Images, ethics, and fundraising

Posted on May 15, 2020 by Abby Rolland

Dr. Kathi Badertscher works with students looking at fundraising photos.

How many of you can raise your hand if you’ve seen images of a child in another country? Is that child visibly malnourished? Is he or she surrounded by dry, cracked land that suggests recent famine? Is he or she extending his or her hands to the camera, almost as if begging for a hand-out?

Well, as I learned recently, images such as these (which I’m sure most, if not all of us have seen) are called “poverty porn.” Organizations (such as nonprofits) use “poverty porn” to curry sympathy, and in extension, donations from donors.

It’s pretty effective too. How many of us could turn away from an emaciated, crying child? (I have a hard time doing so).

However, how exploitative is this practice? How many organizations do it? What should fundraisers know about it?

I stepped into one module of the new course “Fundraising Ethics” to find out. This course is part of the new Certificate in Fund Raising Leadership that The Fund Raising School has designed to enhance fundraisers’ leadership skills and knowledge.

And who better to teach this new course than ethics expert Dr. Kathi Badertscher?

During this specific module, she asked the participants in the room to pull out their annul fund letters, fundraising emails, examples of social media posts, and other appeals with organizational images on them, and asked them to analyze and discuss whether or not these images could be considered exploitative or fall under the “poverty porn” category.

We then discussed several international organizations and their use of images in their fundraising appeals and campaigns. We were all surprised by some of the images used, and a bit turned off. These organizations are large and well-known. Surely someone on their large team considered the “optics” that the image produces.

Poverty porn raises questions such as, “when is it okay to use images, and when isn’t it?” Who questions the use of images in fundraising? How do we make connections to potential and current donors without images of some kind?

It also brings up larger questions about the role of philanthropy and charity in today’s world. Are we objectifying the people we help? Are we utilizing participatory philanthropy approaches, or are we proscribing solutions top-down? Do the approaches we utilize with images, and with philanthropy overall, help others long-term, or do we saddle them with incorrect and harmful stereotypes?

I don’t think there are answers to those questions, but I will say that Dr. Badertscher brought up an interesting perspective on imaging. She suggested shifting images and the messages they convey from “need” to “solution.” What solutions do nonprofits create? How do we empower people? How do we work from a “bottom-up” approach to better humanity?

While you may not have immediate answers to these questions, Dr. Badertscher did suggest looking at the nonprofit Radi-Aid for assistance on finding images that “vibe” with the work of empowered philanthropy as a whole.

Also, consider signing up for this course with The Fund Raising School, or taking the academic course “Applying Ethics” with Dr. Badertscher. You will look at images, your approach to philanthropy, and other ethical issues in a whole new light!

Reflecting on my M.A. journey – from exploratory student to donor relations expert

Posted on May 13, 2020 by Abby Rolland

Over 75 Lilly Family School of Philanthropy students were set to participate in commencement on May 16. While the ceremony was postponed, one M.A. graduate wanted to share her story here.

By Faryal Khatri

The final semester and graduation are times of mixed emotion. You wait for this moment from the day you begin the program, but when the moment comes, you frantically search for a pause button. I am so grateful for all of the amazing people I’ve met on this journey, the incredible faculty and staff whose mentorship and friendship have been invaluable and for the professional growth over the past two years.

The M.A. program helped me discover my love and passion for stewardship and donor relations. I entered the program with a background in healthcare and communications, as well as a passion to create a just world. There were so many things I wanted to do and so many directions I could go in. There were many challenges and transitions along the way, but by the end, I found myself in the industry I love most (healthcare, particularly pediatrics) and expertise in an area of philanthropy I love most (donor relations).

I really enjoyed the projects and exercises that gave us a taste of real-world experiences. The most memorable was creating a foundation for Dr. Catherine Herrold’s class. One of the board members I had selected to serve for my foundation happened to publish a book around the same time. With an unexplainable burst of confidence, I sent him a message on Twitter. To my surprise, he responded and agreed to hold a meet and greet/book launch in Indianapolis!

I also discovered the ever-growing depth and breadth of Muslim philanthropy as an academic discipline. I remember feeling like a kid in a candy shop when I attended my first Symposium on Muslim Philanthropy and Civil Society. It was so inspiring to hear about the work being done and networking with incredible movers and shakers. I’ve learned a great deal about Muslim philanthropy beyond zakat and sadaqah and found that I have grown spiritually in a way I would never have expected to!

Just as my final semester was beginning, I found myself at a point of transition. In mid-February, I accepted a job offer at Children’s Medical Center Foundation and by the end of the month, I moved to Dallas, TX. Two weeks later, shelter-in-place orders began, and the COVID-19 lockdown took place. As part of that lockdown, the graduation ceremony to take place this month was also canceled. I was really looking forward to flying back to Indianapolis and celebrating with my parents. It was difficult for all of us to cancel those plans.

I am the first in my family to attain a master’s degree. Coming from an immigrant family, I have always been acutely aware that education is a privilege, particularly for women who are barred from education reasons varying from poverty to cultural or political oppression.

