📣 Philanthropic Leaders - FIRE & a Chilean Politician Can Teach Us Something

It can be tempting in the funding world to tweak your programming to fit a funder’s objectives. In fact, a funder’s objectives might be something your organization was seeking to embark on at a future date, and with $200,000 on the line, that forward push just became a whole lot more attractive.

My advice - don’t do it.

Unless your organization is providing wrap-around services for teens transitioning out of juvenile detention, and the grant dovetails nicely with yet another wrap-around service you could offer, altering your programming or shifting your mission communicates all the wrong things.

And worse yet - your supporters will pick up on this.

I recently read a great piece from FIRE (the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression). In today’s politicized climate, groups like FIRE are rare - really rare. FIRE is simultaneously LEFT, RIGHT, & CENTER. The organization’s mission is:

To defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty.

FIRE takes on potential rights violations that span the ideological spectrum. The organization is a 501(c)(3) and depends largely on philanthropic support. Donors know, however, that FIRE is focused first and foremost on free speech, and one donor’s feelings on contentious subjects such as Israel/Palestine or transgenderism will likely not comport with those of others.

FIRE is highly effective, and one could argue, might be even more “effective” if it picked an ideological side and ran with it.

But that lack of ideological capture is FIRE’s raison d'etre. Their supporters understand this, and most importantly, hold FIRE accountable.

My thoughts on FIRE crossed paths with a Chilean politician a couple of weeks ago. Chilean presidential elections don’t make headlines outside of Latin America, but I spend quite a bit of time in Chile, working with non-profits in the capital city of Santiago.

The country will head to the polls in December to elect its next President, and one of the previous front-runners crashed out in the most recent run-up elections.

Her name is Evelyn Matthei, a lifelong politician who had considerable success but tried too hard to play to “all sides” in her recent campaign. It was mission-drift on steroids.

Evelyn’s team likely figured that if they could position her as the candidate to everyone - the youth especially - she’d have a decent shot in the final run-off. This campaign video, even if you don’t understand Spanish, sums up the crash-out.

People can spot disingenuousness. A campaign or non-profit can never capture the hearts and minds of everyone. Even groups like FIRE are catering to the extreme moderates, and as such, leaving potential donations on the table.

But those donors that do end up supporting your cause will continue supporting your cause (if you steward them well) because they resonate with you.

The moral - stick to being you, thank your supporters often, seek constructive criticism, and have a wonderful THANKSGIVING!