I'm on the train ... the State Railways have just announced that from December classes will be abolished (the 1 and 2) to be replaced by 4 classes ... I'm going to Gardaland and if you do not want to queue up and pay 20 euros more steps ahead at all ... I go to the airport and if you pay 25 euros more 'do not queue at check-in Milan-Rome ... is no longer' a matter of service-cost, and 'a matter of "diversification". Who has more 'money is willing to buy "time", even of others ... After all time is the true and only scarce resource. And the fundraiser? Fossilized on the concept of "fundraising" democratic (at all the same always), it is not time to pull together and start to think not only with the old pyramid, but with new paradigms? If they want to avoid queues at Gardaland, we create special routes for donors Antiphilus ... ...

R ICEVO an email in which the object is: "The fundraising and the homosexual question." The carry-over as I arrived, not before he commented that I do not think there is a "homosexual question and fundraising." There may be an emotional rather a question of rights of persons (whether homosexual or not).

But I have some doubts about this, because I think - and this is not "question" - that same-sex partners (or any other trend) can always (and should also supported!) Recourse, as every citizen, the common law for protect the rights or interests born of their life together, but at the same time I believe that a loving relationship does not constitute "per se" evidence sufficient to obtain civil recognition ... but the question is outside the fundraising. I would like to talk about fundraising. V ediamo what Gian Mario Felicetti says:

Dear Melandri

I'm Gian Mario Felicetti, for more than two years coordinating a national campaign, "Civil Claim", supported only by the work of volunteers, such as the association radical "Certain Rights" and the network of LGBT advocacy Network Lenford. "Thanks to the campaign Affirmation of Civil, is forthcoming in a ruling by the Constitutional Court regarding the recognition of civil marriage to same-sex. It would be important to raise public awareness of them properly and not only through the distorted lens of the information, which always tends to highlight prederie and excesses that do not correspond to reality. For this we are realizing that there needs to work fundraising, perhaps we are already late, but better late than never. Honestly I would appreciate your block, or rather two.

1) Why in Italy there are donor to a person who is committed to the civil rights of gays and lesbians and transsexuals? By professional people get answers like "the Vatican's fault" or "Why are the gay groups are not credible." I hope that your answer - if you want to give it to me - it will be more concrete and far from the postulates.

2) There are people who have expertise in fundraising and would be happy to put their skills on a volunteer for the cause of civil rights of gay, lesbian and transgender (but not only, even for straight, we are not here in ghetto ...)? Can you tell us whether there are key channels through which fail to contact them, or entirely through personal contacts?

3) Are there, in your opinion, potential donors willing to contribute to the cause of civil rights in Italy, including gay, lesbian and transgender (but not only, even for straight, we're not here to ghetto ...)? If so, you could / would like to help us to contact them and present our projects?

As head of my own questions, we are totally new to this world, but we feel it's important to try to turn the world of philanthropy, not only to receive donations, but also - and above - to open the "homosexual question" on the whole society civil, civil rights because they are never watertight compartments ...

Answer:

This is the classic case that allows me to complain strongly as the "Fundraising is the servant of the nonprofit." I repeat: the fundraising is only the "servant" of the nonprofit and not its master. The non-profit exists because there are good reasons that someone pursues. Fundraising is not created to "judge" the cause, was born to serve. A good case can be good for me and bad for another, and vice versa. It does not matter, and especially not the contribution is the measure, is not the account of "how many people" the sotengono that makes you say it is good. History is full of great causes pursued by very few individuals and small causes pursued by many people. So my answer is simple:

1. The main reason why people are giving because someone asks. I think the reason why a cause, however small, large, ambiguous, or clearly not a success in terms of fundraising comes from the fact that there is' no one who has come to do the work of a professional fundraiser . The associations of gay "are not credible"? I do not know, maybe! But that's not the point, because the work of the fundraiser is also to make (dare I say, forging) FUNDERIZZABILE the cause, that is ready for the fundraising. If an association is not credible, the work of the fundraiser will be to make it credible, changing it from within.

2 - to question two, I say of course yes. Maybe not my neighbor, maybe not who is near me, maybe I have to try (Prospect research) but there 'someone, by golly, if there is' somebody! But this is part of the work of the fundraiser. I do not know at what are the key channels, but I do not think it is really difficult, just have a look 'round.

3 - As above, exist to be found. Who are the best potential donors of a hospital, former patients who have had a good treatment. Who has been helped by your actions in the past? Who will be helped by your action? The game is this: What impact will your action, on whom the impact? Just try and find those donors.

