what does philanthropy mean to you do you think of charity do you think of
you think of charity do you think of
you think of charity do you think of giving do you think of the haves and the
giving do you think of the haves and the
giving do you think of the haves and the have-nots do you think philanthropy is a
have-nots do you think philanthropy is a
have-nots do you think philanthropy is a one-way transaction where wealthy
one-way transaction where wealthy
one-way transaction where wealthy individuals like Bill and Melinda Gates
individuals like Bill and Melinda Gates
individuals like Bill and Melinda Gates like Nikola and Andrew Forrest give
like Nikola and Andrew Forrest give
like Nikola and Andrew Forrest give money to their charity or cause of
money to their charity or cause of
money to their charity or cause of choice maybe you don’t really know what
choice maybe you don’t really know what
choice maybe you don’t really know what philanthropy is that was me until a few
philanthropy is that was me until a few
philanthropy is that was me until a few years ago I didn’t really know what
years ago I didn’t really know what
years ago I didn’t really know what philanthropy was that didn’t stop me
philanthropy was that didn’t stop me
philanthropy was that didn’t stop me having opinions about philanthropy I had
having opinions about philanthropy I had
having opinions about philanthropy I had strong opinions and I was pretty cynical
strong opinions and I was pretty cynical
strong opinions and I was pretty cynical I thought philanthropists were wealthy
I thought philanthropists were wealthy
I thought philanthropists were wealthy individuals who hadn’t paid their fair
individuals who hadn’t paid their fair
individuals who hadn’t paid their fair share of tax who made themselves feel
share of tax who made themselves feel
share of tax who made themselves feel better about that by giving some of
better about that by giving some of
better about that by giving some of their money to people in need and then I
their money to people in need and then I
their money to people in need and then I spent time looking at philanthropy in
spent time looking at philanthropy in
spent time looking at philanthropy in the US as part of a Fulbright
the US as part of a Fulbright
the US as part of a Fulbright scholarship and I learned that one way
scholarship and I learned that one way
scholarship and I learned that one way to think about philanthropy is improving
to think about philanthropy is improving
to think about philanthropy is improving the welfare of others that might be
the welfare of others that might be
the welfare of others that might be through generous financial giving but it
through generous financial giving but it
through generous financial giving but it doesn’t have to be I really like that
doesn’t have to be I really like that
doesn’t have to be I really like that approach to philanthropy because it
approach to philanthropy because it
approach to philanthropy because it means that anyone can be a
means that anyone can be a
means that anyone can be a philanthropist that we can all be
philanthropist that we can all be
philanthropist that we can all be philanthropists I became interested in
philanthropists I became interested in
philanthropists I became interested in how we might expand a culture of
how we might expand a culture of
how we might expand a culture of philanthropy around that idea and I
philanthropy around that idea and I
philanthropy around that idea and I started working more closely
started working more closely
started working more closely particularly with corporate
particularly with corporate
particularly with corporate philanthropists I would go to events put
philanthropists I would go to events put
philanthropists I would go to events put on by corporate foundations talking
on by corporate foundations talking
on by corporate foundations talking about the charities they were supporting
about the charities they were supporting
about the charities they were supporting and along with everyone else in the room
and along with everyone else in the room
and along with everyone else in the room I would be swept up by inspiring tales
I would be swept up by inspiring tales
I would be swept up by inspiring tales of social impact of creative solutions
of social impact of creative solutions
of social impact of creative solutions to deep problems and then invariably
to deep problems and then invariably
to deep problems and then invariably there would be this moment where one
there would be this moment where one
there would be this moment where one executive or another from the corporate
executive or another from the corporate
executive or another from the corporate foundation would make a comment that I
foundation would make a comment that I
foundation would make a comment that I have come to call business planing
have come to call business planing
have come to call business planing explaining it’s like mansplaining but
explaining it’s like mansplaining but
explaining it’s like mansplaining but it’s what businesses do to charities
and the more I watched businesses
and the more I watched businesses business planning the more I realized it
business planning the more I realized it
business planning the more I realized it came from a place where they didn’t
came from a place where they didn’t
came from a place where they didn’t really understand what they were
really understand what they were
really understand what they were supporting the more I understood
supporting the more I understood
supporting the more I understood business planning was a barrier to
business planning was a barrier to