I think about my mom whose educational journey, like many other girls of her time, transitioned at a young age from formal schooling to vocational training. Several years after immigrating to the United States, she completed a GED program. This is a huge accomplishment and I am so proud of her for it.

Soon after immigrating, my dad enrolled at IUPUI and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been for my parents to immigrate to a new country, start and raise a family, and accomplish what they did. All their sacrifices, all their blood, tears, and sweat laid down the path for my brothers and me to have endless opportunities and to reach our highest aspirations.

The graduation ceremony and celebrations were never meant to be about me, they were about honoring my parents’ sacrifices and celebrating the fruits of their labor. I think that was the most difficult part of having the graduation ceremony canceled.

Congratulations to the Class of 2020!

Congratulations and thank you Papa and Maa for all you have done and continue to do!

My last day

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Andrea Pactor

This post was originally published on April 30 on LinkedIn.

Today is the last day of my amazing journey with the Women’s Philanthropy Institute over the past 15 years. This chapter of my life has been brought by the letter “P.” “P” is for philanthropy, of course, but also “P” sums up my phavorite parts of the job: programs, places, and people.

I’ve presented programs with all sorts of themes including comparing women’s philanthropy to Watty Piper’s children’s book, The Little Engine That Could. Programs and places were often intertwined. In 2012, I had the privilege to speak at a Tiffany Circle conference in the breathtakingly gorgeous Governors Hall at the American Red Cross building in Washington, D.C.

The Governors Hall houses the largest suite of Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass windows created for a secular building. The windows’ origins are a wonderful example of women’s philanthropy at work, one of many remarkable stories I learned through WPI. Philanthropist Mabel Boardman, who served as ARC secretary for many years, suggested the idea of the windows to the Women’s Relief Corps of the North and the United Daughters of the Confederacy, two organizations of Civil War women that agreed to pay for the windows with contributions of $5,000 each.

Four pillars grace the top of the stairs of the magnificent headquarters of the American Red Cross, supporting the portico where the universally recognized logo is emblazoned. In my presentation, I stated that these four pillars represent promise, power, potential, and plan. The letter “P” featured prominently in many presentations.

In a presentation in Wyoming, I compared philanthropy to an Oreo cookie. What is the link between the Oreo cookie and philanthropy? They are both good. Each is a staple of our society. The Oreo is consumed in a variety of ways, and philanthropy is practiced in a variety of ways. For this presentation I also learned that in 1890 Wyoming was the first state to grant women the right to vote. Why did they do that? Well, the frontiersmen were lonely. At that time in Wyoming there were 6,000 men and 1,000 women; the men thought more women would move to the state if they had the right to vote.

It seems that for the past 15 years everywhere I went, everywhere I turned, and often whenever I wasn’t looking, a women’s philanthropy story popped up and caught my attention. Before I saw the musical Hamilton, I had no idea Eliza Hamilton was a philanthropist. The orphanage she started in 1806 in memory of her beloved husband is still operating today as Graham Windham. Virtually every vacation turned into a busman’s holiday as I wrote in this LinkedIn post about a trip to the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. I wouldn’t have it any other way. And, as I move into retirement, I know this pattern will continue.

Yet, it’s the people who made this job with WPI the best ever. From my colleagues at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy to the amazing women and men I have met on this journey, each of you has nourished and enriched me in multiple ways. Professor Dwight Burlingame has been steadfast in his support and friendship from the time he admitted me to the master’s program in July 2001 and hired me to work a part-time job later that year.

The people who work in women’s philanthropy are passionate, proud, and persistent. Dr. Debra Mesch, my colleague (and supervisor) for 12 years, has been incredibly patient, almost always willing to let me pursue wild dreams. The volunteer leaders of the WPI Council have provided strategic guidance, been helpful sounding boards, and always led with conviction. The more than 100 people who have spoken at WPI symposia since 2005 have informed and inspired us. Thank you all for your commitment to women’s philanthropy and WPI.

OK, one more story. I love this one, and I have to share it. In 2017 Kim Jung, co-founder of Rumi Spice, spoke at the WPI symposium about her entrepreneurial work with Afghani farmers to bring saffron to the U.S. Kim, a West Point grad, Army vet, and Harvard MBA, told me that near the end of the MBA program, students are asked this question from the Mary Oliver poem, The Summer Day, “What will you do with your one wild and precious life?” Kim impressed me – a lot. One day earlier this year, I met a guy who was out encouraging people to vote. I learned he had gone to West Point and served in the Army. It seemed that he and Kim might have been about the same age. So, I asked him if he knew Kim Jung.

I know very few people who went to West Point, so it was a long shot. He responded, “Kim Jung? I dated her at West Point!” Had it not been for women’s philanthropy and my time at WPI, I would not have been able to get such joy from this encounter. And, it was only one of many that brought joy over the years.

During good times and challenging times, it was always the people who brought energy, vitality, and purpose to my work with WPI. I will be forever grateful. It has been such phun! Thank you.

