10 minute read
The True Profession of Fundraising
LEADERSHIP KATHLEEN PROVOST
The True Profession of Fundraising
BY KATHLEEN PROVOST
As a professional fundraiser, I have always been fascinated by my own profession, and wondered how is it that Fundraising can offer me so much potential to learn and evolve within my profession.
In an attempt to better understand the profession of Fundraising, I turned my attention to the origins of the concept of charity, or charitable work. I found out that “charity” is referenced in many religions. Though these religions do not always name it as “fundraising”, each variation referenced “charitable work” and seem to have the same philosophical meaning — that is — to find means to provide something. The word philanthropy, which finds its origin in literature dating as far back as the 1600s, has its roots from late Latin and Greek, “philanthropia”, meaning “kindliness, humanity, benevolence, love to mankind”. So, I ask, what is really the Profession of Fundraising about?
Defining fundraising as a profession
When we look at history, some of us may believe the origin of “fundraising” as a recognized profession flourished in the later part of the 1900s, when the philanthropic activities of Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), John D. Rockefeller (18391937), and others alike became more known and documented. In the United States, the National Society of Fund Raisers (NSFR) emerged in the 1960s, now called the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), this association has adopted ethical standards to foster ethical behaviour for Fundraising Professionals (Code of Ethical Standards, 2020).
But we can also look at fundraising as an economic activity. In 1997, some of us may have been involved in the Canadian roundtables set up by a group of 12 national organizations
and funded by a cluster of leading Canadian foundations. The purpose of this pan-Canadian public consultation was to enhance the relationship between the charitable sector and the federal government and to encourage supportive legislation and regulatory framework for organizations within communities. The Broadbent Report (affectionately named after its Chair, Ed Broadbent) resulted in key recommendations prescribed in a five-year, $94.6 million Voluntary Sector Initiative launched in 1999.
More recently, in a fascinating debate on the importance of language in philanthropy, Hilary Pearson referenced some of Rhodri Davies’ work and reminded us that the use of a word such as “philanthropy” may offer a sociopolitical perspective. In the Canadian context, Pearson talks of possible differences between English, French and Indigenous perspectives in which languages can reflect the underlying assumptions and ways we think about the world. "In French, the word “bienfaisance” is used as a translation of “charity” when it comes to applications of the federal law to the definition of what is charitable. But in practice, the charitable sector in Québec does not define itself around the term
“bienfaisance” but more often around the term “communautaire”, putting the accent on collectivity, acting together to change or improve community or society. The idea of an “économie sociale”, of co-operative action for mutual benefit is more familiar to francophones than the concepts of charity or “bienfaisance”. These are more relational than transactional terms.
Similarly, in Indigenous languages the term “philanthropy” would not be familiar; the Indigenous worldview and spiritual and cultural practice are based on reciprocal exchange of giving and receiving, of being in relation.” "
Learning to be a fundraiser
No matter where, or when, you place the origin of our profession our different journeys have shaped the fundraiser we have become today. For me, I became a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) in 2007, after a decade of practical experiences in numerous roles I held as a fundraiser. I have since recertified every three years as a CFRE, as per the accreditation process, whilst also adhering to a code of ethics. This accreditation sets the standard in philanthropy and upholds a valid and reliable certification in a formal adult learning process for all fundraising professionals. But I must still ask, is this the best way we learn to be a fundraiser?
Learning to be a fundraiser through a formal learning process
There are numerous examples of formal learning processes that have flourished over the last 50 years and presents fundraising professionals with a number of options to learn and develop within their own profession.
One form of formal recognized learning for a fundraiser is the professional accreditation. In 1997, two leading professional associations who each had their own separate certification programs related to fundraising decided to merge their programs for the betterment of the entire profession. The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) and the National Society of Fund-Executives (NSFRE) merged to form the independent Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) Professional Certification Board, now CFRE International. In 2017, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited CFRE certification under the ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 standard for personnel certification programs, making the CFRE credential the world’s only accredited certification for philanthropic Fundraising Professionals.
Individuals can also now access a number of academic programs around the world to help us become fundraisers. A Master in Fundraising is offered at the University of Bologna to prepare students to build a career in the nonprofit sector. In Switzerland, the School of Management and Law at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences offers to meet future demands of fundraisers and contribute to further development of the fundraising sector. There is also a Master in Philanthropic Studies in the United Kingdom designed to build the student’s expertise in the areas of civil society, fundraising, philanthropy, the third sector and volunteering. Just to name a few.
In the United States, a number of Master programs are also available. Columbia University in New York City teaches management and business techniques to help nonprofits thrive in a competitive environment; Bay Path University in Massachusetts offers strategies for building the knowledge, skills and talent of students to serve in leadership positions at universities, foundations, charities and other organizations; while other universities tailor more to build human and organizational relationships abilities whilst also attempting to develop written and oral communication skills, such as Michigan University.
