Meeting My Hero - Nicholas Kristof

"There are no silver bullets when it comes to global poverty so every drop in the bucket counts.  Drops are how we fill buckets."   That was the message of Nicholas Kristof Thursday night when he spoke first to a smaller group at DirectReleif and then a larger group at UCSB.

I've made no secret of the fact that Nick K. is my hero.  When asked if you could meet anyone in the world who would it be?  I say Nicholas Kristof.  Last week, that wish came true.  It was a brief meeting as he signed a few books for me (I was first in line) and got a nice photo taken (I plan to frame it) but,  Nick did not let me down. 

He was personable, humble and, in my opinion, the most knowledge human on the planet on global poverty.  I was like a groupie hanging on his every word.  Its hard to feel hopeful when so many people are starving, dying of ebola, living with fistula, or don't have access to education.  Its hard to feel hopeful when you hear stories of NGO's doing more harm than good (which he addressed as not something he agrees with).  But, hopeful was what Nick was all about.

He said several times "This is the generation that is going to end global poverty."  He pointed out that as philanthropists we try too much for the high hanging fruit when there is so much low hanging fruit that can make a significant impact.  For example, it's $300 to build a school, $100 for uniforms, but only $3.20 to de-worm a kid and worms are a significant road block in children attending school.  How many times have you heard about building schools?  A lot!  How many times have you been asked to donate $3.20 to help de-worm a kid?  Never!  He talked about an eye condition where people live everyday in the pain equivalent to child birth, but yet the fix for this condition is $40, and a 2 hour surgery a nurse can do!

Nick's newest book, "A Path Appears," points us to much of this low hanging fruit that is often over looked, but yet is critical in creating opportunity.  The Everyday message Nick gave was  "Just because you can't help every kid doesn't mean you shouldn't help one kid." 

TAKEAWAY:

Every drop helps and we are all capable of adding a drop to the bucket and we can't forget to tell our brains that or science tells us we won't keep giving, won't keep helping.

What will your next drop be?

Do Not Read This!

Its been a long time since I have posted.  Lots of ideas have crossed
my mind. I was tempted to post pictures of my kids doing the ice bucket
challenge. I think we all cracked up over at least one video.  That
viral campaign involving thousands of everyday people fascinated me! 
But, I missed hitting that before the numerous articles about it's
success went out because life and work have kept me busy.

However, here is something that came across my inbox today, that I cannot help
but share.  The video is produced by Room to Read.  I first learned
about Room to Read seven years ago (pre Four Cups of Tea) when my friend
Mike Walker did a 150 mile race across China's Gobi Desert to raise money for
them.  While carrying all of your supplies on your back while racing 150
miles across harsh landscape is not everyday, it is an example of what
an everyday friend can accomplish when they set their mind to it.

Not only did he raise over $100,000 for Room to Read, but a community of
people in Santa Barbara now know about them.  Because of Mike, seven
years later, I am moved by this campaign to raise awareness for their
mission and helping them by sharing it with all of you. 

A pretty simple everyday thing you can do is just share this video - DO NOT READ THIS!

$1.6 Million for Everyday Philanthropists

We can all agree that education is a valuable part of any civil society. We can also all agree that in order for the U.S. to be globally competitive, it is in our best interest for our nation's brightest to be able to finance a college education.

What if the brightest came here illegally as a child, has excelled both academically and as a community member, but has no way of securing college financing because they are ineligible for federal financial aid and because many scholarship based organizations are hesitant to award undocumented applicants because of potential negative impact on donors?  Is it still fair that these high achieving, most likely high contributors to our society still deserve a college education?

Four everyday philanthropists think so and have not only raised over $100,000 in funds for these students, but more importantly have persevered in influencing one of our community's highest profile funders to realize the importance of investing in these students is greater than the fear of any negative backlash.  At the annual Community Leaders Luncheon last week, Ron Gallo announced that the Santa Barbara Foundation Board of Trustees voted that documentation need not be considered when determining recipients for their $1.6 million in scholarship dollars.  Ron Gallo said,

"because we realize we are in a worldwide competition for the best workforce in this new global economy, because we believe in investing in all of our best and brightest and we believe that our country is always at its best when it is supporting the next generation [regardless of documentation]."

