Posted on Friday, 18th September 2009 by chris wignall

I just got home from a meeting with young adults who are considering how to become more involved in the work of Opportunity International. It was the first gathering for the group and I am really excited about what could emerge from this. Opportunity is ahead of the curve simply by acknowledging the value and [...]

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Posted on Tuesday, 1st September 2009 by chris wignall

As Catalyst has become a slightly more mature in our funding programs we have learned the importance of establishing and communicating clear criteria for our grants, both in applications and in reporting from grantees. Today a part of me wishes we hadn’t done so quite so much. Almost a year ago I had a long [...]

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Posted on Friday, 21st August 2009 by chris wignall

The global humanitarian crises are desperate and sadly appear all too permanent. Statistics and stories from boooks like Billion Bootstraps, Out of Poverty, and Dead Aid reveal the lasting ineffectiveness of the billions we’ve poured into the developing world for decades. There has to be a better way. At the recent Willow Creek Leadership Summit [...]

Posted in Catalyst, Philanthropy, Resources, Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Posted on Tuesday, 18th August 2009 by chris wignall

I’m always intrigued by innovative ideas about doing good in the world; particularly when they shed light on cultural assumptions that have little basis in fact. Dan Pallotta, writing at Free The Non Profits is doing just that this week. He argues that (in the USA) current tax laws could and should be changed to [...]

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Posted on Thursday, 21st May 2009 by chris wignall

A couple quick comments to non-profit leaders on how to get funding from Catalyst and most other foundations that I communicate with. 1. Don’t send me an uninvited, impersonal, and obviously form letter requesting funds. I will not respond positively. Take even a few minutes to give me a call or read some of our [...]

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Posted on Thursday, 23rd April 2009 by chris wignall

How can we connect our donors with our vision in a meaningful way? Every nonprofit leader I meet with wants more than just dollars from donors; they want a deeper connection. In a few cases it is possible to take the donors to see the projects and programs personally, but the costs of doing so [...]

Posted in Philanthropy, Vision | Comments (1)

Posted on Thursday, 9th April 2009 by chris wignall

How is the economic crisis impacting the world’s most vulnerable? Our partners at Opportunity International have something to tell us about that. Bottom line: More people are going to be desperate. With that despair comes a lot more potential for exploitation and evil, but those who are doing microfinance well are positioned to sustain and [...]

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Posted on Thursday, 15th January 2009 by chris wignall

One constant topic of discussion with both funders and charities is the fundamental power imbalance between the two sides. However we try to minimize it, there is a basic reality that charities need resources that funders can provide. While I appreciate the outstanding efforts of many charities to develop mutual value in the interaction the [...]

Tags: Partners, Philanthropy
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Posted on Tuesday, 6th January 2009 by chris wignall

Making charitable giving more accessible and intimate is a great thing. Kiva has been standard bearer for changing the way we give. In recent months I’ve seen some family members become enthusiastic about being able to connect much more directly with people and issues. It may well be that start of a revolution in charity. [...]

Tags: Philanthropy
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Posted on Tuesday, 23rd December 2008 by chris wignall

Nonprofit guru Peter Brinckerhoff just posted his thoughts on what he hopes the future of nonprofits could hold. Here are a couple from him: 3. I want funders of all kinds (foundations, corporations, government, individuals) to accept the fact that when they fund nonprofits, they purchase services, they don’t get to control the nonprofits in [...]

Tags: Philanthropy
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