Author: willw

8th Festival del Fundraising – Italy

Posted on by Chris

In Italy there is no fundraising “conference” – no dull meeting of people saying the same old, same old.

But there is a Festival. The Festival del Fundraising took place this year on the shores of Lake Garda, near Verona. With 650 participants it was bigger this year than ever before, and it launched the festival mood with “Fundraiser’s Got Talent” an opening session in full Italian TV-show style. This is a young and growing fundraising market with a strong backbone of training, thanks to the Masters in Fundraising offered by the University of Bologna. This year there was an invited group of students from the Columbia University MSc in Fundraising Management, so the conversations in class and around the bar were cross-cultural: everyone learned from each other.

Italy’s NGOs, universities, arts and cultural organisations are increasingly looking to fundraising for growth. The Italian state is cutting back, and there is a hunger for doing more and better. Leading NGOs have focused in the past on direct mail marketing but many are developing DRTV and new media methods, and a few are focusing on strategic (major) donors.

I gave a master class on foundations in Europe. The Italian foundation sector is significant – the largest in Europe by assets. [See figure]

Assets and Spending by European Foundations
Assets and Spending by European Foundations

Why so large? Principally thanks to a handful of mega-foundations created when the Italian Government split the huge regional savings banks which had previously carried out a mixed banking and social role, into banks, and foundations. Thus the Fondazione Cariplo has €7.7 billion in assets, while Fondazione CRT, built from the old savings bank of Turin has €2.2 billion. These huge foundations are relatively easy to find but the rest of the sector remains a mystery. There are thousands of foundations in Italy including family and church foundations which are almost completely invisible, and certainly do not have the type of glass pockets that would be expected amongst US or UK foundations.

The lack of transparency amongst strategic donors was a common theme in the conference – many donors do not want their name published nor their gift known. There are many reasons for this including, according to one speaker, the Catholic culture of separating philanthropy from the rest of one’s public life. This tendency to secrecy has been exacerbated by a new tool being used by the Italian tax authorities for measuring individual wealth: part of the measure is how much you give to charity. If you give a lot it is assumed that you have a lot, and people of wealth are concerned that this will mean they end up paying a lot more tax.

There are also problems of recruitment in this young and growing market. In the strategic donor area there are very few fundraisers with experience of strategic donor or foundation work, and almost none with prospect research experience. Setting up a team involves difficult choices between waiting to recruit someone experienced or training a newcomer. Salaries in the sector are still modest and so it is especially hard to recruit people with experience from relevant commercial sectors such as finance and banking.

The strong foundation of the Master in Fundraising at Bologna combined with a sector that wants to grow and the enthusiasm of hundreds of Italian fundraisers means that this is an exciting development market for fundraising. It is now time for the philanthropic sector to respond by moving toward a modern, transparent, accountable style of giving. Then we can have a real festival of fundraising.

Thanks to Columbia University and Valerio Melandri at the Festival del Fundraising / University of Bologna for the opportunity to speak at this event.

Factary is active in Italy, where we have carried out research, training and consultancy assignments for leading NGOs.

New Frontiers of Philanthropy: A Review

Posted on by Chris

New Frontiers of Philanthropy (Oxford University Press, 2014) is the Haynes manual for new philanthropists. With this book we can open up the engine of new philanthropy and check out the workings. With 653 pages plus an extensive bibliography it is a substantial volume covering the people and organisations involved in new forms of philanthropy, the tools that they are using, and key issues.

New Frontiers of Phil cover

Whether you are a fundraiser working with philanthropists or foundations, a researcher trying to understand philanthropy, the manager of a family foundation or a financial adviser you will find lots to interest you here.

The book has three main sections:

“New Actors” deals with new organisations in the philanthropy and social area. These new actors may be assembling capital, providing secondary markets or exchanges, or prospecting for new ventures, and Professor Lester Salamon makes clear in his introduction that many fundraisers are not considering our do not understand some of the key actors in finance, such as pension funds.

The section includes some terminology from the finance sector that we are going to have to get used to applying in the non-profit sector: “capital aggregators” for example are essentially fundraising organisations such as community foundations.

The increasing involvement of business in charitable activities is highlighted – and Rick Cohen contributes a chapter on corporate-originated charitable funds, such as the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund with US$3.8bn in assets under management. These funds are growing faster, operating more efficiently, and selling more aggressively than their purely charitable counterparts, trends highlighted by Prof. Salamon who notes that commercial donor-directed funds are now larger than community foundations in the USA.