Closer to home, here in Canada, the Master and Graduate Diploma in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership was recently developed at Carleton University to offer students who want to be leaders of change and who aspire to make our world better. It is the first of its kind in Canada. Located in Ottawa this program is housed in Canada’s oldest and largest School of Public Policy and Administration.
So, is this how we learn to become a fundraiser?
Learning to be a fundraiser through an informal learning process
In our profession, fundraisers often serve as leaders or mentors by using knowledge and skills to strengthen the organizations and communities they serve, and they ultimately share best practices to grow the fundraising body of knowledge. We have all cross paths with such individuals and learned from them. Unfortunately, we have also lost some of these “gurus” of our profession. Recently passed away are Rosalie Courage (Halifax) and Simone Joyaux (Rhode Island). These are just two of so many who have had a profound impact on our profession; they have contributed
MARKETING & FUNDRAISING SARAH CHAMBERLIN
The Power of Sponsors & Supporters
Sarah Chamberlin
BY SARAH CHAMBERLIN
At the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), we’re driven by a belief that Mental Health is Health and aspire to have mental health positioned at the centre of health care. Thankfully, our sponsors and supporters are driven by this purpose as well.
With the level of stigma, shame and silence that still surrounds mental illness, public support from our sponsors and supporters for mental health initiatives is incredibly meaningful to the CAMH community, as well as the larger Canadian community. The fact is, the successes we have achieved and the progress we’ve made for mental health thus far would not be possible without our sponsors and supporters. In the same breath, the discoveries we anticipate achieving in the future won’t be possible without them either.
Early in the pandemic, sponsors and supporters contributed to the charitable sector in remarkable ways as charities rushed to aid people in crisis. Of course, this isn’t uncharacteristic. Sponsors and supporters are often kind by nature and are driven to support causes and people in need. Still, when COVID-19 took so much away, sponsors and supporters still found ways to give, and that’s truly awe-inspiring.
Take, for instance, a donation of more than 500 tablets that CAMH received for patient use. Last year, we had to restrict in-person visits to keep our patients and staff safe. This meant that patients went days without seeing their loved ones or engaging in activities through Gifts of Light (more on this amazing patient care program later). But,
thanks to the Gifts of Light team, and the generosity of the Slaight family, we were able to purchase the tablets so that patients could have virtual visits with loved ones, participate in online programming, and receive virtual care from hospital staff. It’s moments and contributions like these that make me so proud of the CAMH community, and I’m sure you’ve witnessed similar kindnesses in your communities as well.
Advocate for mental health
As Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital, CAMH relies on sponsors and supporters to help transform how the world views mental health. It’s their generosity that propels us to reach thousands of people every year. They enable the CAMH research that leads to the best patient-centered mental health care in the country. They get creative and lead their own individual fundraisers to support CAMH, which also help to raise the hospital’s profile. And they advocate for the importance of mental health at work, at school, at home, and wherever else they can.
We value our sponsors and supporters, who like us, believe Mental Health is Health, and continue to live that belief out every day. Their support and their advocacy drive CAMH’s groundbreaking research and education which both lead to life-saving discoveries.
By raising CAMH’s national and global profile, CAMH sponsors and supporters have raised their profiles as some of the most dedicated in the world, as well. Our sponsors and supporters have inspired other businesses and Canadians to join our movement, further increasing the impact of our work. More people than ever before want to know how to take care of their mental health. They also want to know more about how to support their friends, families, employees and people in their communities and beyond. When there are 450 million people around the world experiencing mental illness, this inspired leadership is immensely important.
Gifts of Life
At CAMH, we’re grateful to have a wide range of sponsors and supporters who partner with us for various reasons, and in a plethora of ways. For example, executives who want to prioritize workplace mental health have partnered with us through CAMH’s Business Leaders for Mental Health Action, which is a coalition of leaders committed to improving the psychological health and safety of their employees advocating for businesses to take action. Gifts of Light, CAMH’s 100 percent donation-funded program that aims to improve the patient experience, continues to receive overwhelming support from donors and volunteers. And CAMH’s new flagship fundraiser, the Sunrise Challenge, has given mental health supporters across various communities a chance to rise with the sun together and fundraise for something they believe in.
Sponsors and supporters can help foundations and other nonprofit organizations mobilize their belief and purpose, and turn that passion into real action that creates a ripple effect of positivity. This has never been more critical as we enter what I believe to be a watershed moment for mental health.
As we, hopefully, begin to emerge from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I know that CAMH isn’t alone in its sincere appreciation for the good work that generous sponsors and supporters have enabled charities to do.
SARAH CHAMBERLIN is Vice President of Marketing and Donor Experience at CAMH Foundation. The Foundation supports the philanthropic efforts of CAMH, Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital and a world leader in mental health research, treatment, and advocacy. If you would like to learn more about CAMH’s movement for mental health and how you can join us as a sponsor or supporter, please visit https://www.camh.ca/en/get-involved.
