On Day One, Optimism in Philanthropy
E.B White said, “I arise in the morning torn between a desire to save the world and a desire to savor the world. This makes it hard to plan the day."
It’s not so hard here in New Orleans at the Fall Conference. Last night, I took a leisurely stroll down flamboyant Bourbon Street where the only hurricanes in sight were $8 a pop. Hundreds (thousands?) enjoyed the welcoming embrace of street crowds, music, sights, and smells.
At 8 a.m., the Hyatt Regency ballroom is crowded with 1,200 passionate staff, board members, and leaders. The new-fangled elevators at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans are slow(est), but everything else is running at full steam. The opening remarks set the tone for what will undoubtedly be an inspiring three days. New Council CEO Vikki Spruill displayed her leadership and speaking skills in her welcome address. She’ll be perfect in promoting the Council, community foundations, and philanthropy.
In a few short hours and brief remarks, we’ve been reminded of the power of philanthropy to build organizations, rebuild communities, and enrich lives. But there is also a palpable frustration with for-profit competition, lack of philanthropic data, the slow embrace of new technology and ideas, and the impact of the economy on donors and community foundation work.
But optimism is more powerful. There is excitement in the plans for the national centennial celebration of community foundations, to be held in Cleveland 1914, and the chance to transform the philanthropic landscape and our neighborhoods. This will be a chance to honor the achievements of hundreds of community foundations, hundreds of thousands of donors, and thousands of nonprofits. The chance to make a difference so others can make a difference.
Creativity, innovation, reinvention.
The themes of the conference workshops and sessions resonate with the audience who are hungry for inspiring ideas to advance their missions and their communities. You are overcome with a desire to capture a thousand business cards (still abundant on stiff paper in an cyber world) and a thousand great ideas as fast as you can.
What are the greatest problems facing philanthropy and community foundations? I’ll report on what I find out here. Let us know your thoughts.
"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir one’s blood. Make big plans, aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die." —Daniel Burnham, city planner and architect who developed the Chicago Plan of 1909.
Daniel Mansoor is CEO of GoodWorks, a creative nonprofit consulting and philanthropy advisory service, and GiveNext, an online giving start up. He is attending his first community foundation conference.
