Major Gift Editorial, November 9, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009 at 10:19AM Major Gift Editorial - November 9th, 2009
by Terry Burton
Job losses continue to rise, unemployment rates are up and Wall Street bankers appear to be stashing cash while keeping lending restrictions tighter than the lid on a new jar of pickles.
And for third week in a row, we hear of a $100 million philanthropic gift, this one to Amherst College.
Go figure.
While the editors of traditional media have their eyeballs stuck on the minutiae of economic forecasts, foreign exchange rates and the price of a barrel of January crude oil, the philanthropic sector is surging forward.
Here’s a new thought for you.
I call it my Theory of Compelling Philanthropy.
In the midst of one of the most troubling years in recent memory, a handful of people have made the choice to vote with their dollars and support charitable causes in a big way.
While the number of major gifts is down the dollar value of major gifts received in 2009 appears to be higher than in 2008 and 2007.
I think it is because of compelling philanthropy.
Years ago I heard the President Semple of University of Southern California give a luncheon speech about the success of their fundraising efforts. At the time it was just the second campaign to top the billion dollar mark. He shared the secret of USC’s success. He said they talked about just one thing, "compelling excellence" in every discussion with a major gift donor.
Borrowing on that notion I think that the major gift donors of 2009 heard the bugle call of Father Time, scanned the landscape of America charitable causes and decided to take action. They have stepped up and made shared their wealth in the form of major gifts.
At a time when charitable support was down across the board in all sectors, a few people stepped forward to make a difference.
At a time when the global economy quivered and held its breath, a few people stepped forward to make a difference.
At a time of financial uncertainty and the pandemic concern over the H1N1 sickness, a few people stepped forward.
Why?
Compelling philanthropy.
It starts with stewardship. Development staff sharing their stories of success and within their communities.
People want to believe in the greater good, the hope of something better. Mission and vision, accountability of development efforts and knowing that their gift will make a difference, these are some of the keys that unlock the power of precious penmanship to write the check to a charity.
For generations Americans have been the beneficiaries of a high standard of living thanks in part to the services and offerings of nonprofit organizations. A few people have taken notice and decided now was the time for them to give back.
As the world works to pull itself through the looking glass of a paradigm shift of enormous proportions, people have begun to settle into the new and adjusted realities of life after the spring and summer of 2009.
This calendar year will go down as the worst of times and I suggest, the best of times. As we reflect back on the giving history scoreboard we can infer that philanthropy has evolved to a new plain, with adjusted expectations and perhaps a greater presence of brand name in mainstream America.
It was more than a decade ago when Ted Turner, the man who created CNN, stepped up to the microphone and announced he was going to give away a billion dollars to charity. A few more people have taken notice; a few more people are giving today. Compelling philanthropy will encourage others to give tomorrow.
Contributing author, Terry Burton, is the President of Dig In Research, a market research and consulting firm where the focus is on named gifts in the nonprofit sector.