You can't get more everyday than four childhood friends taking time from their professional careers to found and run Adsum.  Jonathan Wang, Debra Roets, Maritza Mejia-Wilson, and Travis Wilson aren't any more special than you and me, but what they have achieved and will continue to achieve is pretty special.  

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/margaretme100502.html#kozy73AHvEUyjsj1.99

Takeaway:

The best take away I can think of for this post is Margret Mead's famous quote:

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that has."

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/margaretme100502.html#kozy73AHvEUyjsj1.99

Harnessing Your Power

One of the great things about my job as the facilitator of the Katherine Harvey Fellows is I get to hear fabulous community leaders speak and yesterday was no exception.

As someone who sits on the Board of Trustee for the Towbes Foundation and the Santa Barbara Foundation, Rob Skinner clearly fits into the category of being a philanthropist, but you might not consider him an Everyday Philanthropist.  However, his message to the group was astonishingly everyday: 

"Philanthropy isn't just about giving money, its being thoughtful about how you are going to be a catalyst for change and finding the things that energize you to be that catalyst. "

By harnessing your power to be a catalyst for change, it is no longer about how much money you can give, but about the number of people you can energize to make sure we live in an inclusive society, whatever the focus area you chose.

Rob gave the example of a school field trip where not all of the children can afford the price of the field trip.  Let's say it's the fifth grade four day trip many schools take to places like CIMI.  He said you could just reach into your pocket and help pay for the children who can't go  OR you can be energized to find a solution that eliminates this need on an ongoing basis for the school. Maybe you start an annual school wide fundraiser whose purpose is to provide scholarships to those kids who can't afford the camp and brings the school community together at the same time.

The message Rob left the group with really resonated with me because my philanthropic dollars don't go as far as I'd like, but I know I am an enthusiastic person and that I am good at finding ways to bring people into the causes I care about in a way that works for them.  I am also good at connecting people to opportunities I think they will care about thus providing them an avenue for harnessing their own power. I suddenly felt like a much bigger philanthropist!


TAKE-AWAYS:

• Where do you already harness your power by being a catalyst for change by energizing others?
• What other places could you harness your power by being a catalyst for change by energizing others?

110 Youth Everyday Philanthropists

The other week my three girls participated in the 6th Annual Keiki Paddle.  The Keiki Paddle consists of children between the ages of 7-16 paddling in an open ocean paddle to provide financial and emotional support to both a child with a life threatening illness and a nonprofit that supprts children with a life threatening illness. 

What continues to stick with me these last few weeks, is that this event is over 100 everyday kids participating in philanthropy and what's more, the event was started by everyday dads. 

The Keiki Paddle is an offshoot of the Friendship Paddle, which was founded over 10 years ago when a group of ocean loving guys wanted to do something to show support for their 39 year old friend battling cancer.  The Keiki Paddle was started several years later because many of the children, seeing their Dad's paddle in the Friendship Paddle, wanted to participate.

Additionally, the Dad's wanted to instill the fundamental concept of giving back to your community and having a little fun while doing it. They have even taken it a step further and have created a junior advisory board so kids can also get experience organizing and running an event.  These everyday kids have raised approximately $100,000 since the event began.

So what started out as everyday dad's wanting to do something to show love and support to their friend has impacted hundreds of other everyday dads and children who have participated in both the Friendship Paddle and the Keiki Paddle over the years. They have also provided financial and emotional support to almost 20 beneficiaries both adults and kids with life threatening illness and to multiple nonprofit agencies that support these families.

This year's beneficiaries of the Kieki paddle were 7 year old Samuel Helfand and the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation.  Click here to support this year's paddle.  

You can also hear more about the Keiki Paddle on this NPR story including hearing from teens Tavis Boise and Chase McFadden who both had parents who were beneficiaries of the Friendship Paddle.  They carry on the memory of their parent by being key organizers of the Keiki Paddle.

This is an example of everyday people being philanthropist at it's best!

Paying to Visit an African Village, Right or Wrong?

We recently took our three kids to Kenya.  Of course, this included a safari in the Maasai Mara, home of the indigenous Maasai Worriors. I did my best to find an outfitter that seemed to give back to the local community and was pleased when we arrived to learn that it was one of only a few outfitters of over hundreds of camps actually owned and run by a Maasai.  Like many outfitters, this safari included the option (for an additional fee) to visit a local Maasai village.

