Philosophy of fundraising – Critical Fundraising

Expanded typology describes many more ways charities are being cut out of doing good

New white paper expands the typology of ‘disintermediation’ – all the ways other actors displace nonprofits in giving, asking for support, and providing aid and help
Disintermediation is marked by whether or not a charity retains control in, and of, relationships with stakeholders – applies particularly to fundraising re donors
New concept of ‘citizen fundraiser/ing’ goes beyond ‘volunteer’ to describe fundraising done by lay people outside the remit of the fundraising profession
More detail on how other actors, particular companies, are delivering services and providing help to people in need
Expanded typology is first step in mapping the routes that charities could take to ‘reintermediate’ into the relationships and processes from which they are displaced
Seeking partners to co-create a toolkit to help charities reintermediate.

Philanthropy advisors cut fundraisers out of stewarding relationships with donors

Philanthropy advisors are increasing displacing charities from stewarding relationships with donors and helping create meaning from their giving.

This is the case put forward in a new white paper from the international think tank Rogare – Death by a thousand cuts: How other actors are displacing charities from giving, asking for support, and providing help (the first phase of a four-phase project with Kingston University Business School in London)

‘Citizen fundraisers’ are taking ownership of fundraising methods

People are increasingly raising funds for good causes outside the reach and remit of the fundraising profession.

While there have always been volunteers who have fundraised for charities, the case made in a new white paper from the international think tank Rogare – Death by a thousand cuts: How other actors are displacing charities from giving, asking for support, and providing help – is that the term ‘volunteer’ is no longer sufficient to describe and encompass all the ways that people conduct raising money for good causes.

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.

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.

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.

NEW THINKING: Blog digest – September 2022

Each month, the Critical Fundraising blog presents a digest of the best fundraising-related blogs and articles from the previous month that have adopted a critical fundraising mode of thought.

Inclusion in this digest does not indicate that Rogare agrees with any arguments presented, only that we thought they made a good argument.

The ‘wildcard blog’ (there are two this month) is a blog that does not discuss ideas that are directly related to fundraising, but whose ideas we might be able to use if we think critically and imaginatively about them.