Rethinking Philanthropy

This month’s blog post will focus on two ideas that are top of mind this time of year – being open to change and being grateful.

We’re now deep into Autumn – a season of changes. The weather is colder, the sun is setting earlier, and the leaves are now bright red and orange. Our office has seen changes this season too. As you know, our Executive Director, Lisa Fasolo Frishman, left the NY Funders Alliance for a new opportunity at the end of October. This is a great loss for our organization since as a result of her strong leadership – and many miles driven across New York State – the Alliance has seen tremendous growth and success. But we can also see transition as an opportunity. In last month’s post I wrote about the updates and improvements on the website, blog, and electronic communications. These advances coupled with the new perspectives and energy of a new Executive will only build on the momentum Lisa built. Next year is shaping up to be one of our best yet in terms of both member engagement opportunities and program offerings. Plus, our NYS Funders Conference will be held in Buffalo from November 13^th -15^th which will ensure a strong programmatic finish to 2017.

November is also traditionally the month where we tend to be a bit more thankful for the blessings in our personal and professional lives. The Thanksgiving holiday encourages us to look at our lives as glasses that are half full and focus on what we can be grateful for. Ever since our funders luncheon in Ithaca last month, I’ve been thinking about what Karl Zinsmeister said when he asserted that “passion is what fuels philanthropy.” What individuals are passionate about – and thereby grateful for – is what they will support. He extended this idea to say that funders should encourage their donors to “tend to their own backyards” and support causes, organizations, or individuals they are personally passionate about. The big picture can be daunting, but if individually we preserve and promote successes in our own communities and champion what we are grateful for, we will create success more broadly as well.

At the NY Funders Alliance, we are committed to embracing the changes of the season and seeing them as an opportunity to look at what we do through a new lens. We are incorporating new ideas and fresh perspectives into our programming for 2017 including the 2017 NYS Funders Conference. We’re also excited to enhance the ways we engage with our members through updated communication platforms. One thing we are overwhelmingly thankful for is the dedication of our membership. By leveraging the strength of our network we can identify opportunities for new collaborations and partnerships. Each member is committed to the prosperity of their own backyards which become connected as a result of membership in the NY Funders Alliance. It is the relationships and connections to each other that are driving success more broadly across our regions and throughout our State.

Best,

Emily Alber Chase, Program Manager