Because the book’s scope is so wide it includes entities that are on the margins between charity and business, or “impact-first” and “finance-first”. It includes a deal of material on businesses that are focusing on the “base of the pyramid” (the poor). For Prof. Salamon these are businesses that are meeting a social need; for me these are simply businesses dealing with a different market segment.

“New Tools” is an encyclopaedic description of the many different ways in which someone who wants to do social or environmental good might go about it. It covers loans, social impact bonds, socially responsible investment, new forms of grant making including prizes, crowdfunding… and more. Fundraisers and financial advisers should take the time to read this section because it will inspire both to try new products with their philanthropic customers.

The third section in the book, “Cross-Cutting Issues”, debates the issues that emerge from the new philanthropy including “the elusive quest for impact”. Dr Alex Nicholls and Rodney Schwartz send out a wake-up call to the fundraising community, with a chapter on the demand side of the social investment marketplace, saying that the challenge is “..not an insufficient supply of social investment capital but an insufficient supply of investment-ready deals.” (In plain fundraising speak: ‘there are lots of donors, but not enough well-prepared proposals’.)

In this section there is a thoughtful piece by Dr Maximilian Martin giving the global perspective on new philanthropy. Dr Martin challenges the conventional view, arguing that social capital markets are inefficiently relationship-driven, not value-driven. He is subtly signalling the limits of relationship fundraising, noting that “…nonprofit leaders typically spend vast amounts of time on fundraising rather than on the continuous improvement of the work of the organizations they lead.” [p.608] He creates the phrase “synthesized social businesses” to suggest that we should move from a world of small fragmented organisations to one in which we build larger business ventures with a social purpose. “A philanthropic foundation could acquire [control over] …a company with the mission to make the good or service available to as many people as possible around the world.”

If you want to understand what is happening out at philanthropy’s cutting edge, this is the book for you. No-one in the book is claiming that all our donors are going to be asking us about making a quasi equity investment in our social enterprise next week. But the evidence from the impact of the venture philanthropy movement in Europe is that these ideas are already circulating in a donor community that is looking for change.

Be prepared for the new philanthropy; read this book.

Factary and the new philanthropy
Factary has monitored and researched the new philanthropy for many years. We were the first research group to publish a report on venture philanthropy in the UK and we continue to monitor new developments. Contact Nicola Williams, nicolaw@factary.com or Chris Carnie, chris@factary.com if you would like to know more about our services in this area.

The Prospect of Power

Posted on by Chris

The Researchers in Fundraising conference this week in London feels like a milestone in our profession – the arrival of a real community of professionals.

There were signals everywhere that we are a real profession. We, the community, have our networks – I saw lots of ‘Hello again! How are you?’s. We have an emerging group of personalities – Martin Mina (Action on Hearing Loss) is the personification of the funny-but-with-a-message presenter. We have our academics – Dr Beth Breeze (University of Kent) continues to uncover the emotional underwiring that supports philanthropy and fundraising. We have international appeal, with Helen Brown (Helen Brown Group) and Gerry Lawless (iWave) flying all the way across the Atlantic to join us.

We have suppliers anxious to win our business and therefore competing (this is normal and healthy) to innovate for our sector. We have media – social media – as conference attendees Tweeted #RIFConf2014 to the world. We even have the beginnings of politics, the politics of women and women’s rights in a workplace where too many bosses (mea culpa) are still men, celebrated by Beth Breeze in her sense of enjoyment at a conference audience that was mainly female.

And we have the intellectual and ethical challenges that define a real profession, personified in Karl Newton of LSE with his intimate description of the Gaddafi incident.

So what’s missing? At the conference the missing ingredient, reported again and again by researchers, was power. They didn’t use that word. What they said was ‘I just can’t get my boss to take research seriously’, or ‘I couldn’t get the budget’, or ‘My boss wrote our policy and I can’t get him to change it.’

Power, and the lack of it, is not a new topic at RiF. But now that we have a real, fully-fledged profession the lack of it is becoming more painful. We need the power to influence our fundraising colleagues. We need the power to write strategy, manage people and influence policy in the fundraising community. We need the power to set budgets, hire and fire. We need the power to commission research, development and innovation in our field. With the Sword of Damocles of new EU data protection legislation hanging over us, we need the power to influence legislation.

We need power, and we need it now.

We know how power works. We research it all the time. It is linked to circles of influence, to people with a strong voice, to a community united behind one or two clear ideas simply expressed.

