimes abstract) regulations into living practices. And they create the culture that supports and demands the systems-change we're seeking. If you are someone "just" leading these conversations in your local network, remember that what you're doing is essential. You are laying the groundwork for a movement. Keep it going!

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Sharing this with my network as I know many of you are interested in Impact Investing.

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