Editors Bill Stanczykiewicz and Gen Shaker discuss the latest edition of Achieving Excellence in Fundraising and what readers can expect from the new book.
People are Kind and Generous
By Elsbeth Howe
Cindy’s mom Linda did everything she could for Cindy. Linda was a single mother, and she worked low-paying, physically demanding jobs throughout her life. After high school Cindy tried college a few times, but she wasn’t sure what she wanted to study, and the high debt she was incurring alarmed her. Cindy was working a minimum-wage job when Linda convinced her to try college one last time. While working full-time, Cindy attended Inver Hills Community College which offered returning adults substantial counseling and academic support services. With that support and much hard work, Cindy finally earned her college degree.
When graduation day came, Linda arrived at the ceremony two hours early so that she could make sure to find a seat in the front row. Linda said that Cindy’s graduation day was the happiest day of her life, and she kept mouthing “I’m so proud of you” with tears running down her face throughout the entire ceremony. Sadly, Linda passed away shortly after Cindy graduated from college. Linda had very few assets, but she did have a life insurance policy which named Cindy as the beneficiary. Cindy decided that rather than keeping the money for herself, she would generously use her mother’s life insurance proceeds to endow a permanent scholarship for older students with financial need attending Inver Hills Community College.
Was Cindy’s decision to be generous just because she is a nice person who had a nurturing mother who highly valued higher education? Or are all humans inclined to be generous by their nature?
Numerous studies about cooperation, generosity and empathy indicate that generosity is innate to humans. These scholarly works present compelling research using animals and humans to demonstrate that we are hard-wired to be generous. Scientists anticipate that future research will provide even more understanding about evolution and generosity.
First, what is generosity? It differs from cooperative behavior, which is mutually beneficial, and from prosocial behavior which provides benefits to the receiver. Instead, generosity behavior does not reference benefits to the recipient. The Science of Generosity Initiative defines generosity as, “giving good things to others freely and abundantly.”
When we start to look around, generosity is all around us. It is on display in the $471.44 billion that Americans contributed to charity in 2020, which is 5% more than was donated in 2019. It is also present in the volunteer rates of Americans. In 2016 the estimated worth of total U.S. volunteer hours was $193 billion.
It fascinating to examine about the biological origins of generosity. Research shows that animals exhibit both cooperation and generosity. Elizabeth Pennisi in her article ‘How Did Cooperative Behavior Evolve’ describes how animals work together to defend against dangerous enemies. Amazingly, even fish, bees, and army ants exhibit cooperative behavior. Multiple different studies prove that chimpanzees, marmoset monkeys, and bonobos display cooperative and generous behaviors. Research also demonstrates that animals help their fellow species’ members who are in peril and studies reveal that empathy developed to help animals and humans adapt and survive.
Some social scientists suggest that our generosity behaviors may have led to the ascendency of humans. One theory that seeks to understand the evolution of generosity is fitness interdependence. Broadly, this concept is that people who mutually relied on one another experienced increases in reproduction and survival. Fitness interdependence occurs among relatives, when couples have a baby, when people become connected due to difficult circumstances, and because of cultural institutions. It suggests that people with extensive fitness interdependence relationships produce more offspring. In addition, human biology including hormones, brain structure and genetics all play a role in generosity.
The extensive and complex biology of innate generosity was entirely new information for me. It greatly enhances my knowledge of philanthropy in general and provides me with a science-based explanation of philanthropy. In one of my first graduate philanthropy courses, I read about meliorism in Understanding Philanthropy by Robert L. Payton and Michael P. Moody. Meliorism resonated strongly with me; it means “the world can be made better through rightly directed human effort.” Meliorism is especially compelling because of the research that humans are naturally generous. In other words, generosity is not an aberration, it how we are meant to behave.
These insights are particularly valuable in my work as a fundraiser at Inver Hills Community College. My goal is to encourage and activate generosity and understanding the innate global nature of generosity is motivating. It makes me feel like I am in the right place and that I am part of a larger, positive movement of kindness.
