Critical Fundraising

NEWS: Research agenda explores ethical implications of using AI in fundraising

Generic concerns about the ethical use of AI can’t be overlain on to fundraising, since its use in fundraising throws up ethical dilemmas specific to this application
AI currently doesn’t have access to sufficiently-sophisticated thinking about ethics to be able to tackle ethical dilemmas in fundraising
Ethical and data literacy across the fundraising profession must be upskilled to ensure the most rigorous human oversight of the use of AI in fundraising.

OPINION Will you still love me tomorrow? Who will be the the real donors of the next 50 years?

In the face of a “generational time bomb”, the recent ‘Tomorrow’s Donor, Today’ research challenges fundraising norms and advocates for radical changes. However, Giles Pegram takes issue with the research’s fundamental assumption, and asks if it risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

NEWS: Fundraising’s place in the postmodern world

What on earth has this got to do with me?
Well, the way you see, and quite possibly think, is already postmodern
Understanding these ways of seeing and thinking will help fundraisers better understand the discussions taking place around contemporary issues, as well as suggesting new ways to communicate with donors

NEW THINKING: Postmodern fundraising? You’re having us on, right?!

No, we’re not. Ian MacQuillin explains why Ashley Scott’s new series of papers for Rogare on fundraising’s place in the postmodern world is highly relevant to fundraisers.

NEW THINKING: The history of fundraising is more complex than our simple narratives suggest

Our standard narrative of the history of modern fundraising is simplistic and doesn’t contain as many truths as it could do. Marina Jones explains why we need more complexity in our study of fundraising history. Oh, and that as soon as we look for it, we find that women have had a major role in the development of our profession – a role that has previously been obscured.

NEW THINKING: New typology identifies different ways charities can be cut out of the processes of giving and asking for donations

Explores how the ‘traditional charity model’ is disintermediated by individuals, companies and other types of charity
Each type of disintermediation raises its own ethical and regulatory issues, which have barely begun to be addressed
Disintermediated giving is a lot more than just donating via crowdfunding platforms.

NEWS: From CSW (Charles Sumner Ward) to CCF – fundraising since 1900

Details about the first charity greetings card* (1949), first charity rock concert* (1969) and first fundraising telethon* (1951) are among the entries on a timeline of fundraising history from 1900 to the present day, unveiled today by Rogare – The Fundraising Think tank.

NEWS: Latest praxis paper says fundraisers can mentor donors to help them create more value in the way the support charities

Third paper in Rogare series that translates recent academic study into practice
Looks at how fundraisers can help donors create value in their own fundraising
Recommends that fundraisers should be trained to coach and mentor donors to create more value when they conduct their own community fundraising activities

Why donor codes of conduct must become ubiquitous

Rogare has recently published a code of conduct for donors. Although published as part of our work on gender issues in fundraising, Ian MacQuillin argues that such codes have wider relevance.

Rogare publishes Blueprint to dismantle patriarchal structures in fundraising

Report contains 45 recommendations to bring about transformational structural change
Based on ‘Lean Out’ Feminism
Key recommendations include:
1. Donor codes of conduct
2. An awareness campaign to encourage men to call out misogyny
3. Ratings agencies and grantfunders to consider charities’ gender performance.