Following a day of action-planning and team building with Rotary coordinators and Rotary public image coordinators, regional Rotary Foundation coordinators and Endowment/Major Gifts Advisers joined together from 7-8 March for two days of training focused on fundraising and their role for the upcoming Rotary year. On 7 March, Trustee Chair-elect John Kenny set the stage for a series of discussions when he laid out the Rotary Foundation Goals for 2014-15.
In breakout sessions, RRFCs and E/MGAs discussed the importance of mentoring and leading by example, two items which truly prepare one for his or her first year as a coordinator or adviser.
Coordinators and advisers talk about their year ahead on Friday, 7 March.
E/MGA Don Mebus closed out day one with an engaging summary of how coordinators and advisers serve as connectors, promoters, and fundraisers within their respective regions.
Saturday, 8 March, day two of the event, Penelope Cagney (Co-author of Global Fundraising: How the World is Changing the Rules of Philanthropy and CEO of the Cagney Company) shared insights on global fundraising trends drawn from the knowledge and expertise of over twenty international fundraisers and NPO experts. Penelope talked about seven worldwide giving trends (below), and shared her ideas about a universal optimism for philanthropy that spans the globe.
Worldwide giving trends:
- There is a great growth in wealth worldwide, especially outside of the traditional giving regions.
- Nonprofit innovation is coming from everywhere, with new methods and the re-invigoration of old methods.
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are growing everywhere and some giant International NGOs are emerging around the world.
- There is a great debate focused about the roles of philanthropy and the state.
- Fundraising is becoming more professional with standards and qualifications being developed.
- Technology is important but nobody is sure how to it will be leveraged in the future
- Philanthropy thrives best in structured, regulated environments.
She finished her address by thanking Rotary and its volunteers for all that we have done around the world for philanthropy and our ability to work together to address problems worldwide. Rotary is part of the history and part of the movement forward.
After Ms. Cagney’s address, Trustee Chair Dong-Kurn Lee thanked all of those who have given to the Rotary Foundation over the years and invited all members of the Arch C. Klumph Society to join him on stage.
RRFCs and E/MGAs then participated in discussion sessions about best practices for fundraising and working with donors. The day ended with a keynote address from musician and Rotary peace follow alum, David LaMotte.
David LaMotte speaking at the 2014 Coordinator and Adviser Institute (photo courtesy of EMGA Chris Offer)
Director of Fundraising Eric Schmelling provided a farewell address to E/MGAs with a Rotary Foundation fundraising update. He shared details about Rotary’s involvement in four different fundraising campaigns: Annual Fund, polio eradication, Major Gifts Initiative, and Endowment Fund. He said that Rotary’s giving trends mirror some of the trends that Penelope Cagney shared earlier in the day. More donors are giving online, donating to the Annual Fund and enrolling in Rotary Direct. Overall, donations to the Rotary Foundation are up 16.2 percent worldwide.
On the final day of the training, Rotary International President-nominee K. R. Ravindran set the stage for discussions on the importance of stewardship in grants. His message: encourage district officials to be fully transparent in their work.
Want more information or images from the Institute? E/MGA Chris Offer shared some of his photos, RPIC Günes Ertas shared photos and videos of sessions, and all presentations are now available on your Rotary Workgroup!
Regional Leader Blog 