The village clearly knew we were coming and welcomed us with a dance in their traditional Maasai Worrior clothing, took us inside one of their mud huts, talked about how they lived, let us take as many pictures as we wanted, and ended in a little craft market with heavily inflated prices.

Was this a contrived experience?  Should we have done it?

I am going to err on the side and say even though it was contrived to some degree, these people really do live and dress like this.  We are talking tiny mud huts, with no running water, no agriculture, children in tattered clothes of whom a small percent go to school (supported by our safari camp).  Nothing contrived about that.  The Maasai are also extremely proud people and there is pride in showing others how they live.

My travels have taught me that abject poverty and oppression do not necessarily go hand in hand as is easy to assume.  Enough cannot be said about the power of community and a strong sense of tradition to enrich even the poorest of lives.  This is important to me for my kids to understand.

The ending of the visit with the push to buy inflated crafts clearly diminished the geniality.  However, it is sickening to see the millions of dollars passing through the safari camps, a high percentage foreign owned, with obviously very little benefit to the Maasai people who clearly live in extreme poverty.  The ability to charge for people to visit the village is an income source for them.  While not quite what I would call a market based solution, it is an assets they have and one that actually allows them to maintain their sense of community and cultural traditions.  

This isn't because of the demands by  tourists to visit. The income source affords them to stay as a community rather than be swayed to sell their land for short term income.  This results in the disbandment of the community and displacement of many Maasai who have nothing to show for the sale once the money is gone.

Overall, I felt good about the safari outfitter we chose who has created a market based solution that benefits the community and I look at my overpriced purchases as a donation. My family will enjoy them along with the lessons for my children of seeing how differently people can live and do more than just survive even if not quite thrive.

Seeing Hope Where I See Despair

"I believe that every individual has the power to bring about significant change, good or bad. Whether we choose to use that power — and for what purpose — defines our legacy."

-Scott Neeson

Last week Scott Neeson, from the Cambodia Children's Fund, was our keynote speaker for our DirectRelief Women's event.  Scott found hope where I would find hopelessness.  Now, I have a passion for travel and I have a passion for wanting the world to be a better place.  But, I prefer to travel to indigenous villages over cities and I've recently realized why.  I am selfish.

I find the poorest of villages to be filled with hope because of the power a village has to provide a sense of joy through pride in your culture and pride in a shared sense of purpose .  When I see the poor in the cities, I feel hopelessness, despair, and oppression.  While it is not without it's value to experience this as a traveler, selfishly I don't like it. 
 
Scott saw things differently.  In 2004, Scott was on holiday in between jobs as a high profile Hollywood executive.  We are talking major success -  multiple homes, multiple cars and boats, single playboy life, the works.  While in Cambodia, he was exposed to what I would consider the most desperate circumstances possible, children living in the municipal garbage dump, many abandoned, wearing everything they own, no home, no community, and no hope.

Scott proceeded to sell everything, quit his job, and dedicate his life to helping the most destitute of children.  Today the Cambodia Children's Fund cares for and provides comprehensive services like housing, education, and health to over 1,200 children and their families in the dump region.

I have no idea how Scott found hope in the most hopeless of circumstance, but I sure am glad there are people in this world with that ability and power.  Something I noticed about Scott's approach is he didn't try to save all of all of the world's children (I imagine based on the power trip he was on he might have thought he could), or all of Cambodia's children, or even all of Phnom Penh's children.  He picked a distinct area and went really deep, and I mean really deep and he started with just one child.


We can't all be a Scott Neeson, but a few things I took away from his talk and questions to ask ourselves:

• There is always hope where it feels hopeless.  Where do you feel its hopeless and where is there hope in this situation?

• Making a difference in one person's life is making a difference.  Where can you make a difference in just one person's life?

• The value of depth versus breadth.  Where can you go deeper with your involvement on one issue or one organization?

Strategic Philanthropy for the Everyday Philanthropist

The Philanthropic Initiative considers Strategic Philanthropy a continuous cycle of assessment, strategy and implementation.  In other words, how do you go from feeling good to doing good and knowing you are?

Last week, Peter Karoff and I facilitated a panel on Strategic Philanthropy for our Katherine Harvey Fellows. Our panelists included Martha Harmon from the Santa Barbara Foundation, Laurel Anderson from Orfalea Foundation, and Erik Talkin from the Foodbank Santa Barbara County.  They did an amazing job of explaining how their organizations interpret and use strategic philanthropy.

