Author: Siobhan

Risk and Reward: The heart of philanthropy.

Posted on by Siobhan

I spend my days, and many a night, thinking about what inspires donors, the power of the collective and what it means to work in a field supported by the gifts of others.  And in all those hours, spanning days, weeks, months and years, I rarely hear the word “risk.”

And yet, for me, philanthropy, in its most glorious state, is about risk, and especially the kind of risk that brings unanticipated reward.

Poor Risk!  Calculated risk.  Risky business.  Risky behavior.  Even risqué. 

We shelter its very meaning with modifiers that restrain, and protect us from the menace, the threat that risk seems to mean these days.

Risk can mean loss, of course, yet it also is about taking a chance, taking action, about adventure, change and above all, possibility.

Risk desires.  Risk hopes.  Risk wants more from each of us than we can give.

So, risk requires that we trust each other, trust the greater society, and indeed trust ourselves as we find a way, together, to create the kind of change that only risk brings.

Foundations can do risk. 

Foundations can champion emerging issues and new problems (See Gates and AIDS research!). Foundations can identify and support new and truly innovative solutions that would otherwise flounder (See vaccine development and delivery!).  Foundations can support both leaders and institutions (see Kellogg!) and ensure a stronger sector. Foundations can do all this and survive failure, too.  Their own and that of others, as long as lessons are learned from failure (see the actions of the Heinz Foundation’s regarding the Pittsburgh public schools). 

Foundations embrace and act on risk, take the chance and, in the best examples, inspire the greater reward we all share in.

Individual donors can take risks with great reward, too.  Donors, like foundations, learn about what works but trust  their own learning and their instincts when it comes to leaders, when it comes to solutions.

Risk in philanthropy is not blind, nor is it calculated.  Risk in giving acknowledges the problem, the challenge, and inspires us individually, and at The Women’s Foundation, collectively, to embrace the possibility of change.

We live in a time where risk is discouraged, where impulse is controlled, yet the very spark of possibility that philanthropy invites can only grow to action when risk is invited and accepted as essential to the act of giving.

To give is, at its very essence, to live.  And being alive is a risk in and of itself.

International Women's Day: Stuck on impunity.

Posted on by Siobhan

The theme for yesterday’s International Women’s Day celebration as established by the UN is, “Ending impunity for violence against women and girls.”

I am not sure what impunity means when it comes to the daily realities of women and girls living with violence.

Ending impunity seems even more abstract. 

I see “ending impunity” and I stop reading, stop short of women and girls and start to wonder what does that really mean and who decided that was the right language to use? 

It felt like a committee to me, a committee charged with the marketing objective, thinking about themes, compromising on language to make sure everybody agrees.

Perhaps even righteously so.

But it doesn’t work. I get stuck on impunity and never get to women and girls, never get to the fear and the consequences of violence.

What about just ending violence against women and girls, or preventing violence against women and girls?  What about using language that is less about ideas and more about action? 

Let’s learn about ways to prevent violence, not just punish it, and share what works within and across our local and international communities. 

Themes can serve as a call to action; language can serve as a call to conversation. 

And marketing?  Well, marketing is our way of claiming a little bit of space in a busy world thrumming with information.

Saying No to Get to Yes

Posted on by Siobhan

It seems that giving should be easy, and like love, limitless in possibility.  But it isn’t easy and limits, particularly where bank accounts are concerned, abound.  Caring about everything can quickly turn into not caring at all.  Sometimes NOT giving seems to be an answer, but it isn’t, as a request from a friend fundraising for a cause near and dear quickly proves.

But No is powerful, and indeed it can be a good answer, even the best answer and the only one that brings you to the true power of giving. 

Impossible, you say? 

Read on, I reply.

If you want to give, and give in a way that is strategic, meaningful and has impact, you need to know what you want to give to, which means in turn figuring out what you won’t give to. 

It means in short that you have to say no to get to yes. 

We all have values, but what are your top three? 

We all care about community, but ask yourself the question, which community? 

The one I live in now, the one my family comes from, or the one I visit on an international trip? 

What are your issues? 

Some of us believe that children are the future, others are fervent supporters of elder care.  Domestic violence may matter more to me, access to education may be in your top two. 

Favoring one over the other doesn’t mean you don’t care.  It does mean, however, that you make a choice about what to support and how. 

So you have already made choices, about what you value, what issues inspire you and in which community you want to give. 

All those choices necessitated deciding what you WON’T support, though still care about, and, more importantly, free you to really explore what you WILL give to. 

Now the fun begins. 

There is a world of possibility, hope and solution to be found in the non-profit world. Once you begin to explore and dive in to the issues and communities you care about, the opportunities for making a real difference are abundant and the work of organizations inspiring.  It is in these moments of discovery, where giving to what you value and care about, when the meaning of all the little no’s allow you to say YES!!!

Giving Out Loud!

Posted on by Siobhan

Marjorie forwarded an article entitled “Women’s Philanthropy Group Goes Public with Causes; Menlo-based Network Enters Political Fray With Ad” that got me thinking; what is the difference between the power of philanthropy and the power of openly, PUBLICLY, using money?

The Women Donors Network (WDN), profiled in the article, decided to find out with a first-time public endeavor, a voting rights campaign characterized as “a national coming-out party” for the 175 women members who give a total of $100 million dollars a year. A party indeed!

These women know that voting, like giving, is a demonstration of one’s values, both acts speak to who we are and provide us each with a powerful way to shape the society we live in. They also know that both are often private acts. What makes this first-time foray for the WDN so striking is the collective decision of these women to publicly demonstrate the power of money. They are moving beyond a power of philanthropy, even the power of the purse and choosing to do it publicly, even OUT LOUD. Why?

We know the power of philanthropy; The Women’s Foundation has 101 stories of donors, grantee partners and clients whose lives have changed because of philanthropy.

We know the power of giving together; The Women’s Foundation is, in itself, a testimony to the difference giving together makes.

But the power of openly, publicly, using money?

How do we all talk about that?!

Philanthropy can be private and powerful. But what about philanthropy that is public and powerful? What do we, as women donors of all shapes, sizes and incomes, understand the difference to be? As individuals, the desire, indeed the need, to be anonymous can make sense. Going public is scary, uncomfortable, even threatening. But together, as a collective, as a shared voice, the public use of our money can say so much. Putting big money and names to our work can speak to what we share as women, what we want as women and the society we want to shape as women.

It is new territory, this public and powerful use of money, that is for sure, but like the frontiers of any new terrain, essential to exploring together.

First Week, First Blog

Posted on by Siobhan

In the “can-do-right-now” spirit of the Women’s Foundation, I offer my first blog in my first week as Director of Communications and Philanthropic Programs!

I am Siobhán O’Riordan and I am delighted to both be joining the Foundation and bringing all my communications and programmatic expertise from eight years in Boston-area philanthropies. My work in philanthropy is fueled by the thrill of connecting; nothing brings me greater satisfaction than bringing people and ideas together on a path of discovery and learning. There are many ways to navigate the worlds in which we all live and pass between, yet the paths most traveled are ones of friendship, community and hope.

I believe that philanthropy – both the act of giving and receiving for the greater good – provides just the right place for meaningful connection, real community building and the rooting and growing of hope that together, we can make the difference. I look forward to meeting and learning from you all! Feel free to say hello at soriordan@wawf.org.