Embracing the Shift

I thought, “Oh, heavens, please let this be a joke.” And, thankfully, it was. Well, not exactly a joke but definitely a cheeky way to get everyone’s attention and then draw that attention to the theme of this year’s conference: Shift. Evolution, rather than revolution. And it makes sense. Revolution implies something harsh, forced, violent even. And while that’s not always a bad thing — sometimes it’s the only thing that will work — it’s not exactly where we’re at in philanthropy these days. Yes, some things have to happen, and have to happen now. For example, if you’re still treating donors like wallets rather than partners — stop. Now. If you’re spending more time wringing your hands trying to figure out how to save money by getting rid of that expensive direct mail than you are trying to craft relevant, effective mailings — stop. Now. If you’re chasing after every shiny new tool like a cat stalking a red dot in the carpet, without considering how (or even if) it fits into your overall strategy or works for your donors — stop. Now.