This was high level, valuable insight being shared and it makes perfect sense for a grant maker, but what about everyday philanthropists?  I've spent the last week thinking about how everyday philanthropists can use the concept of strategic philanthropy.

One of the central ideas that came out of this session was the importance of identifying gaps in addressing community needs. But, identify the gap isn't enough.  How do you know it's a gap worth investing in?  Our panelists explained things they looked for in addition to the gap such as:

• leadership
• cross sector involvement (nonprofits, government, private corportions)
• political will
• solvability
• measurability
• community interest

This week also happened to be the week of the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara Awards Luncheon. Just before the awards were given, they explained their criteria for deciding to propose an agency for an award.  This criteria sounded a lot like the list above!  

As I listened to their criteria, I realized here was a room of 300 plus everyday philanthropists actively involved in strategic philanthropy via the collective giving model that defines the Women’s Fund. These everyday women had given approximately between $250 to $2500 to be part of the vote on how to award $525,000 in funds.  These women were not grant makers they were everyday people involved in strategic philanthropy!

Besides joining the Women's Fund (which I hope you do), what are some questions you could ask when deciding to support a nonprofit:

• Does the nonprofit have a destination and not just a mission?
• Does there seem to be a synergy between the Executive Director and Board Chair or is there a sense of discourse?
• Do they collaborate with other partners?  This could be other nonprofits or with entities like government and private corporations.
• Are they aware of what else is going on in the space besides what they are doing?
• Are they creating pathways or do they just have programs?
• Do they have any plans to create any revenue stream and not just depend on donations? 

The content of this article was compiled from information provided by Peter Karoff, Martha Harmon, Erik Talkin, and Laurel Anderson at the Katherine Harvey Fellows session on Strategic Philanthropy in April 2013. 

What I Thought Was a Smart Question

It's been awhile since I've posted, but I am back with an updated profile justifying why I still consider myself an everyday philanthropist even though I am now employeed in the nonprofit sector.  My recent trip to Guatemala, as a volunteer of DirectRelief, reminds me that regardless of the work I do, I am at heart just an everyday person trying to make a difference and I continue to wrestle with what is making a difference.

Our original intention for the trip was a "service" trip.  The DirectRelief partner we visited, ADRI provides comprehensive community development for 41,000 indigineous Guatemalan's in the Alta Verapaz region.  Notice, I said 41,000 not 40,000, that is because they are excellent at tracking every stat in the villages down to pet vaccinations.  The amazing program manager, Ruby started off providing us an overview of their main programs.

I proceeded to ask what I thought was a very smart question:  How did they determine the program areas?  Are these the essential areas of development identified by experts needed to improve conditions in developing communities?  Without missing a beat and with complete respect, Ruby replied,  "We asked the people in the villages we serve."  And BOOM a lightbulb went off!  Who was I, as a white middle to upper class American, to think these people needed experts to tell them what they needed.

I recovered from my gross error in thinking and we began our "service."  We helped to paint a clinic, we planted yuca root at a village school, and we even got to give out TOMS shoes.  Did our "service," make a difference?  Absolutely not!  Were their many intangible benefits to us being of "service" besides trying to make a bunch of American women feel good?  Absolutely!

Don't get me wrong, there was an inherent tension to doing this type of trip.  Unless you have a true skill and a chunk of time, it's unlikely you are going to blow into a developing country and do anything the locals can't do for themselves.  Does that mean the trip was a waste of time for both the participants and the partner?  In my opinion, it was net positive for everyone. 


What were the benefits of our "service?"

• Although Ruby and his colleague, Esteban, spent two full days letting us be of "service,"  our visit gave them the opportunity to show off and take pride in the work they are doing.  I hope our visit and praise was in some way a gift of reflection and affirmation to keep them inspired to do the work they are doing.

• While it was fascinating for us to gawk at the villagers, our visit was exciting for them, too and lots of laughter was exchanged (mostly due to my goofball friend, Rachael who was good at getting the kids to laugh).  Is this such a bad thing?  I hope our interest in their efforts to improve their lives also gave them pride and inspiration to keep helping themselves.

• There is nothing like seeing first hand the lifestyle of someone who lives in an indigenous village to give you compassion, appreciation for your own life, and inspire you to continue to volunteer your time to improve our world community

• Our visit elevated us to unofficial ambassadors of the good work DirectReleif is doing which we hope will cultivate more supporters of DirectReleif locally and in turn benefit partners around the world like ADRI.

