What Funders Want

Hear from a funder's perspective: how to better attract and retain major donors

This masterclass will deliver insights into how you can better structure your major gifts fundraising, from the perspective of major funders and their ‘due diligence’ questions of your funding proposals. Learn, from the funder’s perspective, the secrets to:

• Building a compelling and relevant proposal • The critical stewardship path to your next gift• Proving value, through outcomes and impact reporting• Staying off donor ‘black lists’

http://samhardyphilanthropy.com.au/what-funders-want/

0422 067 969

samantha.hardy

sam@samhardyphilanthropy.com GPO Box 3075

www.samhardyphilanthropy.com.au SYDNEY NSW 2001

Dr  Samantha  Hardy

The field of philanthropy is more strategic and focused on impact than it has ever been with donors increasingly demanding clear strategies for change and evidence of impact from grantees. At the same time, non-profits of all sizes and types are failing to demonstrate their impact - the very thing that donors want above all else.

The field of philanthropy (or major gift giving) is changing. Donors are becoming more strategic, interconnected and they are becoming experts in philanthropy for the greatest impact.

‘Strategic ‘and ‘high impact’ philanthropy is results and impact oriented. It involves (1) setting clear, measurable goals, (2) developing sound, evidence-based strategies for achieving them, (3) measuring progress along the way to achieving them, and (4) determining whether interventions are actually successful in reaching their goals.

AboutWhat Funders Want

0422 067 969

samantha.hardy

sam@samhardyphilanthropy.com GPO Box 3075

www.samhardyphilanthropy.com.au SYDNEY NSW 2001

#NextGenDonors is a 2012 study into the next generation generation of philanthropic leaders in the US. With unprecedented wealth, these donors hold the future of philanthropy in their hands.

This is their stand out message: “its all about impact, first and foremost”. #NextGenDonors want impact they can see, and they want to know that their own involvement has or will contribute to that impact. This focus translates into 5 common components of philanthropic strategy:

1. Donors are increasingly conducting due diligence before deciding who to support2. They set their own philanthropic goals and ideal solutions first and then they search for

potential recipients who fit their agendas3. They preference efforts to address root causes and attempt systemic solutions4. They want information about an organisation's proven effectiveness or measurable impact

before deciding whether to support it 5. They give and receive recommendations about who to fund

A trend in Australia is the growing interconnectedness of philanthropic communities and this is linked to the growth in ‘strategic’ and ‘high impact’ philanthropy.

In every sector where there are multiple major donors gifting, there is a high chance they will be connected. Facilitated by a growing number of issue based philanthropy networks, donors are coming together locally, nationally and internationally to share their experiences and compare the results of their funding. They are also sharing their knowledge, pooling their resources and creating top level change strategies in the areas where they have common interests.

All of this means that major donors are increasingly subject experts in their fields of giving and in the mechanics of how to make change happen. This has major implications for those seeking funding.

As part of their due diligence, donors want to understand the overall impact that grantees want to have on the world and the specific changes they are seeking to bring about to achieve this overall impact. They then want see evidence that their activities are the right ones to bring about the changes they are seeking, and they want to see performance measures and impact reports.

The problem is, charities and non-profits aren’t giving funders what they want.

In 2010, New Philanthropy Capital analyzed the annual reports of all the major charities in the UK. They found that while charities are great at taking about their vision and their activities, they are failing to talk in enough detail about the problems and needs they are seeking to address, the performance of their activities and their actual outcomes and impacts.

REGISTER TODAYhttp://samhardyphilanthropy.com.au/what-funders-want/

0422 067 969

samantha.hardy

sam@samhardyphilanthropy.com GPO Box 3075

www.samhardyphilanthropy.com.au SYDNEY NSW 2001

This means that charities and non-profits are struggling to communicate what’s most important to funders. This study didn’t explore the annual reports of Australian charities, but I have examined a significant number and I endorse this conclusion.

Are you involved with fundraising for major gifts? Could it be that your organization isn’t giving major donors all that they want?

We have the solution.

Our What Funders Want Masterclass will help you attract and retain major donors. It provides rare insights from the perspective of a donor advisor who has worked with funders in most sectors.

REGISTER TODAYhttp://samhardyphilanthropy.com.au/what-funders-want/

0422 067 969

samantha.hardy

sam@samhardyphilanthropy.com GPO Box 3075

www.samhardyphilanthropy.com.au SYDNEY NSW 2001