We don’t have to call it that. We can call it “voice” , or “influence” or “a seat at the high table.” We can be subtle about winning power or we can be loud and proud. We can fight or argue, persuade or hint.

We need friends high up in the non-profit trees. The Chief executive of a brand-name national charity who ‘gets’ research. The MPs and MEPs who used to work in nonprofits, who befriend research. Senior staff at the Institute of Fundraising. We need to find these people (ha! easy for us prospect researchers!) We need to cultivate them and we need to persuade them with one or two clear simple messages. And then, like good fundraisers, we need to steward them.

We can use the power of research. We can do this.

Middle Donors – New Data

Posted on by Chris

“Middle donors” is an area of growing interest for many non-profits.

Fundraisers refer to middle donor programmes as an easy step up from a regular donors programme. Middle donor programmes fit with the donor pyramid model, suggesting that donors will upgrade from regular giving into the middle donor space and that some will go on to become major donors.

Despite the interest there is remarkably little data on this. We know little about who is giving, what they are supporting, and how much is being raised.

To add a little new data to the debate we’ve done an analysis in Factary Phi.

Download our report – “Where is the Middle?” – here.

The Newest Philanthropists

Posted on by Chris

Thirty of the UK’s newest philanthropists are featured in a report published today by Factary.

The report is focused on the Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) and High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) who have founded grant-making trusts and foundations during 2013.

We profile 30 of the richest people in the country who have created grant-making bodies, and analyse their wealth, philanthropic interests and biographical information to create a picture of the UK newest philanthropists. With a combined estimated wealth of £5.7 billion, these individuals represent a significant source of funding for UK non-profit organisations in the years to come.

The report includes:

  • Detailed profiles of thirty new philanthropists
  • Updated information on their trusts and foundations
  • Note that, with one exception, none of these trusts is listed in any other directory of grant-making trusts
  • Our analysis of the biographic, philanthropic and financial data on these philanthropists
  • Networking Index to identify the links between philanthropists, companies and the new trusts.

HOW TO ORDER
To order the report email Nicola Williams, nicolaw@factary.com

The report is priced at £135. New or existing subscribers to Factary Phi or Factary’s New Trust Update get a discounted price of £95.

From Bookmaking to Billionaires
Included in the report is a scion of a billionaire family, a Duchess, a Viscount and two Knights of the Realm. There are eight representatives from the financial services industry including two hedge fund managers and four investment bankers, along with philanthropists with other sources of wealth including landownership, art galleries, bookmaking and football.

London, and International
There is a strong geographic concentration on London and the Home Counties but also a continuing international flavour to the new philanthropists in the UK with seven of the thirty UHNWIs and HNWIs having nationalities other than British, and global connections identified to a wide range of countries including Zambia, South Africa, Italy, Nigeria and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Oxbridge
There is a strong Oxbridge connection – a third of these new philanthropists went to either Oxford or Cambridge, with over 25% going to Oxford. Other UK universities attended include the University of Bristol, the London School of Economics, Leeds University and the University of Birmingham. Three of the people featured also went to the same public school; Charterhouse.

UK Philanthropy, Goes on Growing
During 2013 Factary’s New Trust Update reported on a total of 217 newly-registered grant-making trusts and foundations in the UK. This report shows that people of significant wealth are continuing to create foundations and grant-making trusts to support philanthropic organisations in the UK and abroad, creating a positive picture of philanthropy in the UK.

Venture Philanthropy in the UK Shows Similar Characteristics
The findings in this new report reflect the new philanthropists that we identified in our 2013 report on The Venture Philanthropists. In that report we found that 39% of UK venture philanthropists come from the financial services industry. We also found many people of wealth – £38 billion in combined personal assets.

Research:
This report was researched and edited by Will Whitefield, Senior Researcher at Factary. It is published as a special supplement to Factary’s New Trust Update.

The Venture Philanthropists: our ‘very comprehensive’ report

Posted on by Chris

At this week’s European Venture Philanthropy Association (http://evpa.eu.com/) conference, a senior UK venture philanthropist described our latest report, The Venture Philanthropists, as “very comprehensive.”

The focus of the report is the 254 board members and patrons who lead the UK venture philanthropy sector. We include biographies of each, and a handy networking index to identify who is linked to which fund. Many are people of wealth; we identify £38 billion in personal wealth.

