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
In a post in Inc. Magazine, Jeff Haden talks about feeling “completely out of your depth.” The post is about simple words of praise and reassurance – how those words can make all the difference, and what an easy gift they are to give. As I read Jeff’s story (which I recommend – click through … Read more
I can’t get through a day anymore without at least one conversation about blurring lines – how different players in the social change arena can work together better, learn from each other, avoid duplication, create new organizational forms that aren’t stuck in the old “business vs. nonprofit” paradigm. It is becoming clear to me that, … Read more
It’s been an intense and energizing few days, exploring with a pair of brilliant visionary strategists with whom every exploration seems to lead to even more exploration. The question that arose early in our time together was this: “How can we support each other’s work in as integrated a fashion as possible?” The wording of … Read more
It’s Monday! This is not an ordinary Monday, though. On this day between the Halloween that took over this past weekend and the US Election Day we will face tomorrow, today we have a moment to rest, to see more clearly. A month ago, I posted about the solace and meaning we can find in each … Read more
Something surprising happened to me this week. I was preparing a pre-reading list for a client – the list of readings and video clips that allow our precious face-to-face time to be more meaningful. This workshop will be about engagement, and so I flipped through the books I’ve written on those subjects, to cite pages … Read more
An interesting discussion ensued on Facebook the other day. As I pondered a blog post that has been brewing in my mind, I asked, “Coaches: I’m working on a list of the ways coaching is different from consulting. Any ideas / thoughts?” I was not prepared for 18 responses, some contradicting others, all of which … Read more
People in the community benefit sector, all over the world, are doing the work that makes our communities livable, joyful, warm and inviting and healthy and strong. This sector’s work is about compassion, resilience, health. It is about vibrancy, humanity. Our work is about caring for children, for the elderly. For people living with illness, … Read more
So much of the discussion of yesterday’s Name Change blog post happened in the comments, that I’m making this a separate post. If you haven’t read those comments, please do so here. The conversation truly took my breath away. In that discussion you will see that we are going to move forward to raise money … Read more