The end of the paper era is not quite at hand

Blog Post Home For the past five years or so, we have been encouraged to ‘go paperless’ and it is something that I have tried to embrace. But I love paper. I love reading books and turning the pages carefully, releasing the unique smell of binding, glue and paper; it is as intoxicating as opium and almost as addictive. I will also admit to a more-than-passing infatuation with pretty stationery, but perhaps that’s a story for another day. Focusing back on going paperless; I was delighted when a colleague shared a brochure (ironically, via email) from an organization called Two Sides (www.twosides.info). Established by companies from the graphic communications supply chain in the UK, its mission is to educate the public about why the print- and paper-based communications medium is practical, attractive and, most importantly, sustainable. While we are told that paper is a wasteful product, it’s actually one of the most recycled products in the world. More than that, it’s one of the few truly sustainable products. Did you know? Electronic communication also has an environmental impact! And while logic dictates that it must have – I can’t say I had ever given it any thought. It turns out a report released in 2018 revealed that the ICT industry accounted for almost 3% of all greenhouse emissions and predictions are that it will rise to at least 14% by 2040. Hmm, not quite as environmentally friendly as we all imagined. According to the Global E-waste Monitor, in 2019, we produced 53,6 metric tons of e-waste, an average of 7,3kg per capita and it is projected to grow to 74,7 metric tons by 2030. And less than 20% of that was recycled. Forty-four metric tons of e-waste found its way onto landfill sites, or illegal dumps, making a significant contribution to the growing global pollution problem. The team at Two Sides point out that the move to an online-only society risks leaving our most vulnerable disconnected – the elderly, people living in rural areas and those living below the breadline. They add that paper has been the preferred medium for communication for over 2,000 years and even in today’s screen-obsessed world (yes, I know where you are reading this!), paper can’t be discounted . Utilised and disposed of responsibly, it is sustainable and has definitely not had its day. Thank goodness.

The launch of the Words that Count Growth Academy

Blog Post Home What a week this has been! After much debate, delay and distraction, the Words that Count Growth Academy has finally become a reality. So, what the heck is the Words that Count Growth Academy, anyway? During 2020 (or the year that never was), I realised that there are so many non-profit directors and fundraisers who have had the responsibility for fundraising thrust upon them. And this responsibility was given, almost universally, without any preparation or training, and the poor chosen are expected to understand the nuances and intricacies of the fundraising world … preferably yesterday, so that the money can start flowing tomorrow. Those of us who have been around the block a few times know that fundraising is a marathon and not a sprint. And more than that, as is the case with long-distance running, fundraising requires stamina … and this is something that comes with training … and lots and lots of practice. In Africa, the opportunities for training are few – and relevant, appropriate and context-specific training is rare as hens’ teeth! So, as I made banana bread, sewed fabric facemasks, and generally behaved like a doomsday prepper in my suburban home, I began to imagine how to solve this thorny problem for my colleagues in the trenches. Another problem common in our world is funding for such interventions. Almost every non-profit that I have worked with over the years is very aware of stretching their income as far is it will go – and conscious of the fact that they have to be responsible stewards of the resources that they have been entrusted with. So – the solution also had to fit a range of pockets. The thinking continued. And earlier this year, it came to me in the middle of the night – start a community of fundraisers and non-profit leadership who will benefit from monthly masterclasses, a huge variety of resources, Facebook lives and a private group where questions can be asked and answered in a professional and nurturing manner… And the opportunity to pick not just my brain, but the brains of the experts that we are going to bring in to share their knowledge and experience with you. Now we had a framework, but what would training from these experts cost? Actually, very little. I am extraordinarily privileged to have a network of experts, not just locally but globally, who have already said ‘I’m in’ when I broached the subject with them! And after more than 20 years in the sector, I may have a gem or two to share along the way, myself! And so, for a monthly investment of just R349, VAT inclusive (or US$47 for people living outside South Africa), you or a member of your team will have access to masterclasses on a variety of topics – all equipped to make fundraising easier and way more successful for you! And the best part is that for as long as you are a member, you will have access to ALL these resources – not like some platforms that limit access to previous training sessions. We want you to go back and refresh your memory when you have a particular task to complete, or you are faced with a new challenge. Because, chances are, there will be a masterclass for that – and if there isn’t, all you have to do is get in touch with the Academy team and we will find an expert to solve your problem … because, hey, if you are struggling with something, it’s pretty likely that you are not the only one! And so, we kick off on 3 May 2021 – sharing the wisdom of international business coach, Diane Lindemann, who will take us through the process of identifying our ideal donor – deep-diving way beyond the demographics and into the factors that, with practice, will drive your networking and marketing activities (which, by the way, are the topics for the next two masterclasses!) PS – if you are reading this before midnight on Friday, 30 April 2021, I have some exciting news! Although our founders’ slots are filled, I decided to extend a special offer to the early birds out there. In South Africa, it’s Freedom Day on 27 April … so exercise your freedom to associate with the Words that Count Growth Academy for just R299 (US$40) per month! And even if you miss this special, join us anyway. You won’t be sorry!

Finding your why

Blog Post Home Some years ago, I was introduced to Simon Sinek’s Ted Talk titled How Great Leaders Inspire Action. For those of you who don’t know, Simon is a US-based business consultant. An unassuming fellow, with a pair of spectacles to rival Professor Trelawney’s, it would be easy to overlook him in a crowded room, maybe even in a sparsely populated one. But Simon’s battle cry – “people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it” – has become a clarion call in my professional development in resource mobilisation. The video is 18 minutes of pure gold, and it has become a standard opening act when I facilitate strategy workshops in non-profits across South Africa. (Grab your popcorn and find it here.)  But this is a Ted Talk aimed at the business world, I hear you ask. Why should non-profits be taking note? It’s because this gem is far more applicable to the non-profit world than we could imagine. Simon explains that no matter what the industry, or what is being sold, people resonate with WHY the product is available to them, rather than the product itself. He uses the Golden Circle to illustrate his point that if you place ‘why’ in the centre of the circle, the ‘how’ and the ‘what’ become almost irrelevant. This lends itself perfectly to our sector, where we need donors to connect to the social mission, the ‘why’, in order to unlock their largesse. Simon uses Apple as an example (and all of the Apple users shift uneasily in the chairs, unsure of what is to come). People don’t buy MP3 players from Dell, because they are known as a computer manufacturer, not a producer of music players – but Apple is ALSO a computer manufacturer, so why did so many of us own iPods? Simple. Apple’s ‘why’ is that they strive to change the status quo. “We’re for the crazy ones,” they tell us in their one and only television ad, produced during Apple founder, Steve Jobs’ lifetime. If you own an Apple, you want to be different, you want to stand out from the crowd – and you want everyone to know it every time you take out your MacBook or answer your iPhone!  Simon and his team have taken this a step further and have developed ‘Finding your why” workshops for both individuals and organisations, encouraging staff and board members to reconnect with what attracted them to the company they are involved in or life path they have chosen. It’s a simple but effective way to reignite the passion and enthusiasm within your non-profit and make sure that everyone is singing from the same hymnsheet, because if we can’t articulate why we are there, it’s going to be damned near impossible to convince anyone else to buy in. To book your ‘Why” workshop or strategic planning session, email the team! “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.” ― Simon Sinek