Finally on the last observation, I agree with her. The fundraising is many times the particular share on the company that also generates awareness ... but it is clear a fundraiser that raised awareness campaign is just too bad ... if the problem is not looking for awareness fundraiser, but that the lobbyists ... is part of the work of the fundraiser but it is not the goal.

And what you say? VM

Today I read a nice post from Virginia on his blog. It 'a post that talks about the work of fundraiser, what it means to work in fundraising, why choose to be fundraiser. I'll carry you, inviting you to read and comment on the blog here and Virginia.

Had just finished the Christmas campaign. Emergency broke out in Haiti and fundraising will start over.
For Oxfam Ireland we have collected about 800 thousand euro in two weeks, with about 5,000 donations and almost as many new contacts / donors, who are organizing concerts, events, performances, activities' to raise funds for Haiti. Something never seen before to Oxfam Ireland, not even 5 years ago for that other emergency that has shaken the souls (and wallets) of persons, the Tsunami.
My plan for the coming months also plans to come home in late January for a visit, then I think of February as the best option now seems to March will not be able 'to leave the land of Ireland. Continue reading »

What's better, just finished a Masters in Fundraising, to make a donation?!

And 'what happened to me, the students of the newly finished seventh edition of the Master in Fundraising made a donation to the Cooperativa Sociale Onlus Tonino bristle and for this I thank you (as they also thanked the cooperative itself, read here)

So I have to say that start with the right foot in the world of fundraising, as we know, the first fundraiser is also a donor

As is now tradition to greet each January for the graduation of students and old Master start with a class (24 in this year of crisis ... a sign that the Master takes!). Everything upset the program (and not only did it to form more 'subjects) with many updates and improvements, in short, a Master's all new, and at the same time with the best held for new students. First approach with them yesterday and today and I'm just thrilled, class lively, alert, motivated ... basically every year better. I am happy. Ps I also put my presentation I made at the inauguration! Master pdf presentation

Receive from a former student of the master:

Dear Melandri, I was nothing short of bewildered by the ruling made by a Judge of the Forum, which provides that a 700,000-euro donation from openly attivita'illecite and criminals - should be accepted. The dispute was between the treasurer and the president of a Italian small non-profit organization: the latter-I think rightly-refused to hand accettarla.Il Judge considered the prevailing "the interest of persons protected by the NPO" We earthen know what you think. FYI

I'd say they broadly agree with the judge ... ... (and then the land confiscated from the Mafia, used by social coop South? Are donations to coop social values clearly derived from illegal activities). I did not understand, (from video recording) but the story seems to me that the issue was a waste of pure morality. "But as Dostoyevsky said," better to be cynical of morality. " And I agree! A moralist is never a step further 'and does not change anything in his life, a cynic, though at times sad and "cynical", at least dares new steps and new attempts. Discuss the ethical rules of fundraising today, in having a session at the Festival Fundraisin g, on Ethics and Practice of fundraising. There is an Italian consulting firm (Avanzi. Viageo), headed by the indefatigable David Del Maso, who has developed a system of ethical review of donations to accept. The first attempt, applied to the nonprofit world, to settle such cases?. I have spoken today with Letizia Rossi (Major Donors of Doctors Without Borders), to which I proposed to propose a session with Del Maso, on that. At the Festival we'll talk!

Soon!

PS And anyway, "better to be cynical and moral" is on par with the other great affirmation of equal thickness but more homely, "the rules are for people who can not do in regulating" ... .. How many casinos, including education for children would be solved if one applied this simple and basic "rule" .... That is the rule to regulate not only what regulates itself. ... But when one leaves free to regulate, regulate, and therefore most people know would avoid the rules. ... ... and then no one respects that impose more rules ... that no one respects. ... Simple no? My ideal world is not without rules, but of self .. this is why it is equally important to the school and the police .... You can 'find the video with the title "generous donation" in the forum site or on 20:11:09 clicking directly. Take a look at the video at: http://www.video.mediaset.it/mplayer.html?sito=forum&data=2009/11/20&id=1364&from=email

500 people, less and less each day, waiting to sign up ... click here to subscribe.

