It was in the air. Stefano Zamagni I had anticipated when I asked him to join the jury of the Italian Fundraising Award 2012, instituted by the new awards to celebrate the Festival of Fundraising fundraiser, the volunteer, the donor of the year. He said: "I would very willingly, but probably in May there will be the Agency." Well, my dear professor, he was right. No one as she has done so much for the Third Sector, and ran (with great difficulties, due to lack of budget and lack of power), even the Agency. Under his leadership, has done something: a magazine, a series of important documents, reports and many reports and above all a tireless voice, which has made thousands of miles to promote the culture of the nonprofit. Under the direction of the previous year, was essentially immobile, obviously inexperience.

But the problem is that when an institution does not have a budget, and above all has the power to give advice only "optional and not binding" on the problems non-profit organization ... there is' little to do. Counts for nothing. So, unless the reason for "educational" (Zamagni, and this was a sample), you have left little.

The Fornero (Minister) rightly says: "Or here, is transformed into the Authority - and today it is not possible - or keep it alive, with no power and no budget, no use. Better to close. " Frankly, how can you blame her? Too bad. Experience began with such high hopes and ended so sadly inglorious. The Italian third sector has a great need to "watch dog", ie bodies of those "watchdogs" as the Americans say that in an independent and efficient system of producing the required certification of the results of the nonprofit that so much is missing in Italy.

For years now I do not believe in behavioral investigations. I do not think much either in focus groups, although still some value to some things have it very tight. In fact most people do not say what he thinks, but only what they should say. The nonprofit then this is awesome. How many times have you donated? Many (not bad giver, the giver is very good). You do it willingly? Sure! (God forbid!) What do you miss most? The transparency (but then do not read a line of social balance .... Even if he is sent dozens of times). What do you like most? The generosity of complete (I'm not selfish). Would you like to receive all requests for donations online? Sure! (Is more environmentally friendly, only to have a dramatic drop in donations, the donor only when you move the burden line) Etc.. ... Etc. So we already know what the people say they think. But that's what you think? And 'what he really thinks or what he thinks he should think about?

I was talking to Adrian Sargeant, a pioneer of the psychological on fundraising. had in mind a comparative study, USA, UK, Italy on donors. Adrian has a lot in the past used the technique of self-conduct. And I said "Enough. Today, no longer has any value statements on a survey of behavior, one must examine what people "do", not what people say "would" or says that "he did." They are simply false statements.

My challenge for future investigations is to go for field testing. Faced with a newsletter of some kind, made in a certain way, I have less or more donations? And if I do it in another way I get more donations? In short time a little research with samples' inaccurate (this is not the case, which indeed has a huge sample, but other research seen recently) and analysis based on self perhaps is almost finished. Now we need to step forward and I am convinced that the good authors of the research which will carry the press release, the database giant at their disposal, with a great opportunity to have contacts that can make great strides to research nonprofit . As long as we are all willing to share the data that are used to produce them, and to test questions in various sites

Ps do you like to know? Please write your questions and I'll try to put them together for a new research, together with those who want to stay!

Meanwhile check out the research.

"Non-Profit Report 2011-ContactLab in collaboration with VITA Consulting http://www.contactlab.com"

People loyal to the third sector in their behavior photographed using digital social networks, more or less often, to write post or upload images, but only in part visit them to keep abreast of projects of interest to non-profit organization, preferring to newsletters and websites . Seek direct contact with the organizations, call for transparency and effectiveness.

Social networks: a world yet to be explored

Half of all respondents - 49% of over 20,000 contacts already present in the databases of 38 nonprofit organizations in Italy, asked to answer a questionnaire online - claim to use social networks to write posts, upload photos and participate in groups. It changes the frequency: only 14% recognize that we have an active social presence and regular, while a further 35% writes, comments or share content on their profile, more rarely, while keeping up with what their friends and contacts.

Transparency, clarity, continuity of message retention equals

Users demand transparency and concreteness: do it by showing the need for a reserved area within the site of the non-profit organization (62%), in order to follow closely the development of projects and calling for greater attention to content, as well as in newsletters in the social pages. They would like to find more stories, maybe illustrated by photographs and accompanied by the comments of the users who wish to share their experience and bring a testimony of its commitment to support a cause.

Word of mouth, still the main source of information for a user on six, exponentially increases its reach thanks to social networks: an opportunity to take advantage of expanding and strengthening its network of contacts and supporters, now more than ever able to become ambassadors of initiatives of non-profit organization.

Non-Profit Report

The complete edition of the survey, which involved 38 non-profit organizations (large, medium and small, operating in nine different areas) and over 20,000 contacts in their database who have completed the online questionnaire is available for download at ' address http://www.contactlab.com/nonprofitreport

At the same address is available infographic-depth: The non-profit and loyal users to the web. The gift and the relationship with online social networks

I get by Andrea Green, director of administrative staff Ravess snc, a Face-to-face, and revival for a possible discussion ...