• At the most basic level, in exchange for making us feel of "service,"  ADRI received both a cash donation and a physical donation of goods from us to support their programs. Neither would have be received without our visit.

• And finally, I was reminded of the wonderful Tao of Leadership

Go to the people

Live among them

Learn from them

Start with what they know

Build on what they have

But for the best leaders

When their task is accomplished

Their work is done

The people will all remark

We have done it ourselves.  

Turning Data into Intelligence

There is something that fascinates me about how technology can help solve community solutions.  I am not talking about posting a cause on Facebook and asking people to "like it."  I am talking about creating a real solution or an aid to a real solution.

However, I will admit, at our DirecRelief Women's Fall Gathering when CEO, Thomas Tighe said he was going to show an interactive map of DRI's response to hurricane Sandy, I wanted to quickly get on with the topic we came to hear about, DirectRelief Women's impact on maternal child health in Africa.  But, as he showed the power of data turned into intelligence for helping DRI distribute medical supplies in response to hurricane Sandy, you could hear the room of almost 70 women gasp in amazement.

This multi-million dollar technology was taking DRI's supply chain information, combining it with partner metrics, and layering open source data on top of it at no cost to DRI.  So what exactly does that mean? 

The technology developed by Palantir, works like this:

1. It takes open source data from government agencies like NOAH and determines the hurricane's path before and after it hits. 

2. It can combine this with data from Universities on the most vulnerable socioeconomic counties to determine where there is the greatest need. 

3. DRI can then look at shipping records and medicine use trends of DRI partners in these areas to identify the most critical needs and immediately start shipping supplies.

To see this technology in action, and more examples, checkout this short video or click here:

TAKEAWAYS:

1.  The ability to use technology to solve community issues should not be underestimated.

2.  This is an excellent example of a cross sector solution.  This technology was developed by a private corporation which is using government and university data to help a nonprofit be as responsive and effective as possible with medicines provided by private corporations.  Wow!  Could we ask for anything more?

Remembering Why You are There

The other weekend, I went to the Storyteller annual gala.  I've been a big advocate of Storyteller and the importance of early childhood education for years.

But, I must admit between thinking about what I am going to wear, who we are sitting with, chatting with friends, and making sure I don't drink enough to pay the price in the morning, it's easy for me to loose site of why I am there.  Other than the three minutes when an excellent video on a Storyteller family was shown, the rest of the four hours were simply a party for me.

Then I woke up, luckily one drink shy of regret, to New York Times writer Nicholas Kristof's Sunday article.  It is as if he knew the event was the night before.  It was if he knew Paul Tough was coming to speak in SB next month on "Why Kids Succeed."

In Kristof's article, he and Tough discuss that the character strengths that matter so much to success are not innate.  They are rooted in brain chemistry by the environment in which we grow-up.   One study followed 267 children of first-time low-income mothers for nearly four decades. It found that whether a child received supportive parenting in the first few years of life was at least as good a predictor as I.Q. of whether he or she would graduate from high school.

"This means the cycle can be broken, and the implication is that the most cost-effective way to address poverty isn’t necessarily housing vouchers or welfare initiatives or prison-building. Rather, it may be early childhood education and parenting programs." 

TAKEAWAY:

My clarity is back and I am completely reminded why Storyteller continues to be one of the organizations I give my time and money to and in a twisted way, a little piece of me feels my night of celebration helped make a difference.

Is there something you support that you have forgotten why it is so important to you? 

Its Not the Subject Matter That Counts Most

Last week, Ken Saxon, the founder of Courage to Lead and our newly expanded nonprofit Leading From Within, was awarded the 2012 Man of the Year Award for his service to and impact in our community.  While I expressed what an honor it is to be working with Ken in my last post, this post is not entirely about him.

This post is about Ron Gallo's, President and CEO, Santa Barbara Foundation, speech just prior to the announcement of the award recipients.  In Mr. Gallo's speech, and I am working from memory here, he discussed that sometimes we don't take a stand because we are afraid it will be unpopular.  But, where would our community be if some of the prior Men or Women of the Year award recipients were afraid to be unpopular?  Accomplishments such as fighting for standards in Juvenile Halls and having women and minorities appointed to City Commissions might not have happened.

