What Donors Want

Rachel Stephenson Sheff speaks with two brilliant executives from the international fashion brand, Kurt Geiger: Neil Clifford, CEO, and Pascale Montaner, Vice President of Global Marketing & Executive Director of the Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation.

In this wonderfully transparent and energising conversation, they dive into all things corporate impact, including:

🟡 Why Kurt Geiger decided to start a formal charitable Foundation, and the biggest surprises and learnings along the way

🟡 How Kurt Geiger took this one step further, and is now launching a bold and unique in-house flagship programme - Business By Design - which aims to support young professionals entering the creative industries, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds

🟡 The practicalities of co-creating these visions alongside young people, in a true by-and-for model

🟡 The best advice Neil & Pascale have for professionals of all ages (it’s amazing)

At I.G., we’ve been thrilled to work directly with the Kurt Geiger team - and are particularly excited about Business By Design. The pilot launches soon, and is a completely free and subsidised programme for young people - particularly those from marginalised and underrepresented backgrounds. It’s aimed at training them up in all the core functions of a fashion business (from design to finance and marketing) so they can enter and thrive in the industry.

If you want to learn more, or if you are a young person yourself who wants to apply (applications due 12th November!), visit their website https://www.kurtgeiger.com/business-by-design or get in touch with them directly ([email protected]).

This episode is sponsored by Segal Family Foundation, and our Media Partner is Alliance Magazine. Head to www.alliancemagazine.org and get 50% off your Alliance subscription with the code ‘WhatDonorsWant’ at checkout.

Rachel Stephenson Sheff speaks with Jessamyn Shams-Lau and Jane Leu all about power dynamics in governance - particularly in family foundation structures, but also more broadly across the non-profit world.

Following a decade of leading a family foundation, Jessamyn shares her powerful story of navigating these power dynamics during the #BlackLivesMatter protests of June 2020, when her foundation Board let go of the entire staff team overnight. Jane was with her through the experience, and while the particulars of this situation are shocking - the fundamentals are highly resonant across so many different governance contexts in the sector.

This is a hugely important story and episode you won’t want to miss, where we discuss:

🟡 Jessamyn’s experience when her entire staff team was let go overnight

🟡 Why it’s important not to overly blame individuals in situations like this - but rather the systems that enable problematic practices

🟡 Navigating Board collaboration when some people engage in philanthropy as a hobby, whilst others are full time career professionals

🟡 Why it’s important for donors to engage in these conversations, too

🟡 What a ‘dream’ state of governance might look like in future

This episode is sponsored by Segal Family Foundation, and our Media Partner is Alliance Magazine. Head to www.alliancemagazine.org and get 50% off your Alliance subscription with the code ‘WhatDonorsWant’ at checkout.

Rachel Stephenson Sheff speaks with Nick Grono, CEO of The Freedom Fund, all about their new resource for donors and philanthropic advisors: #FundingFrontlineImpact (www.fundingfrontlineimpact.org).

I.G. was thrilled to work with the Freedom Fund to create this resource, which shares advice, stories and tools to help donors of all kinds on their own frontline grantmaking journeys - no matter the cause or geography. Rachel & Nick discuss:

🟡 The importance of funding frontline organisations (and what this term actually means).

🟡 Why The Freedom Fund wanted to create this resource.

🟡 Why funders being transparent in their grant-making processes is necessary - and radical.

🟡 Why sharing the specifics of how you operate as a funder is the most universally helpful thing you can do.

🟡 Why we need to lean into the nuance of what trust-based philanthropy can look like in practice.

🟡 Nick's upcoming book on non-profit leadership.

This episode is sponsored by Segal Family Foundation, and our Media Partner is Alliance Magazine. Head to www.alliancemagazine.org and get 50% off your Alliance subscription with the code ‘WhatDonorsWant’ at checkout.

And, of course, be sure to check out www.fundingfrontlineimpact.org and let us know what you think!

*Content warning: this episode briefly references sexual slavery, child soldiers and violent conflict, in relation to the Freedom Fund's work in modern slavery.

Emily Collins-Ellis and Rachel Stephenson Sheff speak with some of the Fellows from the very first cohort of I.G. Advisors’ #FixTheFlow Fellowship.