business planning was a barrier to philanthropic effectiveness on one
philanthropic effectiveness on one
philanthropic effectiveness on one occasion the head of philanthropy for a
occasion the head of philanthropy for a
occasion the head of philanthropy for a major tech company was talking about a
major tech company was talking about a
major tech company was talking about a water sanitation charity they were
water sanitation charity they were
water sanitation charity they were supporting in a developing country the
supporting in a developing country the
supporting in a developing country the charity only had two paid staff the rest
charity only had two paid staff the rest
charity only had two paid staff the rest of its workforce were volunteers and
of its workforce were volunteers and
of its workforce were volunteers and they were doing well they’d secured
they were doing well they’d secured
they were doing well they’d secured clean water close to this community for
clean water close to this community for
clean water close to this community for the first time but said the head of
the first time but said the head of
the first time but said the head of foundation the charity is so underfunded
foundation the charity is so underfunded
foundation the charity is so underfunded imagine if they had the resources to
imagine if they had the resources to
imagine if they had the resources to scale up what they’re doing they could
scale up what they’re doing they could
scale up what they’re doing they could really have an impact now if you’re a
really have an impact now if you’re a
really have an impact now if you’re a global tech company you measure success
global tech company you measure success
global tech company you measure success in terms of size and scale those
in terms of size and scale those
in terms of size and scale those measures have dollar signs this
measures have dollar signs this
measures have dollar signs this corporate foundation was applying the
corporate foundation was applying the
corporate foundation was applying the same metrics to its interpretation of
same metrics to its interpretation of
same metrics to its interpretation of the impact of a water sanitation charity
the impact of a water sanitation charity
the impact of a water sanitation charity in a local community in a developing
in a local community in a developing
in a local community in a developing country classic business planning
country classic business planning
country classic business planning because what they’d missed was not only
because what they’d missed was not only
because what they’d missed was not only had this charity achieved its intended
had this charity achieved its intended
had this charity achieved its intended impact it had surpassed it that
impact it had surpassed it that
impact it had surpassed it that volunteer workforce was not a cheap
volunteer workforce was not a cheap
volunteer workforce was not a cheap labor supply they were members of the
labor supply they were members of the
labor supply they were members of the community themselves learning the skills
community themselves learning the skills
community themselves learning the skills to sustain clean water for their own
to sustain clean water for their own
to sustain clean water for their own community beyond the life of a charities
community beyond the life of a charities
community beyond the life of a charities funded project intended impact achieved
funded project intended impact achieved
funded project intended impact achieved and achieved sustainably
and achieved sustainably
and achieved sustainably that’s impact by anyone’s definition of
that’s impact by anyone’s definition of
that’s impact by anyone’s definition of success but it wasn’t evident to the
success but it wasn’t evident to the
success but it wasn’t evident to the corporate foundation that was supporting
corporate foundation that was supporting
corporate foundation that was supporting that work on another occasion a group of
that work on another occasion a group of
that work on another occasion a group of senior executives we’re talking about a
senior executives we’re talking about a
senior executives we’re talking about a charity they were supporting that was
charity they were supporting that was
charity they were supporting that was working with extremely vulnerable women
working with extremely vulnerable women
working with extremely vulnerable women the execs were impressed that the
the execs were impressed that the
the execs were impressed that the charity had managed to maintain the
charity had managed to maintain the
charity had managed to maintain the trust of a group of women who were
trust of a group of women who were
trust of a group of women who were usually extremely socially isolated but
usually extremely socially isolated but
usually extremely socially isolated but the execs were concerned that the
the execs were concerned that the
the execs were concerned that the charity had poor governance they’d had
charity had poor governance they’d had
charity had poor governance they’d had an opportunity to observe one of the
an opportunity to observe one of the
an opportunity to observe one of the charity’s board meetings and they said
charity’s board meetings and they said
charity’s board meetings and they said it was just a bunch of women sitting
it was just a bunch of women sitting
it was just a bunch of women sitting around a kitchen table
around a kitchen table
around a kitchen table now if you’re a stock exchange listed
now if you’re a stock exchange listed
now if you’re a stock exchange listed company your governance is a pretty
company your governance is a pretty
