Nonprofit Comittees
Last week I had the privilege of going to Vienna to discuss how to fund the international operation of a U.S. based client. International expansion for a number of non-profits is challenging because of the diversity of cultures and the culture of giving in different countries. It reminds me of how things were 30 years ago when very few people had development directors and no one really knew what a major gift program was. There are hundreds of NGO (non-government organizations) springing up in Europe and most are trying to learn something from how we fundraise in the U.S. (or get funding from U.S. donors).
Everywhere you go in Vienna there is statue in memory of some great individual. These are people who showed great leadership throughout the centuries. It didn’t always prove to be beneficial for some, but the effort was there. I’m often asked what is the most critical element to a major funding initiative or campaign and the answer is leadership. It is also the most difficult as strong leaders are hard to find especially with nearly two million charities established in the U.S., and it is the one variable that is always changing.
Nonprofit committees are good for many things but thinking about what really makes a difference is committed leaders to the mission of your organization. I guess that is why I didn’t see any statues of “nonprofit committees” when I was walking around.
Invest time finding a “champion” for your organization. It may take years but will pay dividends long into the future.
“Charity never humiliated him who profited from it, nor ever bound him by the pains of gratitude, since it was not to him but to God the gift was made.”
Written by Paul D’Alessandro
