The Philanthropy Network Blog

Wondering how your organization can raise resources during this time of enormous uncertainty?  The answer might lie in the $121B Donor Advised Fund industry. For the uninitiated, Donor Advised Funds are monies donated by individuals for a specific tax benefit in a specific year, but instead of going to support the non-profit sector, those funds are managed by (and generate fees for) financial institutions for the future benefit of qualified charities. For those in the philanthropy industry, it has been long argued that DAFs are some of the most unproductive assets in our society – anywhere. In times of massive social disruption – like oh I don’t know, a pandemic – we should invite reflection about why these vehicles exist in the first place. $121B would do amazing work for the non-profit sector, guaranteeing ongoing services and support for teachers, nurses, conservation workers, homeless advocates, and the like – not to mention lightening the extraordinary mental load broug...

Welcome to the hustle. -Robin Arzon So suddenly you're a mobile philanthropy professional. Welcome to the club! For some of you this might be a finite journey, a month or two of rocking the virtual workplace. For others, as I've experienced over the past 15 years, mobile work could become the most exhilarating and fulfilling chapter of your life and career. Either way, week one can feel a bit like walking into a waterpark wearing jeans and a sweater. You're nervous and a little excited, but you're not exactly able to get the most out of the experience. Plus you may feel weird being at a waterpark in the first place, “out of sight” of your boss and colleagues. But don't pack up your gear and bolt just yet, it's just that you need to lock down the basics. Let me explain. First things first: Time for a quick tech assessment. It's nearly impossible to be effective in a mobile environment without reliable, accessible, and most importantly, dedicated t...

Today's COVID-19 epidemic offers nearly every worker in the philanthropy industry the chance to glimpse life as a mobile professional, experience increased workplace satisfaction and productivity, and engage with modern and inexpensive mobile technologies. Then there is the pure joy of not commuting to work, of never looking for parking, of never having countless interruptions during the work day (not to mention the benefits of avoiding The Vending Machine...p.s. when the hell did they start taking credit cards!). And for supervisors, it means no more tackling microissues of personal space in the office, administrivia related to who has the bigger window, or the newer desk chair. A frustration reduction smorgasbord. And after 14 years as a "mobile fundraiser" I've concluded that productivity is almost always enhanced - sometimes orders of magnitudes enhanced - when working, developing and supporting a culture of mobile work. My experience as a veritable remote-wo...