What it takes for transformative philanthropy
Several weeks ago Dan Pallotta smells me a Harvard Business Review Article titled “Audacious Philanthropy”, written by Susan Wolf Ditkoff and Abe Grindle. Similar to what the authors and Dan have said, I’ve also seen that he’s almost not good enough anymore when it comes to tackling the toughest societal challenges. As noted in the article:
“Many of today’s large-scale emerging philanthropists aspire to equally bold successes. They don’t want to fund homeless shelters and food pantries; they want to end homelessness and hunger. Steady, linear progress is not Enough; they demand disruptors, catalysts, systemic change, and in a short time.Even as society grapples with important questions about current concentrations of wealth, many of the greatest philanthropists feel the weight of responsibility that comes with their privilege. The scale of their ambition, along with the wealth they are willing to give back to society, is impressive. “
Donors are really tired of nonprofits who think small and leaders who aren’t willing to risk it all. It is no longer acceptable to simply want to take a shortsighted view of change. As I have written in the past, the world’s leading donors and philanthropists seek to eradicate intractable societal challenges that have been plaguing humanity for generations.
This desire to generate significant and scalable social impact has also trickled down to general donors. People seek results in the age of massive amounts of information, transparency, and accountability. As the HBR article said, “Audacious is incredibly challenging. However, history has shown that it can be successful.”
What does philanthropic boldness look like?
When I set out to establish a non-profit organization many years ago, I knew that I wanted to make a difference, but not just in my local community. If you know my bio, then you know that I was able to grow the organization to scale in less than five years from a zero budget to one of over $ 70 million when I left the charity.
But I’m not alone, and honestly, the nonprofit industry is hungry for leaders of all backgrounds, generations, ages, and abilities who don’t think small. The authors of the HBR paper studied fifteen social movements and found that, while not easy, systemic and scalable change can be achieved.
- Movement against apartheid: South Africa’s institutionalized oppression of non-whites ended in the 1990s after a tireless effort of activism spanning 40 years.
- Hospice care: This type of palliative care began in the late 1940s and today more than 60 percent of people at the end of their lives receive hospice services.
- National School Lunch Program: By 2012, approximately 31 million children in the United States, which is more than half of all students in public schools, were receiving a free or reduced-price meal at school.
- Public Libraries: Andrew Carnegie invested in libraries in the early 1920sth Century, before the digital age, and advocacy for libraries helped provide 96 percent of Americans with access to free libraries.
And now, as I write this article, you have to ask yourself what will happen in the coming months and years with gun violence in the United States, levels that are a uniquely American problem. We see Generation Z high school students, led by survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, seeking to change gun laws in our nation so that schools become a safe learning environment once again. . These young students are encouraged, active and mobilized to do what others before them have not done.
The 4 attributes of success
The authors of the HBR article discovered four patterns that brought success to the fifteen social movements they studied for bold philanthropy and social change success:
- Almost 90 percent of efforts making a shocking difference took more than 20 years, with a median of 45 years.
- 80 percent of the time, the government had to be involved in funding and policy changes.
- In almost 75 percent of the circumstances, there was significant collaboration between multiple entities, such as private, public and governmental groups.
- In 66 percent of the cases, there had to be a significant injection of money, of $ 10 million or more in a single or few donations to give momentum and energy.
The reality is that today’s challenges are different than in the past. We have global income inequality, it is essential that our students around the world immerse themselves in technology-based learning, and we know that large amounts of money and technology will shape a world in the years to come, unlike anything else. have seen. However, there are opportunities for leaders who have a vision and are not afraid to interrupt, challenge the status quo, and seek to look at problems in new ways with the resources available in the 21st century.
