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June 16, 2009

Project Planning

June 16, 2008

 

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So you want to plan a project…

With the expectations that work imposes on us,
the limitations of money and time,
and the dearth of accessibility,
it can be difficult to find hobbies, interventions, and events
that are true extensions of ourselves. 

So, along with friends, cohorts, and folks that you think are interesting, PRODUCE YOUR OWN  project!

in my mind, it can be an event, a business venture, an art exhibit, volunteer work, a publication, or anything with a tangible end result.  To get there, you can start with these simple questions: 

1.  What do you want to do?


Before we think of logos and letterhead, let’s ponder the substance of ‘the thing.’

What is the form – written, visual, spoken, heard?
What is the delivery – in person, a publication, audio, video, online?
Who do you want to be involved?
Who do you want your audience to be?

Is it finite or ongoing?
Active or responsive?
Academic or creative?
Informative or curious?
Nourishing or debate-stimulating?

Ask yourself questions like this to determine the substance of your project – what will make it purposeful?

2.      Who else is doing it?


Research organizations, professionals, businesses, volunteer groups, etc. that are doing what you want to do.  Granted, it won’t be exact, but find the groups whose products, projects, work, etc. relates to what you want to do.  Become familiar with them, as they may help to inspire what you do.

If you’d like to consider joining a project that you’ve researched, by all means, strengthen the work of a pre-existing entity!  If not, follow on to step 3…


3.      Who wants to join you?

Assuming you’d like for this to be a collaboration of some sort, review your network and think of who would bring creativity, order, and resourcefulness to ‘the thing’.  Consider their dedication, work ethic, social and professional networks, and geographic location. If all of these create a suitable match for a project partner, let them know what you’re thinking.  

4.                  What do you want to accomplish?

Begin with the end in mind.  At the end of 3 months, 1 year, 5 years, etc. what do you want the end result to be?  Would it be  a measurable change in people’s perceptions, behaviors, and practices?  Could it be a new product? Will it be tangible or conceptual? After your team decides on what you want to accomplish, then begin to articulate the steps to get there…

Visit soon for our next steps…….

Posted by allysonreaves at 02:30 PM |

April 24, 2008

Protecting Our Vernacular Part II

 

Charity vs. Philanthropy

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The Protecting Our Vernacular  post discussed the sector’s responsibility to caution ourselves in using words that describe what we do.  In calling a charitable act philanthropic, we must be sure that certain principles apply:  responsible giving, equity demonstrated to those we serve, and accountability to the general public come to mind.
 
A few days ago, I had the pleasure of discussing with a sector-challenger the differences between charity and philanthropy.  We frequent a for-profit restaurant where on more than one occasion, a man that we perceive to be homeless comes every evening to collect a packaged meal.  We were discussing the field when we made the observation, and my buddy offers that since philanthropy is essentially caring for mankind, the contribution should be considered philanthropic.

Being the accountability obsessed practitioner that I am, I battled (fork and knife in hand!) about why it’s charity…not philanthropy.  I scored a couple, and so did he…but we finally agreed on a few things:


1.        The restaurant does not have the publicly defined mission to distribute unused food and materials to those less fortunate. 
It’s not philanthropy.
2.       The restaurant does not contribute food to a specified community in need. 
It’s not philanthropy.
3.       The restaurant does not maintain records of its charitable contributions, and therefore cannot offer to the general public accurate records of its benevolence. 
It’s not philanthropy.
4.       The restaurant will likely not assume responsibility if any health-related problems should occur as a result of consuming the food. 
It’s not philanthropy.
5.       The restaurant does not ensure that the service provided will be continued on a regular basis. 
It’s not philanthropy.
 
On any given day, the service can stop.  It’s not reliable.  It’s not responsible. 
It’s not philanthropy.


In my sincere efforts to carry the torch of effective use of our vocab, I’m happy to pass along some information about the  International Encyclopedia on Civil Society. With Helmut Anheier and Stefan Toepler as co-editors, the work will be published by Springer in 2009.  Be sure to look out for it.  

let's keep building!

allyson


 

Posted by allysonreaves at 05:58 AM |

April 18, 2008

From Proverb to Process

On Building Self-Sustainability

where it matters the MOST

 

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give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. but if you teach a man to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime.

if you give a woman a fish, she will feed her family first and might possibly go hungry.

if you teach a woman to fish, she will feed her family, open a fish market, and build her community's economy until outside forces take away her fishing rights or pollute the lake.

if you help a woman buy the lake, she will feed her family, enlarge her fish market business, build her community's economy, and keep the lake environmentally clean and have something to pass on to future generations.

 

Posted by allysonreaves at 08:51 AM |

February 26, 2008

Hobbies? What hobbies?

"let the beauty of what you love

be what you do" 

Jalal ad-Din Rumi....

Just got back from Firenze, where I spent a beautiful weekend with my lovely sister, Jillian, and we had such a great time.  While in Italy, I’m certainly making the best of my philanthroship experience, and I am so happy to be in a position that allows creative freedom with my work.  I’m working on getting come collaborative projects off the ground here….we’ll see how things turn out.  I’d like to keep directing my career creatively, and if things work out the way I hope, that’ll be the course of action.
 