company your governance is a pretty formal affair
formal affair
formal affair you follow formal meeting procedure
you follow formal meeting procedure
you follow formal meeting procedure motions are moved and seconded there’s a
motions are moved and seconded there’s a
motions are moved and seconded there’s a lot of suits around your table and
lot of suits around your table and
lot of suits around your table and there’s probably not a lot of women
there’s probably not a lot of women
there’s probably not a lot of women these execs were taking the same
these execs were taking the same
these execs were taking the same hallmarks of governance that they
hallmarks of governance that they
hallmarks of governance that they understood and applying it to the
understood and applying it to the
understood and applying it to the charity working with this group of women
charity working with this group of women
charity working with this group of women classic business planning because what
classic business planning because what
classic business planning because what they’d missed was that this bunch of
they’d missed was that this bunch of
they’d missed was that this bunch of women sitting around a kitchen table
women sitting around a kitchen table
women sitting around a kitchen table included the women who were using the
included the women who were using the
included the women who were using the service the women who were delivering
service the women who were delivering
service the women who were delivering the service and its funders this was a
the service and its funders this was a
the service and its funders this was a pioneering example of consumer directed
pioneering example of consumer directed
pioneering example of consumer directed care years before those became buzzwords
care years before those became buzzwords
care years before those became buzzwords that we now see right across the social
that we now see right across the social
that we now see right across the social policy landscape but again the
policy landscape but again the
policy landscape but again the foundation supporting that work couldn’t
foundation supporting that work couldn’t
foundation supporting that work couldn’t understand its impact now if I’m so
understand its impact now if I’m so
understand its impact now if I’m so interested in expanding the culture of
interested in expanding the culture of
interested in expanding the culture of philanthropy why am I giving corporate
philanthropy why am I giving corporate
philanthropy why am I giving corporate foundations such a hard time well the
foundations such a hard time well the
foundations such a hard time well the problem with explaining is not just that
problem with explaining is not just that
problem with explaining is not just that it’s patronizing the problem with biz
it’s patronizing the problem with biz
it’s patronizing the problem with biz splaining is that it’s a symptom of a
splaining is that it’s a symptom of a
splaining is that it’s a symptom of a much deeper problem and that is when
much deeper problem and that is when
much deeper problem and that is when philanthropy gives dollars but not
philanthropy gives dollars but not
philanthropy gives dollars but not respect a one way gift of funding no
respect a one way gift of funding no
respect a one way gift of funding no matter how generous is simply a donation
matter how generous is simply a donation
matter how generous is simply a donation the promise of philanthropy is much more
the promise of philanthropy is much more
the promise of philanthropy is much more than that
than that
than that the promise of philanthropy is impact
the promise of philanthropy is impact
the promise of philanthropy is impact but no transaction of funds no matter
but no transaction of funds no matter
but no transaction of funds no matter how compassionately motivated is a
how compassionately motivated is a
how compassionately motivated is a guarantee of impact so philanthropy to
guarantee of impact so philanthropy to
guarantee of impact so philanthropy to be effective it needs to understand the
be effective it needs to understand the
be effective it needs to understand the context to which it’s giving it needs to
context to which it’s giving it needs to
context to which it’s giving it needs to recognize that it’s part of an ecosystem
recognize that it’s part of an ecosystem
recognize that it’s part of an ecosystem and to respect the contribution of
and to respect the contribution of
and to respect the contribution of others in that ecosystem the expertise
others in that ecosystem the expertise
others in that ecosystem the expertise of charities that philanthropists give
of charities that philanthropists give
of charities that philanthropists give to to achieve their mission the lived
to to achieve their mission the lived
to to achieve their mission the lived experience of communities that
experience of communities that
experience of communities that philanthropists and charities work in
philanthropists and charities work in
philanthropists and charities work in work with for philanthropy to be
work with for philanthropy to be
work with for philanthropy to be effective it needs to work in
effective it needs to work in
effective it needs to work in partnership
partnership
partnership I’ve worked with philanthropists who
I’ve worked with philanthropists who
I’ve worked with philanthropists who approach their philanthropy through
approach their philanthropy through
approach their philanthropy through partnership and I’ve seen how effective
partnership and I’ve seen how effective
partnership and I’ve seen how effective it can be I’ve worked with