Cindy’s passion and commitment to the college and the students consistently inspire me. She embodies the benefits and joy our donors receive from their giving and volunteering. Cindy now serves on the college’s alumni board, mentors students, and supports the college alumni scholarship as well as the scholarship she established in memory of her mother. Cindy is an extraordinary giving person. I am fortunate to know her.
Singer Natalie Merchant expresses my admiration for Cindy in her song Kind and Generous, when she says, “You’ve been so kind and generous… For your selflessness my admiration.”
Elsbeth serves as Development Director at Inver Hills Community College and is responsible for grant-writing, fundraising, event-planning, the alumni association, and scholarship administration.
Prior to this, Elsbeth served as Executive Director at Students United, an advocacy and scholarship nonprofit organization. The majority of her career has been in higher education, and her roles have included lobbyist, instructor and student senate advisor. She has served on several nonprofit boards and is a former City Council member. She graduated from Drake University in 1990 and earned her law degree in 1994 from the University of Iowa. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in philanthropic studies from Indiana University.
Elsbeth and her husband have three children, two in college and one in high school, and one small cat.
Using Data Everyday
This article continues our series on the way that organizations look at systems and governance to increase sustainability.
by Abby Rolland
In the philanthropic sector, data is and has become a topic many want to learn more about. Articles and blog posts from the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), PEAK Grantmaking, Giving Compass, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and others share information about data. Topics ranging from collecting data to aggregating data to analyzing data to sharing data permeate conversations, lectures, and conferences on philanthropy. So how does one graduate student at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy use and learn about data in his work at a private foundation and in his graduate studies?
Ben Callif, Research and Mindset Director at Bader Philanthropies and current master’s degree student at the school, works with data every day. With a background in neuroscience and molecular biology, Callif spent the first part of his career working in a lab, collecting and analyzing large data sets. When he realized after several years that he didn’t want to spend his life in the lab, Callif began researching nonprofits working in the education space.
One contact at a local Milwaukee nonprofit suggested that he look at Bader Philanthropies, a private foundation based in Milwaukee that gives within a number of grantmaking areas in Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin, the U.S., and several countries abroad. As Bader Philanthropies sought to grow its measurement capabilities, Callif’s science background and experience with data aligned with The Foundation’s interests and he began working as a contracted research associate.
That position grew into Callif’s current position as Research and Mindset Director. In his role, he works closely with all of the program officers and grantmaking areas to design systems and analyze The Foundation’s grant selection process. Callif assists grantees with sharing their own data with Bader Philanthropies, and designs trainings to help them grow their own measurement capacity.
Data clearly matters at Bader Philanthropies. But how so? Callif provided several examples of how The Foundation integrates data into its work.
Intentionally gathering information and data that are helpful to understanding grantees and their environment.
“Before, we were collecting data for legal and compliance issues. They weren’t being analyzed or used for other reasons. Several years ago, we commissioned a Grantee Perception Survey from CEP to determine areas of strength and weakness, and one of the lowest scores on that survey was the reporting process. So, we spent a number of years thoroughly analyzing our application through reporting processes to think through what we cared about, what we had to know, and what could be simplified to make the process easier.
“From those surveys and our own analysis, we implemented what we call metrics. These are a range, from activities through outcomes, which are flexible and categorized and which grantees self-select. Metrics assist us in aggregating data for the board while also connecting grantees to program officers to clarify what is and has been measured in their organization.
“We wanted to make the grant application more like a feedback loop between us and our grantees, so that they learned something from it even if their application wasn’t funded.”
Helping grantees understand and collect important data.
“We recently finished our first Building Measurement Capacity Cohort. We’ve collaborated with four other foundations to share this training for nonprofits which helps them better understand how to strengthen their research and measurement capabilities.
“We decided to make a grant to a local research nonprofit called Data You Can Use to create a learning cohort of grantees who wanted to improve their measurement capacities in whatever way that means to them. We just wrapped up the first cohort of that group, and look forward to future sessions.”
Touching base with grantees to see what works.
“We’ve hosted webinars to explain the new process and why we’re structuring it in this way. We’ve received a great deal of good feedback from those sessions.
