Ethical storytelling is not just about good stewardship in acquisition (interviewing)—often the biggest blunders occur behind the scenes: in the editorial process. Of all the steps, this stage of the process can truly be ridden with disasters, where a story can be appropriated into something the contributor never intended. Take a look at some examples: […]| Philanthropy without Borders
Empathy has come to have a bad rep lately. After enjoying years in the spotlight as the antidote to just about everything from prejudice to poverty, empathy is now being rebranded as the cause—not the solution—to those problems. The arguments are not insignificant. Psychologist Paul Bloom has been a long-time critic of empathy in the […]| Philanthropy without Borders
Since the term “poverty porn” first appeared in 1981, much has been said about the exploitation of human suffering to inspire charitable giving. Yet for all that we’ve learned over the last four decades, many organizations still struggle to communicate their impact in a way that authentically represents the issue and preserves the dignity of […]| Philanthropy without Borders
The language we use matters. When is donor-centric language an effective way of garnering support, and when do fundraisers cross the line in communicating real issues with transparency and authenticity? A long time ago (and yes, sometimes still today), nonprofits centered themselves in their communications to donors. Fundraising appeals were very – to put it bluntly […]| Philanthropy without Borders
When portraying people who have benefitted from the work of our organizations, it’s important that they have a meaningful voice in their portrayal. Collecting their feedback is one of the only ways we can be sure to treat others the way they want to be treated. But we don’t know how they want to be […]| Philanthropy without Borders
I’ve written a lot about the principles behind ethical storytelling, how empathy differs from sympathy in storytelling, why exploitative storytelling persists, and how the evolving landscape of lexicon and language influence meaning and marginalization. These topics are great for reflection, but in this article I roll up my sleeves to give you some tangible tips […]| Philanthropy without Borders
So many people think foundation fundraising is all about writing grants, and that renewing a foundation grant is all about writing a really good report. It’s not. I’m here to tell you that if you are not treating Program Officers like major donors – if the only time you reach out to them is when […]| Philanthropy without Borders
The word “strategic” is a fraught term. You can put it in front of any noun and it makes it sound more important. Sometimes people use the word “strategic” when, in reality, they are just talking about being proactive: anticipating future events and planning ahead. That is fine, but it is not quite the same […] The post Strategy: Moving Beyond the Proactive and the Opportunistic appeared first on Philanthropy without Borders.| Philanthropy without Borders
I’ve been thinking a lot about how change happens in organizations. Sure, there are entire books and studies on change management processes, and consulting firms devoted to guiding you every step of the way. Often, these processes speak to executives who already want change and have the authority to impose it across the company. But […]| Philanthropy without Borders
In the realm of ethical storytelling, resistance to policies and procedures is inevitable. Sometimes, the pushback comes from within, staff who don’t understand why extra care and caution are necessary when telling stories or why consent matters so much. But sometimes, the resistance comes from donors. Lately, I’ve had no fewer than five people ask […]| Philanthropy without Borders
If you’ve ever spent hours crafting a development plan, only to watch it gather dust, you’re not alone. Many nonprofits fall into the same traps, leading to ineffective strategies, frustrated teams, and unmet goals. The good news? These pitfalls are avoidable with a little awareness and a few strategic adjustments. Let’s explore the most common […] The post The Pitfalls of Development Plans and How to Avoid Them appeared first on Philanthropy without Borders.| Philanthropy without Borders
When done well, a development plan can serve as a powerful roadmap—aligning your team, clarifying priorities, and putting an end to the chaos of feeling like you’re constantly winging it. And yet, so many nonprofits have operated for years without one. Why? Because the true purpose of a development plan is often misunderstood. Many Development […] The post From Dusty to Dynamic: The Real Purpose of Development Plans appeared first on Philanthropy without Borders.| Philanthropy without Borders
If you’ve worked in the nonprofit sector long enough, you’ve likely encountered these stories—and they may have even happened to you: The Board increase the revenue goals for next year but provide no additional investment in fundraising staffing or infrastructure to support those lofty targets. Or how about when you’re halfway through the year and […]| Philanthropy without Borders
I help teams work through challenges all the time. Whether it’s a strained relationship between departments, communication breakdowns, or navigating a stubborn organizational hurdle, there’s a recurring pattern I see: people feel stuck. Frustration builds, blame circulates, and forward progress stalls. The truth is, most complaints are about things we cannot control: other’s people behavior, […] The post Getting Unstuck: Using the Control-Influence-Concern Circle to Overcome Challenge...| Philanthropy without Borders
I’ve come to believe that strategic planning is really an exercise in asking the right kind of questions. If the questions are not the best ones, then the answers, ideas, and plans that emerge may not address what is needed to propel the organization forward. Unfortunately, many strategic planning processes at nonprofits stress the steps […]| Philanthropy without Borders
Many of my readers who grew up in U.S. classrooms may recall their teachers saying things like, “there are no silly questions” (actually the phrase was “there are no stupid questions” but we’ve since moved away from using that derogatory word). While these statements were meant to encourage curiosity and inquisitiveness in children, they are […] The post Navigating Ethical Boundaries in Q&A Sessions appeared first on Philanthropy without Borders.| Philanthropy without Borders
I’ve written a lot about the principles behind ethical storytelling, how empathy differs from sympathy in storytelling, why exploitative storytelling persists, and how the evolving landscape of lexicon and language influence meaning and marginalization. These topics are great for reflection, but in this article I roll up my sleeves to give you some tangible tips […]| Philanthropy without Borders
