Rob Zeeb and his team at Heritage Institute now have a blog. I went through a 2.5 day training program with them on values-based planning and found it quite valuable. They, as are Tracy Gary and I, are training not only advisors but fundraisers as donor-centered consultants who begin from donor vision and end with solid plans for the donor, the donor's family, and for the donor's favorite causes.
I got an email from an anonymous tipster at the Council on Foundations Conference. He had just had an Orange Mimosa fueled lunch with one of the bloggers responsible for the short lived, and much missed, Men in Philanthropy. Apparently, the site was put up by a group of three women in philanthropy whose intent was to discredit us as men in philanthropy by making it appear we have a sense of humor. The site is gone; everyone is back to normal. Not even a smile. Back to saving the world.
Sean at Tactical Philanthropy has organized a team of bloggers to cover the Council on Foundations Conference. Already a bit of ferment is emerging as bloggers react to Steve Gunderson's opening address.
Diogenes (I am making this up, but it is a good story) trained his dog to follow him on an invisble leash. Together they would pantomime - "Dog saunters happily at end of tether." "Dog is dragged by leash, feet locked." "Dog snarls and is smacked on nose." "Dog stands on hindlegs and begs." In this way Diogenes and his dog taught the Wealth Advisors in Thebes. You can see why Diogenes lived in a Dumpster. I sometimes think I could learn more from Diogenes's dog than from the Master himself; my peers certainly have.
What is your policy? A lame attempt by an insurance company to engage people on line? Apparently, America hungers for meaning, as Liberty Mutual found out:
It all began when we ran a TV commercial about people doing things for strangers. The response was truly overwhelming. Thousands of emails and letters from people all over the country thanking us.
We thought, if one TV spot from Liberty Mutual can get people thinking and talking about responsibility, imagine what could happen if we went a step further? So we created a series of short films, and this website, as an exploration of what it means to do the right thing.
We believe that the more people think and talk about responsibility, and even debate what it means, the more it can affect how we live our daily lives. And perhaps, in this small way, together, we can make the world just a little better.
Right, and if nothing else works, run naked through the streets like me, carrying a flashlight in broad daylight to find a responsible citizen. I hope Liberty Mutual does better converting virtue to cash than I have.
"When I grow up, I want to be GiftHub.org," says Jeremy. As Candidia, my Philanthrocapitalist boss would say, "I am touched, Jeremy, deeply touched. Why grow up, though, you are so cute in those short pants? Now run along and raise some money for the hungry."
A spectre haunts philanthropy, the spectre of satire - just when we thought that things had returned to normal, as Men in Philanthropy went dark, here comes Philanthrocrap, by Tracy Kaufman, the world's greatest 14 year old expert on philanthropy. (Actually she seems to be a well-read 24 year old.) Here is a prose sample:
Today’s post may not feature a nonprofit-related question, but it does feature a link to an absolutely glorious new book by Michael Edwards from the Ford Foundation. It’s called Just Another Emperor? The Myths and Realities of Philanthrocapitalism, and it tears social entrepreneurship a new asshole.
Tracy's post reminds me of an old Far Side cartoon in which the cowboys cower behind their wagon as the Indians launch fire-arrows into the canvas canopy. The caption reads, "Can they do that?" The answer is that in philanthropy, Tracy, you can't use bad language. Philanthropy is genteel. Do not scandalize our generous patrons and social investors please. It is bad for business.
The Chronicle now publishes, Prospecting, a blog on fundraising.
Non-profit consultant, Ron Mattocks, author of Zone of Insolvency, has a blog.
Ian Wilhelm at Give and Take, the blog for The Chronicle of Philanthropy: the Newspaper of the Non-Profit World, on a recent flap:
After less than a month, a blog that made fun of the nonprofit world and gender roles has shut down. Men in Philanthropy, which promised to recognize “the vast, marginally relevant, contributions men have made to the world of philanthropy” has been “removed,” according to its Web site host. While some said the site was in poor taste — one commenter on Give & Take called it “insulting and stupid” — Phil Cubeta, author of Gift Hub, writes that the short-lived effort brought some badly needed laughs to philanthropy. “Another fine satiric site goes dark,” he writes. What do you think? Do we need some blogs poking fun at philanthropy?
Taking a cue from Ian, I decided, rather than hazarding an opinion of my own (and so exposing myself to potential criticism from my boss, funder, or readers), I would simply ask a question. So, I consulted Senator Dick Minim (D. MA), a former Board Member for the Council on Foundations, and asked how he felt about "some blogs poking fun at philanthropy." He said, twirling his pinz nez on its gold chain, "Why, Phil, you know that laughing folly into good humor and good sense is a most unsporting proposition; a gentlemen just knows not to do that. Why consider the effect on poor Mummy. She almost choked on her crumpet. The last time people tried satire, in England, I believe it was, in the Augustan period, look what it led to. A Revolution here in Colonies. And it has been quite downhill ever since."
Phil Cubeta, Morals Tutor to America's Wealthiest Families
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