One year ago, we added a bold, systems-change project to our work at I.G.: the #FixTheFlow Fellowship. Born out of frustration with the inequities and challenges of the funding system, we launched this fellowship for fundraisers who want to learn to thrive in the modern nonprofit world and lead the movement for change within the funding system so we can #FixTheFlow of resources for good.

In this episode, we give a platform to a few of our current #FixTheFlow Fellows in Cohort 1 to speak about the challenges they face in their roles as fundraisers, and the change they want to create.

The #FixTheFlow Fellowship is open to fundraisers of all levels, anywhere in the world. Applications for our next cohort are open until June 9th at www.fixtheflow.org, and we would love to see you join our movement. If you have any questions, get in touch!

This episode is generously sponsored by Segal Family Foundation, and our Media Partner is Alliance Magazine. Head to www.alliancemagazine.org and get 50% off your Alliance subscription by using the code ‘WhatDonorsWant’ at checkout.

Welcome back to Season 4 of What Donors Want! In episode 36, Rachel Stephenson Sheff and Emily Collins-Ellis chat with the legendary Vu Le, founder of @NonprofitAF.

We discuss:

🌟 Self care for non-profit professionals

🌟 Vu’s brilliant #CrappyFundingPractices campaign on Twitter, and the ‘Tipping Points’ that can change bad donor behaviour

🌟 The incredible Community Centric Fundraising Movement

🌟 Fundraiser and donor fragility

🌟 Racial justice in the non-profit sector

🌟 Vu’s favourite vegan food

🌟 And much more …

If you haven’t already, follow Vu immediately on Twitter (@NonprofitAF), and read through his many wonderful blogs (https://nonprofitaf.com/).

A big thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Segal Family Foundation (www.segalfamilyfoundation.org), for their continued support and generosity; and to our media partner, Alliance Magazine. Head to their website (www.alliancemagazine.org) for lots of great content, PLUS you can get 50% off an Alliance subscription by using the code ‘WhatDonorsWant’ at checkout.

In the thirty-fifth episode, Lauren Gross chairs our launch event for The Mesa! (https://www.themesa.org)

The Mesa is the only digital platform designed to help you bring your philanthropic community online to connect, grow, and give better. Created by us at I.G. Advisors, in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Mesa is your completely customizable, private hub for members and clients to learn and explore how they can make a positive impact.

Lauren is The Mesa's Managing Director, and an expert on technology and philanthropy. At the launch event, she tells you a little more about what the platform is, shares insights from our extensive design process, and moderates a conversation with three incredible next gen philanthropists + Emily Inslee, Program Officer for Philanthropic Partnerships at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. You can explore the learnings from our Mesa Pilot Period in our report (https://bit.ly/33GMybG) and please do get in touch if you want to learn more! (Contact details are on our website: https://www.themesa.org).

This episode is generously sponsored by Segal Family Foundation, and our Media Partner is Alliance Magazine. Head to alliancemagazine.org for lots of interesting philanthropic insights. Plus, you can get a 25% discount on an Alliance subscription by using the code ‘WhatDonorsWant’ at checkout.

P.S. Have any burning questions for a future What Donors Want guest? Submit them here and you’ll get a shout out on air! https://bit.ly/3cLYGea

In the thirty-fourth episode, Rachel Stephenson Sheff and Jasmine Awad speak with Ximena Andión Ibañez, Programme Officer for Mexico and Central America at the Ford Foundation. Today’s episode is a special one because not only did we have a fantastic conversation with Ximena about all things fundraising and philanthropy, but we also announced the release of I.G.’s latest free sector resource: the Field Guide to Relationship-Based Fundraising.

The Ford Foundation is of course the well-known US-based private foundation with the mission of advancing human welfare and supporting diversity, equality, and inclusion globally. It stewards a $13.7 billion endowment – one of the wealthiest private endowments in the world - and makes $500 million in global grants each year.

In 2020, I.G. partnered with the Foundation to develop the Field Guide to Relationship-Based Fundraising: a completely free, interactive resource aimed at organisations of every size wanting to create a realistic, bespoke fundraising strategy that leverages existing assets to grow and diversify their income. The Guide is available for free download at https://www.fundraisingfieldguide.org/.

This episode is generously sponsored by Segal Family Foundation, and our Media Partner is Alliance Magazine. Head to https://www.alliancemagazine.org/ for lots of interesting, progressive philanthropic insights. Plus, you can get a 25% discount on an Alliance subscription by using the code ‘WhatDonorsWant’ at checkout.