P.S. Hard as it is to believe, today really is my last day at WPI. My personal email is apactor@gmail.com. Stay in touch. I’d love to learn what you are doing with your one wild and precious life and how you are advancing women’s philanthropy.

P.P.S. To stay in touch with WPI, please follow Jeannie Sager, WPI’s wonderful new director. She’s a perfect fit for this position.

‘I see myself as a philanthropist in a whole new way’

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Anne Brock

By Lisa Smith Fiegel, Alaska Synod (ELCA) director for evangelical mission

When I heard the knock, I expected to be asked to give a large sum of money to a ministry I love. What I didn’t expect was the way it would make me feel.

Two representatives from the ministry sat down with me and thanked me for my volunteer time and past gifts. They knew I cared about the ministry; we all knew money was needed to launch a capital campaign. After some small talk, one of them made the ask: would I consider a gift of $10,000 to this ministry? I was blown away. Not by the amount, but by how it would feel to give a 5-figure sum to a ministry I loved.

Now, I’m in the early years of my professional life. I’m still paying on graduate school student loans. I have small children at home, plus a mortgage. I am not the kind of person who gets asked to make 5-figure charitable gifts. Not ever. I had never given that much away at one time, not even a 4-figure gift in one lump. It was exhilarating to be asked. I was filled with joy at the thought of making such an impact on a ministry I cared about.

Plot twist: this was a simulation. I was at the Executive Certificate for Religious Fundraising (ECRF) seminar last year; I was asked to play the “donor” and two classmates practiced making the “ask.” The whole class was watching this fishbowl exercise. My classmates did a great job, so of course I said yes! It wasn’t real money, anyway.

But the simulation moved me. All that next day, I kept returning again and again to the way I felt when the simulated fundraiser asked me for $10,000. It was make-believe, but my joy was real. As I imagined myself as that kind of person, that kind of philanthropist, I felt that exhilaration again, and the eager anticipation of being that generous in the future.

The ECRF was a 4-day seminar abundant with well-researched information, practical theological reflections and excellent tools for the work of religious fundraising, which have been immediately applicable in my context. I was able to start doing things differently the very next week, and I continue to weave the ideas and tools from the course into my daily professional work.

We learned how to build an organizational culture of generosity, nurture generous donors, write a compelling case for support and think theologically about money and possessions. The ECRF teaching and resourcing is unparalleled.

But perhaps more important has been the work on myself. I see myself as a philanthropist in a whole new way. The course provided us a space to reflect on our current philanthropy and how it integrates with our deepest values. We were given time to reflect with others on experiences of giving and receiving. We were encouraged to dream big about how we could match our core values and passions for ministry with our existing and future resources.

Once we can do that with ourselves, the leap is not too great to do that with others.

Sounding off: Insights into Women Give 2020

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Abby Rolland

1 PM

We went back into breakout rooms to talk more about technology, gender, and giving. I left feeling overall inspired by the work people are doing, even though we’re facing challenges to “move online.”

Want to learn more about these topics? Check out https://wpisymp.iupui.edu/.

12:50 PM

Back in the main room – Sager mentioned that “reach” (using social media platforms) for nonprofits can be even greater than before. In addition, if you’re hosting an event, consider who you speaker is. Having a good speaker is incredibly important when engaging audiences.

Also meet your donors where they are! “Don’t let technology overstep and get in front of stewardship,” Sager explained.

12:40 PM

Then, we were sent into breakout rooms to talk more closely with others. One of the participants mentioned that people are becoming more engaged (and donating more as well) on social media.

Another participant mentioned setting up an Emergency Fund for some of the organizations that her nonprofit supports. She also mentioned that donors are donating more online. With older donors, her organization has been calling in and checking on them.

She also mentioned how important unrestricted donations are for grantees during this time as well.

12:25 PM

How do people on the frontlines use technology to encourage giving? WPI Director Jeannie Sager explained that technology is allowing for greater access and efficiency when engaging donors online.

She also talked about specific examples: one organization has done a fashion show as a fundraiser, and they were able to send clothes for volunteers to model in their own homes. By going online, that organization doubled the number of people who normally attend!

Sager also mentioned that a university made a large major gift ask over Zoom. She encourages fundraisers to prepare just as much, if not more, for a virtual ask. People’s comfort levels with technology are increasing, and nonprofits can connect with their stakeholders through technology even more so now than before.

12:15 PM

Engagement – this Zoom session is all about engaging with others to discuss these research findings. How can we put research in action?

We first talked about the findings of Women Give 2020. Need a refresh? Check out this blog post!

Then, WPI polled us. We discovered that many of us have given online – approximately 50% of us gave online 1-5 times in the past year, and 35% of us gave 5-10 times. Nonprofits, your digital presence matters! In addition, most of us also gave when an organization we already support asks. So fundraisers, make sure you continue to ask online.

Today, we’re blogging live about a Zoom event with the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, featuring their recent report Women Give 2020.

Check back from 12-1 pm EST for updates, insights, and thoughts about this new report, which highlights the intersection of gender, technology, and giving.