Earlier this week, we attempted to begin Creating the Future’s plan for resource development – doing so live online, as we’ve begun doing with all our planning. Unfortunately, our planning session quickly became a learning opportunity about the technology of the broadcast, as we learned from someone who had been trying to participate that the … Read more
Two years ago, as one of Creating the Future’s first efforts at doing anything at all as an organization, we attempted a year-end appeal. Long time friends may recall that we shut down that appeal moments before “the biggest giving days of the year.” * We shut it down because it didn’t feel right. As a … Read more
Last month, Creating the Future finished its 3rd successful scholarship campaign at StartSomeGood.com – a crowdfunding platform that (unlike other more high profile platforms) is entirely focused on funding for social impact / changing the world. As we do with every venture we embark upon, we learn from every crowdfunding campaign we do. Herewith, in … Read more
The following is a reprint from a post by Hildy, originally penned back in 2003. It remains one of the most reprinted posts in the whole Creating the Future library. And it feels especially important to re-share now, as we approach the madness that is year-end. The Sound a Thank You Makes It was a crazy … Read more
Creating the Future’s Philanthropy Lab held its first meeting in October of 2011. And that means it is way past time that we keep folks in the loop about the work that team is doing, to begin to engage some of the big questions we are sinking our teeth into – and to see if … Read more
When social change efforts use the word “partner” to describe their funders, saying things like, “We are seeking a partner to help fund this effort,” what does that say about us as organizations? And what does it say about our efforts to create a community that is whole and vibrant and healthy? Words contain so … Read more
Since the post on Turning Donors Into Friends Who Care was featured in Creating the Future’s March newsletter, I’ve been reminded again and again of the message in this video clip. Friendship (and hence FriendRaising) is not about making friends so that they will help us. In our real lives, friendship is not a means … Read more
There is a house for sale in my neighborhood. The realtor is an old friend. I walk past his sign every day, think of Jim, and smile. On my walk this morning, the wind had knocked the hanging sign off its hooks. I stopped, re-hung it, and walked on. Instantly, I wondered, “If that wasn’t … Read more
What are we really asking when we ask for donations? This question has arisen as Creating the Future is rethinking everything about how community health and vibrance is supported and sustained. This is not an academic exercise for us. The question arises as a result of rethinking what philanthropy looks like if it reflects its … Read more
At the risk of sounding like the father in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the roots of the word “Philanthropy” come from the ancient Greek. “Philanthropy etymologically means ‘the love of humanity’ – love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of ‘what it is to be human,’ … Read more