Saving Philanthropy

 In last week’s post I explored what organizations can do to plan for financial success, but what about foundations and philanthropy? I found this trailer for the documentary Saving Philanthropy. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpQ3MTZJv3U

I think that this video brings about some important points but mostly it just spurs a lot of questions in my mind. What do you think about the video and these questions?

If philanthropy needs saving, who is in charge of doing this saving? Are organizations responsible for changing the metrics that they collect and the things that they report on? Should foundations education and build capacity within non-profits?

Is there space in our society for giving money away? Does everything need to be an investment?

How do non-profit organizations and foundations continue to communicate and grow together in order to more effectively work towards similar goals?

If only we knew the answers to these questions, then I think we could go ahead and save the world!

Thinking About the Role of Money

Thus far in my exploration of mission I have focused on collaboration and creating a strong mission, but I am sure you are asking yourselves, what about the money? The relationship between an organization’s mission and their funding sources can be harmonious but also can lead to tension and stress. I recently read a blog series, Financing not Fundraising, released on the Social Velocity blog that discusses different elements of this relationship.

In the blog post Aligning Money and Mission Neil Edgington presents an interesting model that shows the ideal condition of an organization in alignment. This model represents an organization whose mission, resource engine and core competencies are all in line and complementing one another. The strength of this model is that he represents the importance of each three of these characteristics equally and demonstrates how they work off of one another. Many organizations focus on one or two of these components rather than on all three; in particular the role of the resource engine often gets delegated to the development director or fundraising team and is not included in the work being done by program staff.  

 The original model can be found at http://www.socialvelocity.net/2010/06/financing-not-fundraising-aligning-money-and-mission/.

Although this is a strong model I think it is a little oversimplified since it presents only a static moment. All organizations work within a constantly changing environment that affects their ability to maintain this alignment. Taking into consideration these external forces I think that the model might look something more like this:

This model shows how the mission might be moving in a different direction than the priorities of funders and donors and both of these may move in a different direction from the core competencies of the organization. With these changing factors, how can organizations maintain the alignment described in Social Velocity’s blog post? In my experience this is where entrepreneurship and strategic thinking play a central role. Compare this model with the one above:

 

In this model, the circle is defined by the concepts in bold. Entrepreneurial thinking, innovation, creativity and the others show how organizations can embrace these external changes and works towards alignment by integrating them into the organization’s mission, resource engine and core competencies. Taking this systemic approach allows for a deeper understanding of the different factors at play in managing and growing non-profit organizations and finding the balance and alignment necessary for long term sustainability. In the coming weeks I am going to present different organizations that are working within this circle of entrepreneurship, innovation and strategy in order to grow impactful and successful organizations.

What do you think of these models? Are there other factors that should be included? Are they overly complex?  

Protecting Your Mission- Understanding What You are Working Towards

Today I was lucky enough to go attend a presentation by James T. Riordan at the Mercy Corps International headquarters. The talk presented an international economic development theory based on a buyer lead approach. Mr. Riordan’s article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review also outlines this concept:

http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/one_buyer_at_a_time

After reading the article and attending the talk my interpretation of the buyer lead approach is this: when building an economic development project the primary goal is to decrease poverty through an increase in the business sales and job creation and this is best done by focusing on the true demands of the market. In other words one needs to prioritize the demands of the market when building economic development strategies. One example he shared was of a community in Peru that was looking to transition their cocoa fields to another type of agricultural crop. The community came together and went to the NGO saying they were interested in growing pineapples because there was a demand for them in local grocery stores in Lima. Mr. Riordan’s organization did some additional research and actually spoke with grocery chains and found that there was actually little demand for pineapples and therefore the organization decided not to invest in the project. Although everything that he said made sense on paper and through a business lens something just did not sit right with me. Don’t we want to work to celebrate and preserve local cultures? What about the right-livelihoods of individuals in the developing world, do they simply get forgotten? Also, doesn’t this type of aid create dependence between communities and NGOs?

As I discussed the talk with my boyfriend upon returning home I realized what about the theory did not sit right. Mr. Riordan and I had different missions in mind for the project. Mr. Riordan, and his model, was simply working towards poverty alleviation in the developing world through economic growth. The goal is to increase the sales of local businesses and therefore increase jobs. When I think about poverty alleviation my mission is broader and includes holistic education, cultural preservation and individual empowerment. Neither of these missions is right or wrong or better or worse, just different. Acknowledging these differences will allow for deeper more productive conversation and will allow each of us to better work towards our own mission. Different missions call for different program designs and strategies. This realization was another reminder to me about the importance of mission and how truly understanding your personal and organizational mission will allow you to build strong programs and to foster deep dialogue with others who do not share your mission.