P.S. Have any burning questions for a future What Donors Want guest? Submit them here and you’ll get a shout out on air! https://bit.ly/3cLYGea

In the thirty-first episode, Emily Collins-Ellis and Rachel Stephenson Sheff speak with zohra moosa - Executive Director of Mama Cash - about all things related to feminism, fundraising and activism.

In 1983, Mama Cash became the first international women’s fund; what began as a small-scale - but incredibly visionary - initiative of five lesbian feminists around a kitchen table in Amsterdam, has since grown into one of the largest public funds that supports the rights of women, girls, trans people and intersex people around the world. Their slogan “Because Feminist Activism Works” says it all - Mama Cash mobilises resources from individuals and institutions, and makes grants to self-led, feminist organisations around the world. Mama Cash also helps to build the partnerships and networks needed to successfully defend and advance their rights.

zohra is a passionate feminist activist who has been working with Mama Cash since 2013, and she is also the co-host of Mama Cash’s brilliant podcast, Tea With Mama Cash, which we highly recommend. She shares so much brilliant advice on this episode, and it must be said - gives the best answer to the ultimate speed round question: Beyoncé or Destiny's Child?

This episode is generously sponsored by Segal Family Foundation, and our Media Partner is Alliance Magazine. Head to https://www.alliancemagazine.org/ for lots of interesting, progressive philanthropic insights. Plus, you can get a 25% discount on an Alliance subscription by using the code ‘WhatDonorsWant’ at checkout.

P.S. Have any burning questions for a future What Donors Want guest? Submit them here and you’ll get a shout out on air! https://bit.ly/3cLYGea

In the thirtieth episode, Carlos Miranda and Rachel Stephenson Sheff speak with David Simas – CEO of the Obama Foundation – about all things related to philanthropy, politics and democracy.

The Obama Foundation, of course, is the philanthropic legacy of former US President and former First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama – and its mission is to inspire, empower and connect people to change their world. David leads the Foundation's core programmes, and works closely with the Obamas on strategy and vision.

David has had an incredible career prior to leading the Foundation – he joined the Obama Administration in 2009 as a Deputy Assistant to the President, served as Director of Opinion Research for President Obama’s re-election in 2012, and following the re-election, returned to the White House as Assistant to the President, and Director of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach. As you'll quickly hear, David is a brilliant storyteller and partnership-building expert (and 70s pop culture fan), and there are so many gems of advice you won't want to miss.

This episode is generously sponsored by Segal Family Foundation, and our Media Partner is Alliance Magazine. Head to https://www.alliancemagazine.org/ for lots of interesting, progressive philanthropic insights. Plus, you can get a 25% discount on an Alliance subscription by using the code ‘WhatDonorsWant’ at checkout.

P.S. Have any burning questions for a future What Donors Want guest? Submit them here and you’ll get a shout out on air! https://bit.ly/3cLYGea

In the twenty-ninth episode, Rachel Stephenson Sheff and Gaby Cervera chat with Hannah Paterson, a Senior Portfolio Manager at the UK's National Lottery Community Fund. The Community Fund is one of the largest funders in the UK and distributes £600m+ a year to communities across the country, raised by players of The National Lottery itself. Our conversation with Hannah dives into all of this and more - including Hannah's passion for, and expertise in, participatory grant-making.

Part of Hannah's role is to iterate and test participatory approaches across the National Lottery, and share best practices on how to operationalise this theory across the sector. Last year she was also the recipient of a Churchill Fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, which enabled her to explore participatory grant-making in South Africa and the US. This episode is a must listen for fundraisers who are curious about how to navigate this new model - and for funders who are curious about how to implement it.

If you have any questions for Hannah, you can reach out to her directly ([email protected]). We also recommend reading her brilliant Medium blog (https://hannah-paterson.medium.com/) and listening to What Donors Want episode #21 featuring the With and For Girls Collective.

As well, we're thrilled to announce our new Media Partner, Alliance Magazine! Head to their website https://www.alliancemagazine.org/ for lots of really interesting, progressive philanthropic insights. Plus, you can get a 25% discount on an Alliance subscription by using the code ‘WhatDonorsWant’ at checkout.

P.S. Have any burning questions for a future What Donors Want guest? Submit them here and you’ll get a shout out on air! https://bit.ly/3cLYGea