“We’re also planning on conducting another CEP survey this year to collect data on our grantees’ responses to these changes and updates.”
Callif is also learning a great deal in the course Data for Good with Dr. Patricia Snell Herzog. Much of his learning about the philanthropic sector has been through on-the-ground training; through the course, he’s better able to understand additional data that could be collected and measured. He’s thinking through his final project, which involves using systems to visualize data.
“In my previous career, I had to analyze and understand the data, but I didn’t have to display it. At Bader Philanthropies, we want to establish high-level targets using data and visualizations, and then use those visualizations to illustrate grantee’s stories and impact.
“We’ve made the metrics quite flexible and open-ended, which helps the grantees, but it also means that we have to find ways to choose, enter, and display data of dozens of metrics in only one visual.”
Long-term, Callif and his team hope to build out theories of change for each of The Foundation’s grantmaking priorities, which will then be used to determine what data are collected and why. “We want to create and illustrate fully-fleshed out strategies to explain why we’re measuring what we’re measuring. In other words, we want to understand what we expect The Foundation’s dollars to do in the world.”
He also hopes to collaborate more with other foundations. “In an ideal world, foundations would collect the same data and have, for example, a common application. However, I recognize that’s not necessarily feasible. So what are ways that we can work together to use data to achieve common goals?”
In the meantime, Callif is expanding his academic knowledge through his graduate coursework at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
“I wanted a degree that relates to my job. I have a hunger for learning, and wanted to learn material that was/is more relevant to my work. So far, the master’s degree at the school has been great and has done just that. It’s given me amazing context about philanthropy as a field and as a concept. It’s validated many of the guesses that I had about the sector. I’ve gotten a great deal out of every class – I’ve pulled information and context from every single class into my work at The Foundation.”
Long-term, Callif sees himself continuing to use data and make an impact at Bader Philanthropies. “I love what I do, and foresee a future where I can keep doing what I’m doing to improve the field and make a difference.”
Abby Rolland works in grants, communications, and special projects at harp-weaver, a philanthropic advisory firm that offers a broad array of services to institutional donors. She has a master’s degree in philanthropic studies from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from The Fund Raising School.
Hardwired to help: How moments of crisis can provide the connection we need.
We’ve all seen the headlines. Felt them to our very bones and generally before our morning coffee. People are tired and worn out. We’ve learned a new term: languishing.
As we approach yet another anniversary of the pandemic that caught us all flat-footed and unaware, it seems that to be exhausted and overwhelmed is just the normal human experience. Perhaps it’s hardwired. Or is there more?
In her new book, Atlas of the Heart, Brené Brown describes a moment in her job working in a restaurant. If a staff member felt hugely overwhelmed, they could declare themselves “blown” and walk out for a 15-minute break. Coworkers would swoop in, cover everything that needed to be done so that the individual could take a moment and come back refreshed and ready to finish their shift.
I think we’re all a little bit blown. What, then, are we to do?
Researcher Sara Konrath suggests that the magic not lies just in the acknowledgement that we’re tired, but also in the actions of the coworkers. Their empathetic actions served both Brown and themselves. “Two years into a pandemic, it’s OK to not be OK,” Konrath said. “Empathy isn’t always for others; it also includes yourself. Setting up your environment so you’re surrounded by caring people helps you to be empathetic, too. Self-compassion is important.” (Indiana University, 2022)
Elizabeth Pennisi points to the evolutionary significance of these kinds of cooperation: “Animals help each other out in many ways. In social species from honeybees to naked mole rates, kinship fosters cooperation: Females forgo reproduction and instead help the dominate female with her young. And common agendas help unrelated individuals work together. Male chimpanzees, for example, gang up against predators, protecting each other at a potential cost to themselves.”
In modern-day suburbia, this is alive and well. Our family has friends next door that help with big projects, like taking down trees or putting in the garden. We do the same, and usually end with a big meal to celebrate together. Small tasks, like picking up something from the store or borrowing a cup of flour, are also shared when needed. Every time it happens, I’m blown away by the amount of connection both giver and receiver get by these moments. It’s helped me with my own feelings of overwhelm. It is a small moment with huge consequences for what it means to be in community.
