Talking Back

To the Editor:
I had my first opportunity to receive your magazine because a former employee’s copy was directed to me. As a recent graduate of a nonprofit management master’s program, I am horrified to see the cover of July’s issue (“Special Report:E-philanthropy 2006 — Where It’s @”). Is it possible that you wish to legitimize the expression, “where it’s at”? As things stand, nonprofit organizations have an uphill struggle to be perceived as professional, intelligent and legitimate. Regardless of current slang usage, ending sentences with prepositions is not acceptable in professional periodicals.

— Jill Kennedy,
assistant director of philanthropy, Moose Charities
Mooseheart, Ill.

[From the Editor: Thank you for reading FS, Jill, and for taking the time to write. I didn’t know it at the time I wrote that headline, but the phrase, “where it’s at” is listed as a legitimate entry in Merriam-Webster Online and defined as “a: a place of central interest or activity” and “b: something (as a topic or field of interest) of primary concern or importance.” Both
definitions are quite appropriate when addressing the role of technology in fundraising in 2006. But as I said, I didn’t know about the phrase’s legitimacy at the time. It just seemed a natural fit for the subject at hand and is in keeping with the more casual approach we’ve taken since Day 1 at the magazine. We acknowledge and respect our readers’ professionalism, and we think that they, for the most part, appreciate our reader-friendly and decidedly unstuffy tone. Keep reading! I’m sure you’ll see what I mean. — MB]

How does your organization keep its board members from getting bored?
— FS Advisor, July 5

We keep our board members from getting bored by:

1. Offering them bagels and coffee at all meetings.
2. Having them do introductions at each meeting where they respond to a question like, “What is your favorite T-shirt?”
3. Having them put their names in a box for a drawing where they answer questions about the mission of our organization and get prizes for correct answers.
4. Bringing in guest speakers.
5. Having the youth members of our team attend meetings.
6. Bringing in the people who have quit smoking thanks to our programs.
7. Presenting awards to businesses that have abolished smoking in their workplace.

— Linda Lukens Petersen,
director, Smoke Free Fulton/ Kosciusko Counties
Rochester, Ind.

Have you ever worked with a board member who didn’t like to do fundraising? How important is your organization’s board when it comes to raising money?
— FS Advisor, July 25