"Give and Take" is Exactly Right

Give and Take, the Chronicle of Philanthropy's blog, has a nice post by Peter Panepento on the recent Giving Carnival about metrics for grants. Gifthub and several of the giving blogs I regularly read are mentioned. Of course, I am personally flattered, but the main thing is that we now have a many-to-many conversation about giving,  a conversation that includes professional journalists and bloggers who care passionately about the topic and may be professionally engaged in one of the giving trades.

Sometimes I am asked by a journalist for an interview about some giving topic. They then edit the interview to suit the needs of their article, publication, style guide, editorial policy, space constraints,  business model, and audience. Being interviewed, I find myself getting formal and stilted, intimidated a little by the whole process. Now, what is evolving is that the journalist, like Peter Panepento, and the "expert sources," like Sean Stannard-Stockton, Susan Herr, or Albert Ruesga, are talking back and forth offhand, as civic friends and as colleagues in a common effort. I find that very promising, not just because I am included in the mix, but in the hopes that you too, as a reader, will comment here,  or on your own blog, and make your voice heard in the conversation of democracy. 

Give and take, indeed.

Comments

[Dan Bassill]

I think this is great progress. The next step is getting non profits connected with donors in this type of on-line idea exchange.

[Phil]

Donors and advisors and nonprofits in conversation would be ideal.