Guy Gadney, FRSA’s Post

Dax-Devlon Ross, this is a gift to the field. Thank you, again. "Truth is, nonprofits have always been something else. If we are to be really honest with one another, they were at least arguably conceived as tax dodges for the wealthy. Only in the past four decades have nonprofits wedged themselves into the massive gaps left by government austerities, corporate greed, and gross inequality. As such, many of us have spent our careers solving problems that we didn’t create. We didn’t disinvest in Black and Brown neighborhoods or underfund schools. We are just the ones who have to find our students resources so that they can succeed. The nonprofit sector has become the social stopgap, humanity’s buffer—what keeps civil society from completely unraveling. ❗ To do our work— especially in a nation that scorns us because it needs us and that need reminds it of its imperfections—we have learned to adapt to ever-changing funding priorities, tax policies, community needs, and political tides. But what if this is our moment to try something radically different? To push instead of being pushed around? Two years ago, we all saw behind the veil. We saw what we had wrought, and we vowed to change. Now we are being coaxed back into complacency. There is no other way to say it. DEI work has stalled or is being walked back in many places, because the sector mastered the lingo but ultimately has been unwilling to adopt ways of knowing, being, and understanding the world that Black folks have relied on for centuries to effect lasting change for themselves and others. In the last one hundred and fifty years alone, Black liberation movements delivered the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, Brown v. Board of Education, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965—to name just a few crucial advances everyone now benefits from. Had our movements not been undermined, maimed, and betrayed, we surely would have delivered more. Yet and still, the social sector continues to overlook the ideas, beliefs, and values that had to be in place in order for such incredible aspirations to be realized in the face of such unyielding resistance. Instead, we are told that focusing on race is too narrow or exclusionary—hogwash conjured to conceal a truth right before our eyes. Luckily, some of us haven’t forgotten what was revealed two years ago—and those voices are trying desperately to keep the sector on task: to be what it promised. Those who wield power can choose to hear the challenge being issued as a call-out or as a call-forward. What is inarguable is that the sector’s next iteration is already taking shape. .....Above all, they will need to reinvigorate themselves with the spirit of resistance and radical love that the Black freedom movements—to which this sector owes so much—have taught are essential to change." #AWord Read this: https://lnkd.in/eW6vzKkP

How we communicate with alums is evolving—and if we’re not adapting, we’re missing out. Generational shifts are changing how alums engage with schools, which means new opportunities to communicate our values in a way that truly resonates. In a recent Moonshot Lab Masterclass with Ann Snyder from CASE, we dove into this shift and how schools can rethink their approach to engagement and fundraising. Are you ready to make the most of this moment?

We understand the struggle--you know what needs to be done, but you don't have the funding in place. Our Director of Exhibits and Interpretive Planning Megan Anderson speaks to that problem in her latest blog, "Show Me the Money." Museums and cultural institutions of all sizes often seek support for projects, and this guide offers insights into securing funding from individual donors and organizations, highlighting the importance of aligning with donors' values, understanding grant opportunities from entities like the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and utilizing grant databases to find additional sources, while also providing tips for successful grant applications. Send us a message if you'd like to learn more about how HAI can assist with your exhibit and interpretive planning projects. #musuems #interpretiveplanning #exhibits #grantfunding #grants https://hubs.ly/Q02JqGW10

📢 If you haven't registered for tonight's webinar, "Literacy Changes Everything," there's still time! 📅✨ 🗓️ Date: Monday, November 11 🕢 Time: 7:30 – 9:00pm Eastern 💲 Cost: FREE Register via Google Form here: https://loom.ly/ucYKg9Y #LiteracyMatters 📚 #LiteracyChangesEverything #EducationForAll 🌎 #WebinarAlert 📢 #FreeWebinar

Our featured on-demand course of the week is FREE! It's "Finding New Sources of Funding in Challenging Times: An Introduction." An investigation of any grants database using the search terms “historic preservation” or “cultural resources” will yield minimal results. During times of economic hardship, and the resulting narrowing of priorities for funders, results may be downright nonexistent. Learn how to evaluate a cultural resource project for its value in serving broader community needs. Review traditional funding types vs. alternative sources that can be redirected to meet project goals. Consider new partnerships that can expand the universe of support. #historicpreservation #continuingeducation #learn #learning #course

Robert Putnam has been studying the erosion of civil society in the U.S. for decades. While he has seen social isolation and distrust grow in his years studying the subject, he is optimistic that we can change the direction of the country. His recommendation to philanthropists hoping to build a better future? Take young people seriously as architects of the future. Read or listen to his full conversation with Eric Liu: https://lnkd.in/g5dXxP_u

🎥 This documentary beautifully captures the heart and challenges of a #ruralschool in Indiana. From the dedication of teachers to the resilience of students, it paints a nuanced picture of what it means to grow up and learn in #ruralamerica. 🌾 Watch an excerpt of this powerful documentary:

New in The Hedgehog Review, Stanford PACS Research Scholar Aaron Horvath tells the story of how, over the past 30 years, funders and philanthropy professionals recast civil society as objective, pragmatic, and above the fray of politics. Tracing the cultural and organizational history of measurable impact, Aaron argues that the more we come to see civic life in terms of quantitative abstraction and cold calculation, the more difficult it becomes to imagine alternative forms of meaningful social progress. Read: https://lnkd.in/gJCNdyku

Today is BU's Giving Day! Here are 10 reasons to give to #BostonUniversity during #BUGivingDay. Check out the website to discover even more & make your gift today: Boston University Giving Day (bu.edu)

KETV Giving Wednesday is proud to highlight how JAG Nebraska powered by United Way of the Midlands is making a difference in our community. The initiative will focus on raising funds to create scholarships for Nebraska high school seniors who participated in JAG, aiming to support their further education in Nebraska. Thanks to Omaha Car Care, Colliers, and Children's Nebraska, for providing $15,650 in donations to kick off this campaign. JAG Nebraska proudly boasts a 99% graduation rate from last year. Currently, 67 JAG students are pursuing post-secondary education, 62 are engaged in summer employment, and 279 have secured full-time jobs. These figures highlight JAG Nebraska's profound impact on students' futures and the community. Your generosity can ignite a brighter future for Nebraska’s youth by providing funding for JAG Nebraska high school seniors to attend a postsecondary education institution in Nebraska. A contribution to the JAG Nebraska Scholarship Fund provides essential support to young individuals who are working to achieve their academic and career goals.Your contribution directly funds scholarships that make education accessible and attainable for these talented and determined young people. Investing in the JAG Nebraska Scholarship Fund means investing in the potential of our future leaders, innovators and community champions of Nebraska. Donate today to the JAG Nebraska Scholarship Fund to make a lasting impact on the lives of Nebraska’s youth! https://lnkd.in/gCUZXft6 https://lnkd.in/gi-rrY4c