It’s a circular relationship, with giving and receiving providing life-giving moments that make up the human experience. When we give, we also receive and vice versa.
What, then, does this mean for philanthropy?
For the philanthropist, it means that giving can be both meaningful and connecting. It provides both ties with community and a boost to one’s own esteem. For the recipient, it can mean a moment of connection as well. It means that we are not alone and, in fact, are part of a larger community that provides caring even (or especially) when we need it most.
Konrath describes a moment during a recent winter snowstorm when a neighbor dropped off some baked goods on her porch with a small note to enjoy the snow day. For her family, it was a moment of both enjoying the treats and also knowing that they were part of a fellowship of neighbors. (Indiana University, 2022)
Payton and Moody call these acts, and all acts of philanthropy, “voluntary action for the public good.” (You’ll note it doesn’t specify “monetary donations for the public good.”)
If you are feeling disconnected and unable to engage in larger philanthropic activities, perhaps this is the place to start. Who do you know that is blown? Offer an unexpected moment of respite. Or, if you are in the weeds yourself, personally or professionally, claim it and say it out loud. You might be surprised who shows up. After all, we are hardwired to help.
Aja May Pirtle has two decades of experience in marketing and fundraising in nonprofits, government, and education. She currently serves as managing director of marketing and communications for the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
A reflection on a life-changing first year of college
By Rachel Leininger
Colleges and universities are seeing a 3.2% decline in enrollment from a year ago and only 73% of students returned for their second year in 2020—down 2% from 2019 (Source: Forbes). While there has been a steady decline in enrollment since 2012, the pandemic has added numerous challenges. Many families are feeling constrained financially, so starting or returning to school may not feel attainable.
To relieve these burdens, the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy offers numerous undergraduate and graduate scholarships, in addition to funds available through IUPUI. One recipient of financial support is freshman Emily Eshbach, who received a full scholarship to attend our school and pursue a degree in philanthropic studies and marketing.
A native of Waterloo, Indiana, Emily found her passion through her deep engagement with nonprofits and volunteer organizations in her community. Her past experiences include the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Student of the Year Campaign, United Way of Allen County, Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana, Miss America Organization, and many more. She is excited to one day be a leader in the nonprofit sector.
“Being a double major, I’m excited for both critical thinking and hands-on experiences I’ll learn from the nonprofit sector,” she said. “I’m especially looking forward to our study away program in Sarasota, Florida.”
She says her move from home to school has been seamless because there are always things going on and numerous ways to get involved on campus.
“I love that Indianapolis always has something going on,” she said. “I’m always reading restaurant reviews and finding the best events and athletic events to attend. It’s been a great transition to campus and the city.”
Inside Higher Ed reports that in a Student Voice survey conducted last fall showed 34% of students said the semester was going better than expected. Respondents said there were more in-person classes, social gatherings, and professors’ understanding of challenges facing students.
“While things on campus are not back to pre-pandemic standards, they have been slowly improving. Students do still experience challenges due to the pandemic, but also seem very happy to be back on campus with their peers,” said Pamela Clark, assistant dean of enrollment management and student success at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. “Our school is small enough that we can provide personal attention and support to our students and our faculty remain committed to allowing the flexibility that they need in these times. We are doing our best to get through this together and are hopeful for a new normal that will serve our students well.”
In addition to her studies, Emily is the Vice President of Philanthropy and Service for Zeta Tau Alpha, and a member of the Philanthropy Ambassadors and Marketing clubs. She also got a job as a student services assistant at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
“I have to remain organized to get all my classes in, but the organization and planning is always exciting for me,” she said. “I enjoy the ability to make my own schedule and have the independence—I get to choose my priorities.”
Rachel Leininger is the public relations manager at Well Done Marketing, a full-service marketing and PR agency. She works on strategic public relations and social media communications for clients in a variety of industries, including the nonprofit sector, education, healthcare, legal services, energy, and more. Previous experience includes communication efforts for the Columbus Area Arts Council and the IUPUI School of Nursing. Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in civic leadership from Indiana State University.