Innovation in Philanthropy

This morning was the local Chamber of Commerce Board meeting.  We had a guest presenter come in and speak on the topics of legislative and educational affairs that affect the district and region.  Specifically at the tail end of the summary, weight was given to children in poverty and graduation rates.  The message was to continue making strides in closing the gap for college preparedness, which opened the floor for conversation about alternative tracks and trade industries.

What I thought was interesting was the baseline for success.  That the only measure was contingent upon moving the needle in one specific area of percentage of attainment.  I made a few comments to point out that in the suburbs of the Austin area, the poor population has grown by 162%.  How over the last 20 years, those considered as "poor" were centralized in Austin, and the population has expanded over much of the Austin MSA.  Specifically, and what I didn't have in front of me, was that the rate for children in poverty has grown 142% in the region.  So my question becomes, in the case where the bottom drops out from under you for what used to be considered "baseline" you have to account for that in what success truly looks like.

What was increasingly interesting was this guest presenter's response to my questions- he points to the social sector and accountability in reporting metrics.

(Enter the zone of ambiguity).

So to clarify, I'm asking who is this "external agent" who will drive consistency in effort for nonprofit collaborations (in this case specifically speaking the example was in the schools).  He commented that he had once seen a United Way attempt to play that role, but something happened and scared them off of driving forward.

I can see why.  The United Way, while maintaining the label of funder, often times is still considered familial in the world of nonprofits.  Whoever wants their brother or sister setting the tone for house rules?

So I pushed the guest speaker, and he said what I already knew- so I'll put it here succinctly- the funders have to drive innovation.

I currently work for a foundation.  We're a complex model if there ever was one, building in a family of agencies and more political sensitivities to carefully navigate in honoring the intent of each board that resides in our nonprofit corporate structure.

Yesterday, I was able to work through some of our own strategic planning processes to encourage our board to look at the allocation of funding they currently provide and consider usage.  The current practice is largely general operations.  Working in the nonprofit sector, and knowing the true value of the funded general operation dollar, what I did next may seem to some as if I'm shooting myself in the foot, but I encouraged our board to look at best practice, be willing to recommend a percentage of operations based on budget that they would be willing to fund, but then also set aside funding for R&D.  Specifically for opportunities that provide innovation or expansion.  We'll see what makes it actually into the written plan, but it's pushing the philanthropic envelope to not only fund, but engage innovative philanthropy.

This mornings board meeting was held in the offices of a local multi billion dollar company.  We as board members were escorted on a tour of their newest office addition.  As the company shared about their current operations, I had about a dozen light bulb moments, flashing with every key word that casually rolled out of his mouth about their day to day operations.

I approached them afterwards, knowing their want for community engagement, their want for partnership in meaningful ways, and ways that could use their skills in another setting.  I proposed that they could provide business accumen for nonprofits as a way of giving back.  To do something strategic, that in the long run, may make more help than a momentary monetary gift.

Course, the money has to be the carrot.  Most nonprofits are too busy killing the snake that's closest to them to take time to invest in business philosophy.  But if foundations, and specifically corporate foundations took the time to be as strategic with their philanthropy as they are with their business models, I think we'd see real change.

My contact at this business asked me to gather a team, and he would gather his leadership to talk about the idea further. So I guess you'll just have to stay tuned to see how all that turns out...

That, and I have to run to the next thing...

The Future of Philanthropy

In reading Walk Out Walk On, the discussion of efficiencies in nonprofits took a second look at the value of the historical knowledge of how nonprofits do things.  While some practice may not seem efficient for today, it sometimes the key to sustainability for the future.  The key is knowing the difference in what preserves and sustains and that which could be leveraged in a different way to make a greater social impact.  And in all of this, the "soul" of nonprofit work must be preserved.

If you know anything about Austin, you know we host the SXSW festival.  This brings in people from all walks of life from music lovers to innovators to music loving innovators.  The festival was a great excuse for my childhood friend to come in from out of town.  Mike has his own work investing in people's dreams and innovations for tomorrow. (He's kinda a big deal).  Its incredible work, not only what he does, but after meeting his team and the entrepreneurs they invest in- I was impressed with the whole chain (read more about what they do here: rothenbergventures.com).

