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The Changing Art of Donor-Centred Fundraising
The Changing Art of DonorCentred Fundraising
Donor-centred fundraising Many donor-centred fundraisers have incentive for donor-cenetred fundraising (DCF) is the dominant mode not taken kindly to the criticisms levelled to reinvent itself.” of thought and practice in the against them by the CCF movement. Heather Hill, chair of Rogare’s board fundraising profession. But However, the Rogare paper argues that and a member of Rogare’s Fundraising its core principles have been challenged donor-centred fundraising needs to take Ethics Research Network, says: by the rise of the new community-centric on board these challenges and use them “These ideas help to both better fundraising (CCF) movement — inspired as an opportunity to “reinvent” itself in define donor-centred fundraising and by the ideas of American thought leader ways that connect donors to causes while community-centric fundraising, as well Vu Le — in what is becoming a clash of being ethically conscious of the needs of as raise important questions that require fundraising philosophies. all stakeholders. critical thought from proponents on
While donor-centred fundraising both sides. The philanthropic aims to inspire donors by making them feel good about their giving, “The issues they raise sector benefits from this healthy discussion and fundraisers the CCF movement has argued that this has several negative outcomes, cannot and should not on both sides should give consideration to how the two including that it marginalises and ‘others’ charity beneficiaries, be ignored by fundraisers positions may co-exist and complement one another. perpetuates white saviourism and “A significant part of fuels systematic injustice. A new discussion paper published who consider themselves understanding the positions is distinguishing fundraising by the fundraising think tank Rogare analyses this clash of philosophies to be donor-centred.” practice from the current philanthropic system. It and explores whether there is would follow that resolving enough common ground between the two MacQuillin adds: “For many the differences or otherwise finding a approaches for an accord to be struck. fundraisers being donor-centred is more solution would involve an exploration
Ian MacQuillin, Rogare’s director, than just the communications practice of how DCF practice might fit with the says one of the defences of DCF is that they use; it is their professional identity CCF model in a revamped system, as well CCF would be less effective at inspiring – they are donor-centred fundraisers. So as how both might take steps to shift people to donate. But he says CCF’s the challenges presented by CCF are not philanthropy from its current state.” criticisms are “not simply criticisms of a technical discussion about professional Neil Gallaiford, chair of Rogare how DCF works in practice, but a critique procedure; they are perceived as an Associate Member Stephen Thomas Ltd of the entire system of philanthropy, of assault on the core principles of the in Canada says: “Some fundraisers might which fundraising is a part.” people who use those procedures, and go be tempted to think the challenges
He adds: “Rather than put itself directly to the heart of how they see and presented by the community-centric forward as a challenger to DCF in how define themselves. No wonder so many fundraising movement aren’t relevant best to engage donors, CCF wants to have reacted so defensively to the CCF to them, but the issues they raise cannot radically change this system, and thus movement. and should not be ignored by fundraisers fundraising’s role within it. “However, there is sufficient common who consider themselves to be donor
“The clash of community-centric vs ground between the two philosophies centred. This thought-provoking paper donor-centred approaches is therefore to enable a dialectic that could result in will help bring the issues to the fore not so much a clash of alternative new ethical and practical approaches to while providing some common ground fundraising approaches that can be settled fundraising. for healthy dialogue.” by presenting argument, evidence and “Rather than being an existential theory in support of one or the other, but challenge to donor-centered fundraising THE NEW ROGARE Paper — The donor-centered baby and a clash of ideologies about the purpose that is sounding is death-knell, the community-centric bathwater: Is an accord possibly of philanthropy, and fundraising’s role community-centric fundraising may between the two philosophies — can be downloaded from within that.” actually provide the impetus and the Rogare website.