Thought leadership – Critical Fundraising

NEW IDEAS: Charitable giving and emergency situations: Striking the balance between urgent need and long-term solutions

As charities around the world face the biggest threat to their existence, there have been many calls for foundations to throw money at the problem to keep charities afloat, or to eliminate fundraising staff. But would doing so cause more long-term harm? Cherian Koshy says we need a ‘Ulysses Pact’ to ensure foundations and fundraising staff are still around to help future generations though their emergencies.

NEW IDEAS: Why fundraisers need to start a journey to an holistic understanding of donors

To better understand donors and build a culture of philanthropy, it’s not enough to think critically. It’s not enough to break out of your silos. It’s not enough to acquire new knowledge in subjects such as behavioural science. Ashley Scott says practitioners need to embark on ‘transdisciplinary’ journey to becoming a more effective fundraiser.

OPINION: Are we curious enough about fundraising?

Most fundraisers only know enough to get things done in their day jobs. Which is alright up to a point. But, argues Nigel Harris, fundraisers need to be more intellectually curious about the factors that influence and impact on their chosen profession.

KNOWLEDGE: More critical thinking at the Ask Direct Summer School

Another week, another conference. This time, it’s the Summer School, devised, hosted and run by Rogare Associate Member Ask Direct. Now in its third year, the event will take place at Trinity College in Dublin on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 July.

OPINION: Resolving the tension between practice and academia in Rogare’s work

Some respondents to the Theory of Change consultation either explicitly stated, or implied, that Rogare was ‘too academic’, and so Rogare would be disconnected form the majority of the profession. Some of our AP members were concerned that Rogare would be considering issues purely for the sake of considering them, without connecting them to the majority of the profession.

KNOWLEDGE: Summary of conclusions from Rogare’s relationship fundraising review

This is a summary of the main conclusions for possible ‘refashionings’ of relationship fundraising.

For the full findings, download the report: Relationship Fundraising: Where Do We Go From Here?

NEWS: Major review of academic theory suggests how relationship fundraising could ‘refashion’ itself

A major review of relationship fundraising conducted by the fundraising think thank Rogare has recommended several possible ways to ‘refashion’ the discipline.