National Philanthropy Day: Make Dreams of Donors, Volunteers Come True

By Joe Boland

"Why do we fail? Because we cut corners. You can't cut corners on the best practices."

"Do it right and do it well."

"Young donors want to engage with us hands-on before they go to the next step. We must work in a culture that is not conducive to that because historically that hasn't been the case. We have to find ways to let people spend four hours with us, not 40 years with us. We must be willing to do things so people can test-drive us on their own terms — our mold is useless to integrate more people."

"It's an interesting irony that nonprofits are characterized by many as risk-averse. The people who developed organizations to solve problems in ways they never have before were certainly taking risks. It's a disservice to the sector to be risk-averse. Common sense can't be abandoned, but clinging to the past just to cling to the past doesn't continue the legacy of the founders. We need to give space to new ideas, entrepreneurialism."

"The organizations that are successful today are the the ones that embraced new ideas and change, who took risks."

"If you want change to happen, it can't be about you. Everyone wants credit early on for their work, but it's not about you. It's about what's best for the organization."

"Find a partner who gets it, who wants to move the needle and be the change that's needed to make a real impact on the organization."

"Do what you fit into. Do what you're good at. At every job you take, feel a passion for the mission. Work where you belong and see changes you need to improve the organization and yourself."

Check back next week for more insights shared by Auten, Rizor and Healey at the Philadelphia National Philanthropy Day educational session.