I do not know if many of you have read the article published a few days ago on The Republic edition of Milan (19-12-2011) where it was described the activities of a dialogue of World Vision, hired by a "society" Face to Face. The article exposes the activities of this company, it comes to net a few hundred dollars, to 5 di'obblighi Reid to take the hard, grueling shifts and false promises. The article also mistreated our work and certainly are highlighted only the negative points of this activity, even a positive and we, all of us, we know that there are many. Because today we live in a very difficult situation given the crisis and the type I invite all of our work with the heart, since I'm in love with this activity, to pay more attention to what we do and who we serve.

Now, I have a tiny piece of this wonderful world that is non-profit sector, consisting of extraordinary international associations, but we all have to pay more attention to detail.

If all or most have signed a Code of Ethics of Good Practice of Dialogue we strongly believe in those articles that compose it. I am not referring to the location and timing of shifts but aspects of ethics that bind Dialogue Association, the Agency and the work he is doing. I understand the work and the difficulties of all leghiamoci but not to any type of company or Agency arrivals on the market in order to have a partner in more, we put our common interest, first of all, we can not ruin this type of activity for a journalist who writes about what he does not know. Never would have written if he had presented one of the 95 100 that dialogue of this work rather like saying that a non-profit organization to help raise funds and is his daily bread, and an immense joy. But to write two lines that denigrates your and my job then.

We must defend our work from the daily attacks, but all this attention depends on us, you who are the engine of this activity and we represent your commitment every day. Let us pick up the Code of Ethics us use, we pay more attention to, defend what we need to procure funds and you need to develop your projects that are the basis of all this.

When a non-profit claims to donate 100% to the cause, obviously is not including the costs, or donations of goods and services used. In Life Magazine December 16 do some examples to clarify some ideas, since Christmas is coming, and with it the many slogans "100%"!

Even the fundraising needs of a saint! How about Saint Nicholas? Do not remember the figure of the fundraiser? My proposal in Life Magazine December 23.

What are the mistakes to avoid when writing texts in fundraising? We present here a brief list of the most common that I have come across, hoping you may find it useful, and draw some inspiration. My "FunDream" Life Magazine on November 25.

Direct marketing is in decline? In my article published in Life Magazine No 47 came out today, I argue that this tool will never die, and indeed, in the current economic situation, find a new momentum thanks to improved reliability and flexibility to ensure that people using it. And you, what do you think?

There is a limit beyond which solicit a donation may be useless or even harmful? Sordiglioni, the foundation responsible for fundraising Grisons, and argues that there is, data in hand, indicates the third as the last submission, prior to recording a dramatic decrease of the responses of donors and potential economic loss. I shared this interesting analysis of the Life Magazine October 14.

The last census of non-profit organizations in Italy dates back to 1999. And comparing the data collected on donations, it turns out that these do not coincide, and many more. As you can plan campaigns and strategies, when you do not have updated information for twelve years? Because the Agency of the third sector does not proceed to a new survey? And who knows if it will respond to my application ...! My article in Life Magazine November 18.

Every day, we come across the advertisement of this or that commodity. Rarely, however, our attention is drawn to the most important issues. Realize it when we go to the supermarket: there is no trace of or almost non profit companies. The difference lies in marketing and reality as that of London, which I quote in the article, they understand that investing is the right way to ensure the visibility of the nonprofit. Here is my speech on Life Magazine October 21.

Speaking of marketing in the nonprofit evokes, for many, tragic images: betrayal of donors, inefficiency and waste of resources that could be used directly to help those in need. Nothing could be more wrong, because in this way the non-profit is no fundamental ways of fundraising, the ones that are used with success by the profit companies for their advertising. The non-profit organizations must invest in marketing, therefore, as I explain in Life Magazine of November 4.

Massimo Coen Cagli, the well-known consultant and trainer launches into a consideration in many respects interesting and agreeable. In practice, says: "here is confused with fundraising exploitation" that the donor or another and we get together or is it just a mere milking. This, but not limited to www.blogfundraising.it.

Happy reading!

The nonprofit pays a placement contract which is, on average, 30-40% lower than that offered by the companies profit. Operators, therefore, are faced with the choice between a career in either field, balancing personal aspirations, the desire to help others, but also thinking about their future prospects and that this affords. This is the topic of the article Life Magazine September 6.

If too many workers and even managers of nonprofit feel the need to use some of their free time volunteering, you need to stop and reflect on the importance of encouraging non-profit and encourage young people not to abandon this field. What do you think? Here is my article in Life Magazine on September 23.

"During one of my lectures on the nonprofit sector, a student asked me to name the company profit organization committed to solving social problems the same way as companies nonprofit replied that it would be difficult for me to mention a company that does not do . Our young people grow up with the strange belief that the only way to do something good in the world is working for a nonprofit or become the next Bill Gates and create a private foundation, or to pursue "social entrepreneurship", often without understand their meaning.

