PEOPLE
Secret diary
is much we could learn from
here in the UK about how to
encourage more people to take
on life-changing projects across
their communities.
A further meeting followed
with Doctors of the World, a
European-based NGO, to learn
about engaging donors, before I
headed off to a branding meeting.
When we met for dinner, most
of the group were exhausted,
but there had been many good
meetings, including a potential
million dollar investment for
one of our group – not a bad
start at all!
A great evening with IMG
Artists and staff from the Met
Opera followed, making other
key links with organisations
such as the Julliard School,
before catching up with an old
colleague, Stacy Margolis, who
is now working at the League of
American Orchestras. Stacy’s
perception about the changing
fundraising market in the US
was invaluable, and it seems
that many arts organisations are
starting to struggle with next
generation donors being drawn
to other sectors, such as health
and education.
DAY FOUR
MAKING CONNECTIONS
DAY FIVE
FUN AND FRIENDSHIPS
On Wednesday I had the privilege
of meeting one of New York’s
foremost political fundraisers
– Bridget Siegel. This was my
biggest learning from this trip –
that whilst philanthropy in the US
is undoubtedly better established
than in the UK, the Americans
face exactly the same challenges
of finding fundraising talent, as
well as recruitment and retention.
As such, there seemed to be an
appetite to explore translating
our graduate talent programmes
into the city, and links with New
York Univer sity and Columbia
University were made.
By the end of the week I had
made so many contacts that my
hands were full with follow-up,
including exploring partnerships
with organisations that could
work with us in New York. But
the highlight of these two days
was meeting our American
colleagues from the Goldman
Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
programme. I was paired with
crowd-funding platform, Rocket
Hub, and a firm friendship was
made for collaboration, and to be
able to provide digital training for
some of our UK-based clients.
This was such a great trip from
Santander. As well as learning
about New York and making
great connections, getting to
spend time with other ambitious
entrepreneurs meant that I learned
so much, with good feedback and
ideas for growing our business in
the years ahead. I’ve even agreed
to set up Corporate Foundations
for five members of our group!
Running a growing business
can be pressurised, but as one of
the philanthropists that I met on
the trip reminded me, business
also needs to be fun, and with fun,
know-how and a good business,
it’s possible to change at least a
little bit of the world.
Contact:
www.cause4.co.uk
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