Author: Ian MacQuillin – Critical Fundraising

Fundraising insights from Australia and New Zealand

Rogare’s director Ian MacQuillin visited Australia and New Zealand in September with the support of Rogare Associate Member Giving Architects. In this blog he considers various aspects of that trip:

Rogare’s ethics of school fundraising project
The implications of this project being conducted in Australasia
Alternative conceptualisation of a fundraising profession
Māori philanthropy and fundraising.

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: Neither amateur nor professional but something in between – the ‘Corinthian’ nature of fundraising and the problems that causes

Fundraising is torn between the need to be professional while at the same time embodying ‘amateur’ values. Ian MacQuillin argues this compromise exacerbates a power differential between givers and askers.

OPINION: Do you think fundraising is as exciting as a four-winged dinosaur?

If you can get as excited about your profession as palaeontologists do about animals that sound like they belong in a fairy tale, Ian MacQuillin want you to join Rogare’s new Critical Fundraising Network to take Rogare’s work to the next level.

Making sense of criticisms of donor-centred fundraising

Donor-centred fundraising is not used to being criticised. But it’s going to have get comfortable with it and respond to those criticisms better than it has been doing. Ian MacQuillin tries to disentangle some of the issues

BOOK REVIEW: You say you want a revolution

Philanthropy Revolution: How to inspire donors, build relationships and make a difference, by Lisa Greer and Larissa Kostoff.

Philanthropist Lisa Greer has said she wants to create a philanthropic revolution. But Ian MacQuillin says her ideas are anything but revolutionary, and ignore the responsibilities incumbent on donors in building ethical relationships with fundraisers.

NEW IDEAS: How Canadian fundraising is changing the way it engages with critics

Canadian fundraisers are using a new narrative to engage with their critics. But they won’t be ‘defending’ fundraising using facts. Ian MacQuillin explains the thinking behind the AFP Canada’s values-based advocacy of the profession.

NEWS: What’s the best way to get into fundraising? Who can say?

What advice would you give a kid who asks you the best way to become a fundraiser? Not an easy question to answer. Ian MacQuillin outlines Rogare’s new collaboration with Cause4 and Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy to research entry routes into fundraising

NEW IDEAS: Gender Issues in Fundraising – a roadmap for structural change

We all know we need to make changes. But the question is how do we make those changes. Ian MacQuillin describes how Rogare aims to identify structural changes that will level the playing field for all female fundraisers, not just those who will benefit from current initiative and projects.

This blog is part of the Gender Issues In Fundraising Project run by Rogare – The Fundraising Think Tank.

OPINION: The cases for and against graduate entry into fundraising

In response to the NonGraduatesWelcome social media campaign, Ian MacQuillin looks at the arguments for and against graduate recruitment into fundraising and asks whether NonGraduatesWelcome risks falling into the trap of anti-intellectual populism.