This image created by Innovation Architects is a good visual of the importance of understanding your mission, creating a plan and then delivering a service. http://www.flipcorp.com/en/innovation-architects

This theory, although not perfect, did get me thinking about the mission of my current organization and my work, and how to most effectively implement it. What do you think about this theory in general? Have you had experiences where you have run into tension because you do not have a clearly articulated mission? Really getting to the heart of this is so important and has the ability to drive the rest your work. 

The Power of We- The Creation and Growth of a Mission through Collaboration

Today is Blog Action Day. This event is an opportunity to bring bloggers from all over the world together to blog about a similar topic. This years’ topic is the Power of We. Progressive thinkers all over will be posting about the power of collaboration and working hand in hand. This year’s topic serves as a wonderful starting point for our exploration of protecting your mission. Although there are many things that non-profit organizations can do to protect their mission, working in collaboration with others is fundamental. In order to see the Power of We first hand I am going to introduce you to the organization Adelante Mujeres, where I worked for from 2008-2012.

 

Adelante Mujeres is a non-profit organization in Forest Grove, Oregon (about 30 miles west of Portland) that works towards the education and empower of Latina women and their families. The organization was built through strong partnerships and continues to grow and thrive thanks to these connections. The organization’s connections with the community are countless but two programs stick out; Adelante Empresas and Forest Grove Farmers Market.

Adelante Empresas

Adelante Empresas, Adelante Mujeres’ small business training program, provides trainings and individualized support to 100 Latino small business owners every year, all with only two staff members. This sort of impact is only possible thanks to the Power of We.  Empresas staff works directly with the local Chambers of Commerce, the Forest Grove Economic Develop Department, local volunteers and the growing number of participating small business owners to continue to build a strong network of Latino owned small businesses. Bringing together each of these institutions and allowing them do what they do best has allowed for participating entrepreneurs to receive the support that they need, and for each of these organizations to work towards their specific missions. The local volunteers do not have to write grants or teach classes and Adelante Mujeres does not have to facilitate regional networking events. This collaboration has also brought together business leaders in the region and allowed for the development of new services and initiatives to better serve and advocate for all business owners. Empresas shows how the Power of We allows for the development and maintenance of a strong program within non-profit organizations and also provides the space for future collaboration.

The Forest Grove Farmers Market

The Forest Grove Farmers Market, a weekly seasonal market, is managed by Adelante Mujeres and has created strong partnerships in order to develop and work towards its mission. The farmers market has transformed from a place to buy and sell locally grown and produced goods into an accessible community-gathering place. The market partners with the downtown association, schools, universities, local banks and hospitals and other community groups to provide additional services to community members such as matching dollars for individuals using federal benefits such as SNAP and WIC, weekly kids activities and monthly expanded markets. These partnerships make the Forest Grove Farmers Market unique and have transformed it into a cornerstone of the community.

 

An Inclusive Definition of the Power of We  

Traditionally partnerships in the non-profit sector are directly between organizations or between organizations and community volunteers. As seen above Adelante has created many of these partnerships but is also working to redefine who is an essential partner. One way in which Adelante Mujeres truly exemplifies the Power of We is the organization’s relationship with program participants and its responsiveness to their needs and concerns. The organizational mission and the scope of its programs are constantly being shaped and improved by the needs and input of participants, giving a voice to a population that is often silenced. Adelante is a model of an organization that has defined the Power of We broadly and has used this power to grow and protect a powerful mission.

To learn more about Adelante Mujeres please check out their website at www.adelantemujeres.org.

 

I have been lucky enough to work within and learn from this organization but I know it is not the only way to do this good work. What organizations model this behavior in your world? How do they define the Power of We? How do they harness it? How can we continue to make the Power of We more inclusive to continue growing and learning?

 

Missions in Jeopardy- An Introduction

Take a second and think about your favorite non-profit organization.  What attracts you to them? What elements of the organization do you respect and celebrate? For me it is all about mission. I am attracted to organizations that have a strong mission that is clearly reflected in the organizations’ work in the community. Although this is the goal of all non-profit organizations, with a changing philanthropic industry and though economic times it is no longer that easy. Foundations do not want to support ongoing programs and donors all seem to get excited about the newest trend and do not want to donate to organizations working on basic issues like adult education and literacy.  These real financial limitations are forcing organizations to bend their missions by providing a new set of services, serving new populations and overextending staff. But why does it have to be like this? What can non-profit organizations do to protect their missions?

Throughout this blog I am going to work to answer these questions by highlighting organizations that are asking themselves these hard questions and working to change the industry.  What is your organization doing? How do you think we can work to change the industry in order to protect each of our missions?