Interesting comments to my post "close our offices volunteered" for a few days ago. You can read in comments to the post. But mine is not a provocation, nor a jest tantomento "educational" in French. It 'really my thought, moreover, supported by decades of experience (not just mine) but colleagues in the field (Susan Ellis and his school first). Far be it from me to dismiss all the directors of offices that must remain voluntary for the important stages of the selection, recruitment, call. But not on the management and evaluation! My observation is strictly business. Being a volunteer does not mean anything except that you have not paid for doing what you do. Being a volunteer does not mean you are good, does not mean you do not have specific skills, you do not have homework, timetables, objectives raggungere, professional seriousness. Being a volunteer means "work" as such to any other salaried employee nonprofit organization. Nothing else. So why confine them to a play park for children "office volunteers" as if they were different types of classes? Are chosen and enhance the volunteers for what they do, and they are Piazzini where their skills, the need of the organization, the willingness of assisted needs support. Li fits into areas of "work" ... In a nonprofit organization there should be only one type of staff that is highly motivated to do the job he does, some paid, some nonretribuiti! (VM)

And 'one of my former student, has just finished his Masters in Fundraising. Has a face by Toll incredible, a real steamroller. Sometimes it is even more insistent, sometimes exaggerates, but by golly if it does not have what it takes to become a fundraiser ... the story is simple, but is one that deserves to be told. Nothing extraordinary for a large organization, but almost a mountain for those who do not test a little. He wanted to gather for the "organization Bari where he made and the stage where it now works, the John Paul II Foundation Onlus di Bari does not know where to go, then lifts the phone and call the IKEA (you understand? IKEA). No contacts, no recommendations, only his cheek and his desire to reach the goal. He insists, calls me for advice, call Paul for tips Celli and goes forward, an appointment after another and end in a few months, you take home the donation (important) and most of IKEA 'makes a deal (see on the site) of IKEA BARI. David against Goliath. As Karl Marx said wisely: "Every man is the product of his actions, given the conditions in which it is." And it is true, is substantially true, is a fundraiser (in the sense that it does, or who by his deeds done). Let us stop blaming others ( "oh, I have no contacts",, "eh, but I do not know anybody," eh but how do the south is not so, "oh no we can not function," "Oh but this is not the 'for small organizations ..."): You know how many times I heard this speech. I want to follow the example of Alfonso Maria.

Get from a reader of this blog a nice email with an interesting question on the organization of the office volunteering.

Hello I am writing to have an opinion "authoritative".
Work in an organization that does fundraising for projects to aid in Italy and abroad>>
I work in volunteerism. Volunteers are "a godsend" for everything that is visible, fundraising
testimony on projects abroad.
For some 'of months we created an events manager who works under the office fundraising, but this does not seem practical, because 99% of the events is made by and with volunteers. I would be more logical to think that the event is under the office volunteer or possibly the reverse, but for now we are still looking for more functional organizational model, for which events are in conjunction with fundraising and volunteering is a different office.
I wish I had a comment on his part and possibly references / examples.
Thank you for coming here today and I hope to know in one of its upcoming courses.

Here is my answer
Eliminate office volunteers!
If volunteers are autonomous and able to support all the work of creating the event there is no reason to create a figure paid them "control". The story makes sense if from your strategic plan, your budget or fundraising, you believe that the "instrument" events should be enlarged, in which case it makes sense to put a "service" of the volunteers include a person who paid, but this would not choose a person of high, but someone who aids the volunteers (who by definition do not have unlimited time to stay in the organization) to do what they should do.
In other words, everything depends on what button you push.
I, however, to put it out of the teeth, to completely eliminate the office volunteering. It 'a strategic error and also operating to relegate the volunteers in an office volunteer, as if to volunteer to be a "standard" work, as if to volunteer to be like the plumber, the consultant, the accountant. Being a volunteer is not a job, is a simple category of pay. The volunteer is part of the staff of the organization and therefore all personal effects. Is simply not paid, but otherwise it makes no difference. If you really want to identify a difference between those who volunteer and who is not please write in organization chart with a circle instead of a rectangle. But the volunteers touch on area of work they do. If they are in administration will refer to the administration, if they are in the events will refer to the office events, if they are in services for the elderly, will refer to the head of older people (or children), etc ....
No difference with the paid work in one way or another, or you must begin to treat staff as if it was paid and unpaid, the same level of passion and motivation that you would have if they were not paid. Treat them equally?
The secret of success of a nonprofit organization is to understand that there is only one type of human resources, someone is paid, some do not. Everything here, but it's a long story that does not have the time to deepen, but if you have any questions, tell me! A warm greeting and good work (whether paid or not)
PS in my reply I have worked (although I have not been paid ...) and for this I should be placed in the office to volunteer? NO! I stay in my office in Piazzale della Vittoria, are simply a consultant (even if not paid!) OK?