Yes. It is time for me to start thinking about Blueprint 2016. To get it to you
live in December I start thinking, mulling, complaining about, and drafting by June.
I just made my annual notebook to start compiling my papers, thoughts, and ephemera that I don't store online. I start carrying this with me everywhere. I spend a few minutes each day going back through all my online storage spots where I've been bookmarking and filing things since January 1, looking for ideas and patterns and questions.
What do you think I should be thinking about? Almost half-way through 2015, what's on your mind about the year to come?
- Got any buzzwords you want to share?
- Feel the need to point out where my 2015 predictions have gone awry? (or, perhaps, any I got right?)
- Things you want more of from the 2014 and 2015 experiments with learning from outside the USA? Subjects or sections you'd like to see go away?
- Thinking about trends that feel meaningful? Please share...
Let me know via twitter @p2173 with the hashtag #blueprint16. Or post a comment here.
Thanks.
6 comments:
2016 thought:
While there’s lots of talk about boomers who want “encore” careers to do good, the nonprofit sector really isn’t doing that well at figuring out how to use them — despite some wonderful examples that make great stories when re-told.
If…
• this cohort has about the next 10 years (at least) of really meaningful opportunity and energy,
• if the pattern of charitable giving varies from the Bob Hope generation (and it will)
• If this generation has more economic insecurity and less trust in nonprofits, then giving will not be the same as the 90s or early 2000s.
• if boomers want experiences and are not going to be passive givers (the model for most nonprofits is straight out of the 1960s: "we’re experts, give us money and we will fix it” and that resonated with the Bob Hope generation; however, that generation is gone)
• envelope stuffing volunteer style work is not going to be ultimately satisfying or truly impact producing
Then…
• the nonprofit sector, especially the mid-sized groups, are going to have to re-tool in order to accommodate the needs of their givers/volunteers/program work.
• But if they don’t do it fast, boomers are going to make up their own solutions. While such solutions will be interesting, we may end up with a lot more hobby nonprofits and a lot less real impact or positive social change.
Just a few thoughts Wednesday morning.
Thanks Kevin - leadership transitions at both "ends" of nonprofits - important insight. Any one else got thoughts on these or related issues....?
Lucy
Crowdfunding ;-)(I'm kidding of course) But thanks for a great session on the topic this past Monday! Some good food for thought.
Perhaps...and a bit singular, but how will foundations best navigate its aging donors/clientele should they enter the path of dementia and road to Alzheimer's? Do we address it with the donor/client? Do we engage with the family? What if there is no immediate family or other counsel? How and when do we determine more "direction" is necessary?
Perhaps...and a bit singular, but how will foundations best navigate its aging donors/clientele should they enter the path of dementia and road to Alzheimer's? Do we address it with the donor/client? Do we engage with the family? What if there is no immediate family or other counsel? How and when do we determine more "direction" is necessary?
Wow - Eric - that is NOT something that would have occurred to me. Thanks for raising it. It's very "inside baseball" but raises some wonderful jigsaw ethical questions.
Thanks for everyone who's chimed in - anyone else?
Lucy
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