Regarding philanthropy, I haven’t been involved with the foundation’s programming, but through writing and researching, I’ve been able to learn so much.  I don’t even have a title, but I’ve been introduced to so many things, I might have trouble if I had to pick one for myself.  Instead, I’ll borrow from G. Bruce Boyer…..

 
A hobby, I take it, is something one loves,
but is unable to make a living from doing.
I'm an integrationist: :
I love my work,
and integrate everything I do into it.
http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html
 
 
Posted from The Sartorialist, whose experience in shaping his working world has certainly left an imprint on me.  Although I’m not in the same industry, his demonstration of creativity, persistence, patience, and time are very inspirational.

Posted by allysonreaves at 10:42 AM |

February 19, 2008

Protecting Our Vernacular

February 19, 2008

 

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So I just finished an article in the December 2007 issue of Alliance Magazine (unfortunately it’s not listed as a free article at http://www.alliancemagazine.org/free/ ), but it basically aired the frustrations of an organization obtaining a ‘philanthropic status’ and how ‘philanthropy’ should be embedded in a society (as in...enabling each society to define philanthropy for itself) rather than having it applied (as it has historically been done) as a globally accepted and understood classification of activity. 
 
 
The author offers that ‘even burial is very much a philanthropic event.’ 
I’m sorry….but unless the bereaved can:
 
 
A) Transparently measure the social impact of putting somebody in the grave;
B) Accept donations during the funeral and direct them to the local community foundation, or
C) Carry out the deceased person’s bequest  to benefit a local NPO,
 
 
Ain’t nothing philanthropic about a funeral. 
 
I say all this to support my belief that we must protect our philanthropy based-vernacular.  We can’t just throw words like ‘philanthropy’ around to describe conditions that really aren’t well….philanthropic. 

The word ‘philanthropy’ adds a certain degree of credibility to an organization’s activities.  It means that the organization’s intentions and actions are honest, measurable, and able to be supported by excruciatingly painful mounds of paperwork. 
 
Econ heads would be outraged if folks threw around terms like bull and bear markets to describe purchasing tendencies at the local produce stand.  
 
They protect their language….that way they can trust the institutions that use it. 
 
 

Posted by allysonreaves at 10:35 AM |

February 05, 2008

Adjusting the Climate in a Work Environment

February 5, 2007 

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Think back to the interview for your current job.  In hindsight, I’ve discovered that in these precious moments, you have the opportunity to define your professional goals, communicate them to the person that can get you there, and you create an environment that will bring you closer to where you want to be in this field – even if it does not directly benefit the organization hosting your interview.
 
So I sat in my interview seat ready to wow my (hopefully) future President/CEO and convince her to hire me as the newest (and youngest) staffer on board. 
 
I know you’ve had this question… ‘Where do you see yourself in 5 years?’ And you probably prepared an answer for it. 
But me? Man, I must have skipped THAT page in my interview prep book. 
I knew I wanted to do something international. 
I knew that I wanted to be of service. 
And I knew that I wanted this job.
 
So I replied very confidently (but without much thought), ‘I want to be in a decision making role at an institution that strengthens international philanthropy.’  There I sat, butt as heavy as lead, in my interview for the  Program Associate position at my local community foundation.  Entry level…and community foundation….and I want to be a leader on the international level?!!?!?!?!!?  
 
It wasn’t a well thought out answer, but it was the biggest mistake I’m glad that I made.
 
Keeping those in my work environment mindful of my goals kept me mindful of my goals, too….and as soon as I met our incoming President/CEO, I shared my vision with her.  Fortunately, she has the sort of spirit that encourages her team’s success, even if it means that sometimes, the team has to change players. 
 
I was fortunate to work in an office in which I could comfortably express my desires for my future in the field- while it was initially a mistake, I was at peace with articulating my goals with everyone….and those relationships propelled me to advance to the next stage.

Posted by allysonreaves at 09:50 AM |

July 24, 2007

IDEA: Strengthening relationships between Foundations and Nonprofit Organizations

 Helping Hand

Community Foundation Day at An Organization - Each month, a combination of 5-10 board and staff members of the foundation could partner to volunteer at an identified organization that received a grant in the most recent cycle.  This would not only strengthen the foundation’s relationship with organizations, but it would also build the working relationship between board and staff by enabling them to work together towards a similar passion. 

Posted by allysonreaves at 08:26 AM |

July 23, 2007

IDEA: Developing Funds in New Geographic Areas

In box

Hey folks!

Just sitting here thinking of new ways to draw donors and develop funds in areas served by community foundations

  1. Develop a Young Philanthropists Circle Fund in those areas– It could consist of gifts from children, young professionals, etc. 
  2. Develop an Entrepreneurs’ Giving Fund – For those outside of big business, this might be a great opportunity for entrepreneurs in our area to give back to the community.  Perhaps working with the local Chamber might be helpful in identifying ways in which the foundation can partner with the business community in establishing funds for the communities they serve. 
  3. Create Funds to include special industries in those areas The Realtors’ “Welcome Home” Fund (to which real estate companies and independent realtors would be encouraged to give) and The Contractors’ “Building the Community” Fund

    creatively,

    allyson

     

Posted by allysonreaves at 01:56 PM |