Comments on: Philanthropy & Trust

By: young staffer

young staffer — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:52:12 +0000

The development staff members I’ve felt the most awkward around (and, consequently, the least trusting of) are those I felt don’t appreciate that foundation staff members see themselves differently from how donors see themselves. Especially when the POs come from working in nonprofits and in the community, it’s awkward if you feel your being given the royal treatment or sold a slick pitch. That’s just not how you see yourself. POs may have spent time in the trenches and may not be particularly wealthy themselves; I think they empathize most with the people doing the work. Some of the kinds of things that appeal to an individual donor – the special tour, the slick pitch – are feel really far from the reality POs experienced working on the other side. So showing them only that side of an organization feels “off” to them.

I think a good PO recognizes that a development staff member is doing their job by giving the salespitch. And certainly they’re not expecting to be treated as “peers” of an organization they’re considering funding. But recognizing that they were, perhaps for a while, as peers goes a long way.

By: Sean Stannard-Stockton

Sean Stannard-Stockton — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:31:58 +0000

I agree completely. An authentic story teller doesn’t just “sell a story”, they tell the truth (warts and all). But as long as nonprofits judge development staff based on how much they raise, then they will be salespeople. But they can make great strides by framing themselves the way Charles Collier at Harvard does (as a trusted advisor to his donors). I don’t mean “frame” the same way a politician might use “spin”. I just mean understanding your place in the world as a storyteller, rather than as someone trying to get a donation.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:12:17 +0000

I feel deeply that words and semantics are extremely important. With that in mind, I want to offer that being “salespeople” might be the exact reason why POs – and donors alike – don’t trust development staff.

What if, instead, fundraisers were knows as the Great Story Tellers of an organization? Because, after all that’s really what they are doing. They are the message-bearer, the one responsible for relaying the impetus of the organization.

And while, to use an analogy, everyone in the village (the organization) is responsible for knowing and sharing the story, it’s the Great Story Teller that we all eagerly gather around the campfire to hear.

Sure, it’s cheesy. But it’s at least a little better than the images that spring up with “salesman.”