As a personally invited guest, I had the privileged of having some side conversations with some really cool people.

There was Rainer who makes wearing shorts fashionable any time of year.  There was John who shared his story of passionately pursuing his dream, living in almost every major American city, and now has grown his own business to over 70 people.  There was Valerie who has bravely followed her dreams, even when that meant moving to a new city, country and culture.  Dylan who has an eye for serving as a catalyst into some very lucky people's ambitions, and joining them on their journey to success.  I could go on and on... The party was like reading one of those inspirational books with the compiling of individual's successful stories.

I couldn't help as I drove home, breathing off the excitement of the party for the next few hours, and wondering what my freshly fed innovative spirit would dream for my line of work.  This crew is so different from the philanthropic landscape I am so used to walking.  It  breathed of innovation.  I left feeling that just around the corner and for those who are willing to serve as first adopters, a whole new paradigm is just waiting.

I began looking for anything I could get my hands on to look for innovation in philanthropy.  Not just in giving, or even in the latest trends of impacting societal change. I searched trends with some of the nation's largest and most engaged community foundations.  I scoured for relative TED Talks... wishing Dan Palotta had more to say.  They had good info... I'm better for knowing it, but I'm still looking for the disruptive and scaling technology that I feel is right under my nose.  I'm researching technology and asking questions about how funders can drive innovation. I'm asking questions like- what's the life span of a fully online service providing nonprofit like?  Should established foundations consider using bitcoins?  What about the role of R&D and how it can drive innovation in nonprofits? I'm even thrilled to have met at this party people my age, who are looked at as the experts and wondering what impact could result if our worlds collided.

I don't know exactly what this will add up to.  I am taking John's advice (from the party).  I'm voice memo'ing my thoughts, and at the very least I may create a book that empowers thought leaders in the nonprofit sector.    

In the meantime, I have to consider the real needs of my own backyard, and continue using collaboration to challenge us to do better, think bigger.  But the work done here has to be scalable.  There has to be models that can be replicated in meeting the needs of poverty in other cities.  However, because this is the business of subcultures, can community innovation be multiplied?  Can it grow beyond the traditional means of meeting the needs?  Where do new and fresh ideas take us?  How does technology reinvent philanthropic engagement?  I do not currently have all the answers. To me, it serves as a challenge to carry the torch of honoring the time old traditions of conveying the human touch to the human heart to tomorrow's future thinking philanthropists.

The Boat

It's been a little over a month that little Naomi Joan was born.  She came along at 40 weeks and two days, and while her life was cut short to just that, her story has inspired me, and will continue to live on.

In the days following the loss of Naomi, a song began to play on repeat in my mind. A link is provided here for the curious.  The first words of the song are:

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown, where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep, my faith will stand

In addition to moments like this where time seems to stand still, I've been doing some reading that produces both challenge and clarity.  The book and song encourage me to consider life, and what it means to be like Peter.  To be called out of the boat, out of the known, and out upon the waters.

This very picture was beautifully illustrated in the movie Jesus Christ, Son of God.  From my theater seat, I was able to experience the tumultuous sea and the small wooden boat.  Between two shores, life hung in the balance.

Today, I have to imagine that this is the reality for the parents of Naomi Joan.  Gracefully, they have allowed us to peer into their personal life, and serve as witnesses of what it means to boldly face the storm.  Not only did they get out of the boat, which should be enough to ask, but then, like Peter, they have begun to walk. (Click here to read more of their story).  How can we, some having been spared their particular road to travel, share in their journey?  

We must be intentional and bold.  Yet, often times in search of greatness, we are blind to the things that surround us- the everyday opportunities to offer peace into the stormy lives that surround around us.  To consider what God may be calling us to, when more than likely... or who am I kidding... it absolutely will mean with certainty we must get out of the boat, and walk out our faith.

The point is, between the two shores, we have one life.  In our journey across the sea, we may forget the value of the moment, until little lives, like Naomi or Caroline, remind us that the other side is nearly there.  So while we are at sea, we must trust that life is bigger than the boat and comforts we illusion ourselves of having.  We must have faith that we can walk between the shores.  We must practice love, because His love will always call us out of the boat.

This post is dedicated to Naomi Joan.