it can be I’ve worked with
it can be I’ve worked with philanthropists who follow a financial
philanthropists who follow a financial
philanthropists who follow a financial grant by asking what else do you need
grant by asking what else do you need
grant by asking what else do you need who listen to our response and who then
who listen to our response and who then
who listen to our response and who then explore what else they can do to help us
explore what else they can do to help us
explore what else they can do to help us meet those needs it might be by giving
meet those needs it might be by giving
meet those needs it might be by giving us access to the skills of their
us access to the skills of their
us access to the skills of their employees it might be by connecting us
employees it might be by connecting us
employees it might be by connecting us through their relationships with other
through their relationships with other
through their relationships with other businesses it might be by introducing us
businesses it might be by introducing us
businesses it might be by introducing us to organizations who share our values or
to organizations who share our values or
to organizations who share our values or our mission far from be splaining these
our mission far from be splaining these
our mission far from be splaining these are textbook examples of philanthropy
are textbook examples of philanthropy
are textbook examples of philanthropy through partnership and they achieve
through partnership and they achieve
through partnership and they achieve much more than a financial grant alone
much more than a financial grant alone
much more than a financial grant alone of course the responsibility for these
of course the responsibility for these
of course the responsibility for these kinds of these kinds of respectful
kinds of these kinds of respectful
kinds of these kinds of respectful relationships is not only the burden of
relationships is not only the burden of
relationships is not only the burden of philanthropists as charities we need to
philanthropists as charities we need to
philanthropists as charities we need to invest in our relationships with the
invest in our relationships with the
invest in our relationships with the philanthropic community to share our
philanthropic community to share our
philanthropic community to share our values to talk about our work to explain
values to talk about our work to explain
values to talk about our work to explain why we take one approach and not another
why we take one approach and not another
why we take one approach and not another but the return on that investment is not
but the return on that investment is not
but the return on that investment is not just a good relationship with our
just a good relationship with our
just a good relationship with our philanthropic funders it is a
philanthropic funders it is a
philanthropic funders it is a significantly increased impact in our
significantly increased impact in our
significantly increased impact in our ability to meet our charitable our
ability to meet our charitable our
ability to meet our charitable our charitable purpose which is the reason
charitable purpose which is the reason
charitable purpose which is the reason we exist
we exist
we exist in the first place in my own case
in the first place in my own case
in the first place in my own case working with the charity startup it was
working with the charity startup it was
working with the charity startup it was the grant from a foundation that got us
the grant from a foundation that got us
the grant from a foundation that got us off the ground but it was the
off the ground but it was the
off the ground but it was the opportunity for their employees to
opportunity for their employees to
opportunity for their employees to engage with us as skilled volunteers to
engage with us as skilled volunteers to
engage with us as skilled volunteers to share expertise about communications
share expertise about communications
share expertise about communications about Web Design to connect us through
about Web Design to connect us through
about Web Design to connect us through networks that we could never have
networks that we could never have
networks that we could never have achieved ourselves
achieved ourselves
achieved ourselves it was those contributions that helped
it was those contributions that helped
it was those contributions that helped us saw effective philanthropy requires
us saw effective philanthropy requires
us saw effective philanthropy requires philanthropists and charities to listen
philanthropists and charities to listen
philanthropists and charities to listen to each other to learn from each other
to each other to learn from each other
to each other to learn from each other not telling not business planning but
not telling not business planning but
not telling not business planning but listening and learning when
listening and learning when
listening and learning when philanthropists are willing to give and
philanthropists are willing to give and
philanthropists are willing to give and to learn
to learn
to learn when charities are willing to take and
when charities are willing to take and
when charities are willing to take and to teach that is the recipe for
to teach that is the recipe for
to teach that is the recipe for philanthropy through partnership the
philanthropy through partnership the
philanthropy through partnership the recipe for truly effective philanthropy
recipe for truly effective philanthropy
recipe for truly effective philanthropy thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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