Contents page 1

The 177-page report includes:

  • A clear explanation of venture philanthropy
  • A brief history of VP
  • Detailed analysis of trends in this fast-growing sector
  • Detailed profiles of the 22 venture philanthropy funds active in the UK
  • Biographies of the 254 board members and advisers who lead VP funds
  • More than 150 organisations and projects that have benefited from venture philanthropy
  • A who’s who in VP index linking people to companies and charitable trusts and foundations

The Venture Philanthropists is available at:

  • Non-profits: £250 per copy
  • For-profits: £300 per copy
  • Subscribers to Factary’s New Trust Update or Factary Phi, or those taking out a subscription with the report: £150 per copy.

To order a copy of the report contact Nicola Williams at Factary, nicolaw@factary.com or call Factary on +44 117 916 6740.

Who's who in VP
Who’s who in VP
Impetus-PEF
Impetus-PEF
Impetus-PEF people
Impetus-PEF biographies

Venture Philanthropy: A Great Growth Story

Posted on by Chris

We have just completed an in-depth study of the UK’s venture philanthropy sector – and it is all about growth.

Two years ago we reported that there were 11 venture philanthropy organisations in the UK, giving (or investing, or lending) a total of £52 million.

This year we have identified 22 organisations active in VP in the UK – double the 2011 number – with assets of £2.8 billion and income, at £274 million, up 171% on two years ago. The fastest growth area of all is in grants, loans and investments, up 221% on two years ago.

The report – The Venture Philanthropists – focuses on the 254 board members and patrons in the UK VP sector, including brief biographies of each. We include a Networking index that shows the links between VP supporters, companies and trusts or foundations. The report gives detailed information on each of the 22 venture philanthropy funds active in the UK.

The 177-page report includes information on more than 150 charities and projects that have benefited from venture philanthropy.

The Venture Philanthropists is available now:

  • Non-profits £250 per copy
  • For-profits £300 per copy
  • Subscribers to Factary’s New Trust Update, or those taking out a subscription with the report, £150 per copy.

To order your copy contact Nicola Williams at Factary, nicolaw@factary.com or call us on +44 117 916 6740.

Training Researchers and Fundraisers from Barcelona to Boston

Posted on by Chris

This week there are two significant training events for Factary. Today, Tuesday 8th October, Factary’s Chris Carnie is helping to launch the new Postgraduate Certificate in Fundraising at the University of Barcelona.

 

Launch of the Postgraduate Cert in Fundraising, University Barcelona

 

The course runs over an academic year (November to June) and covers the skills and techniques required to be a fundraiser, with a focus on practical tasks and actions. We’ve got a range of great speakers and trainers taking part, from NGOs, cultural and arts organisations, campaigning organisations, the health and foundation sectors. Find out more, and register, here.

And on Thursday, Will Whitefield and Chris Carnie are giving a webinar with APRA on prospect research in the UK. “An Island of Information“ is aimed at researchers and fundraisers outside the UK who want to understand the market here. Find out more, and register, here.

How the Elite Connect

Posted on by Chris

A new report by Factary shows how the elite connect in Britain.

We’ve looked at how people link up – how they know each other – because it’s so central to fundraising. We used data from Factary Atom, our connections research and mapping service.

We show why it is important to research business AND charity connections and highlight the role of the London Clubs (we name the most connected). We include statistics that show the relative connectedness of alumni from UK and US universities, and discuss the relevance of hobbies and interests in making connections.

The report, “My Friends… How the Elite Connect in Britain”, is available free for download here: How the Elite Connect

Postgraduate Certificate in Fundraising – Spain/Catalonia

Posted on by Chris

Factary’s Chris Carnie is part of the planning team for a brand new certificate in fundraising at the University of Barcelona.

The new course (http://www.il3.ub.edu/es/postgrado/postgrado-captacion-fondos-fundraising.html) runs from November 2013-April 2014.

It has a great team of tutors, including the Director of Fundraising at MSF Spain (Médicos sin Fronteras) Anna Pineda, and the director of one of the most innovative nonprofits here, Oriol Alsina from Fundació Amics de la Gent Gran. We’ve also got Juan Mezo, ex Marketing Director at Oxfam now at Valores y Marketing, and Miquel de Paladella, from SIC Social Innovation for Communities.

The course is focused on real-life practice – so it includes sections on how to ask, on understanding the market, on face-to-face and on innovation in fundraising.

Join us for this great new course, or tell your friends in Spain about it!

Twitter hashtag #fundraisingIL3