2008

A couple of months ago, I wrote about skills-based volunteering in response to a Boston Globe article. Thinking back on it, I realize that both the Globe reporter and I left out something that’s important to acknowledge. What we now call “skills based volunteering” was really invented by professional service firms: accountants, consultants, law firms and advertising agencies.  read more »

On our work at United Way, we try to each out as broadly we as we can to enlist people to “live United,” i.e., to give, advocate and volunteer for the common good of children & families.
Specifically our goals are:

• Children will enter school ready to learn;
• Youth will stay in school, keep safe, and realize positive options for the future;
• Individuals have the skills and opportunities to be financially stable; and,
• All children and families will have access to safe, affordable and appropriate housing.

There’s an interesting discussion going on over at Tactical Philanthropy about, overhead, general operating support, and donor choice about “where the money goes.” These are all topics we’re familiar with here at United Way. What struck me in reading it was how some nonprofit information sites like Guidestar play into the illusions that

a) overhead is bad, and

b) that donors are interested in micromanaging how their gifts are used.

I think that what donors are really interested in is the results their gifts achieve, communicated in accessible and compelling ways. If they don’t have that, they resort to lesser proxies like overhead rates, etc. Our new investment strategy, which combines general operating support with accountability for results, goes a long way toward putting the focus where it belongs. If you want to see my post, look here.  read more »