Etymologically, the word philanthropy means a feeling of love (from the greek φιλία, philia) against human beings (from the greek ἄνθρωπος, anthropos). In current generous philanthropist is a person who does charity work.

This definition, even on the day of his death at the age of 56, makes me think of Steve Jobs.

He returned to Apple in 1997, says that Jobs stopped all charitable programs to cut expenses because of financial difficulties the company was meeting, it was said that those programs were never recovered.

An article published on Jobs in 2006: "A great wealth does not make someone a great man", said that despite a wealth of 3.3 billion dollars, the name of Jobs did not appear in the lists of major donors. After moving to the prosecution, the article acknowledged the possibility of anonymous donations and continued, so heavy, saying: "It 'baffling that Jobs is insensitive to a case which should have a deep meaning for him ... In fact it is diagnosed with cancer and was able to overcome it. But unlike Armstrong, has worked hard recently to raise funds. [...] It's just a greedy capitalist who has managed to put together a fortune. It is shameful ... Bill Gates is worth more than the "rock star American business" (as defined Jobs). For the same reason, Bono is more worthy of esteem of Mick Jagger and John Lennon over Elvis, these people have talked about more important things in their celebrity. "This is undeniable, but their celebrity was partly related to the things of they were talking about.

In an interview in 1985, Jobs said that we must have as much free time to make donations and that "to learn to do something well, you must be wrong ... the problem in the field of fundraising, is that no system of measurement, so you can not tell whether an initiative has been a failure or a success .. so it is very difficult to improve. [...] When I have a little 'time, I will create a public foundation. "

In 1986 he did, but the foundation closed after only 15 months. According to the person he hired to manage the foundation, Jobs did not have the time to look after; friends instead of Jobs claimed that his decision had stemmed from his belief that the public interest to do better by expanding the Apple. And thank goodness!

Imagine what a loss for all humanity would be if instead of engaging in what he does best, Jobs had spent the last 25 years of his life thinking about how to donate his billions to charity.

Today we would not have the ability to read e-mail or surf the Internet from your mobile phone, and this goes for everyone: students, doctors, nurses, volunteers, leaders of nonprofit organizations, social workers, etc.. Jobs The job has helped the blind to read the texts and allowed them to recognize coins, has allowed physicists to deepen their research and to improve the performance of surgeons in the operating room, has helped nonprofit organizations to collect funds.

Without the work of Jobs, we would still be at least ten years away from the iPad, which introduced the era of digital reading, thanks to which we can save entire forests and conserve all the energy needed to transport the timber and paper production. And it is just the beginning. Physicians use the iPad to improve health care, to treat autism, is also a suitable tool to stimulate children's creativity and permitted to revolutionize medical training.

And we certainly can not say if he had not Jobs, we would have thought someone else; technologically advanced tools we have today have been inspired only by his ideas.

We have to wait who knows how many years before we have a mechanism to provide user-friendly music in electronic format without stealing it still burn CDs, which means that producing still hundreds of millions of CDs with plastic cases.

Not exist the 34,000 full-time jobs created by Apple, not to mention all the manufacturing jobs that revolve around the company.

Not exist even the wealth that the company has created for millions of Americans who have called on it.

There would be no video conferencing, our computers would continue to go haywire ... And 'possible to quantify the value of no more wasted all the time to fix them?

We would do less than an entire way of thinking about computers, about leadership, the business ... our potential.

The truth is that what really matters is how we use our time on this earth, not how much money we donate, the courage and energy we spend fighting the cynicism and mediocrity, facing those who seek to trample on our dreams and maximizing our potential.

If we consider all this, then we can say that there is no bigger than a philanthropist Steve Jobs. If ever a man has made ​​a major contribution to all humanity, this man is he. And he did as he fought against cancer.

During a recent interview, Bono defends Jobs, saying that Apple was the most generous supporter of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, with donations of tens of millions of dollars. Bono also said that the fact that a person has many commitments does not imply that cares about the common good. Steve Jobs has devoted his life to the advancement of humanity, not to his own pleasure, we are not dealing with a man who has spent his life building houses or yachts, obsessed with how to spend its billions for His personal pleasure, you can not even say that he has never had much free time to devote to himself.

And apparently, the surprises do not end there ... Jobs this man and his vision, humanity still donate. "

This commentary on the death of Steve Jobs who handed me a colleague of mine in English, is taken from the blog of Dan Pallotta, a lively Italian-American scholar, (and I have just translated), is really nice, shiny, clear. Steve Jobs is not only a great entrepreneur, and a great creative, but above all as a man committed to do well what he liked (and that did best).

Steve Jobs has devoted his life to the advancement of humanity, has joined the common good and personal pleasure. Jobs was one of those men, rare but not rare, it has always been able to match the realization of itself and its objectives, creating opportunities for themselves by creating opportunities and well-being for others. And all this is in character, for courage, capacity for both, but especially for his great attachment to reality.