Mr. Gallo pointed out that wherever one chooses to get involved,  "It is not the subject matter that counts most, but rather the energy, the ingenuity, the commitment and the compassion one brings. "

TAKEAWAYS:

1) Sometimes I wonder if our town has lost the art of civil discord.  What are we not speaking up for because we are concerned about having unpopular views?  I am a strong supporter of Early Childhood Education for the underserved, but some of my friends feel those parents should not have had their children in the first place.  Do I do enough to honor their view while still making a case for these children who are members of our society or do I just politely end the conversation and ask about their child's last sports game?

2) Sometimes I have friends on a committee for a cause that is not high on my radar of importance.  I'd like to be sharing my volunteerism with these friends and connecting with them over committee meetings and other related social events, but I have to remind myself that my time is precious and I need to keep focused on the causes most important to me rather than on which of my friends are on the committee.

3) And while my friends and I do not always have the same priorities on how we give our time, and sometimes we do, I want my friends to feel supported and encouraged in whatever cause they pick because as Mr. Gallos says, "Its not the subject matter that counts most, but the energy, the ingenuity, the commitment and the compassion one brings."

This year's Man of the Year, Ken Saxon, did have to take a stand on an less popular issue.  He took a stand that community leaders cannot continue to expect nonprofit leaders to make the change we want from them if we do not give them the capacity to keep from burning out, if we do not invest in their personal development, and if we do not help them to maintain their soul with the role in a field where there will never be enough resources to feed the last child, or house the last homeless person.

What I've Been Up To

"With deep alignment of personal convictions with community purpose, applying ones knowledge and skills becomes irresistible.  There is a sense of acute purpose that stretches far beyond one's individual interests."

- Peter Karoff

This quote represents to me everything about why anyone is driven to be philanthropic.  I've had the pleasure of being introduced to and working with Peter Karoff over the last few months.  Peter founded The Philanthropic Initiative over 20 years ago.  TPI is a nonprofit organization that serves as an ally to donors who aspire to effective philanthropy, and promotes philanthropy through research, and education.  I can't believe how lucky Santa Barbara is to have Peter as an active member of our philanthropic community.

Peter and I are now working with a nonprofit called Leading From Within.  Leading From Within has been offering high quality leadership development and renewal through its Courage to Lead program for almost five years.  It was founded by another amazing community resource, Ken Saxon.  In the last six months Ken and I have expanded the organization to three programs which includes:

• Courage to Lead - now in its fifth year, a leadership development and renewal program for mid to late career nonprofit leaders
• Emerging Leaders Program - a new program for leadership development for the next generation of nonprofit leaders
• Katherine Harvey Fellows - a 12 year old leadership development program for future community leaders from diverse professional backgrounds run in partnership with the Santa Barbara Foundation

It has absolutely been my pleasure to work with and learn from these aspirational gentleman who have given decades of their time to making our communities a stronger place through the gift of their time to their thoughtful, reflective approach to their passion for learning.

While my blogging has and will slow down, I look forward to sharing the many lessons of philanthropy with you as we launch our programs in January of 2013.  

Knowing How You Like to Solve Problems

We have all experience that moment when we are in a group trying to solve an issue and we think we know what to do, when suddenly someone speaks up with an idea we would have never thought of that also works.  Perhaps, the two solutions together is even the best solution.  Solving our communities' issues is no different.

The other month, WiserGiving came out with the WiserGiving Style Tool.  The purpose of the tool is to identify how you like to solve problems so that you know better how to focus your philanthropic energies, be it time or money.  Wiser Giving has created six different giving styles:

1. building movements
2. providing direct services
3. making change stick
4. increasing effectiveness
5. public policy
6. research and big ideas

The five minute quiz determines your dominant style by asking you to rate the two types of action you think would be most valuable and effective for addressing eight different major issues of our time.

What I found fascinating was being enlightened to the categories of actions that together solve a problem.  I may not have even been aware of the way you think it's important to solve our community's issues, but it's the fusion of people supporting each of these giving styles that create the real change.
 
For instance:

• To address education would you support analyzing which programs have been the most effective (research and big ideas) or support promoting legislation that enriches schools (public policy).

• To address environmental issues would you support organizing more people to get involved with the issue (building a movement) or support organizations that ensure environmental laws are adhered to (making change stick)

• To address working poor would you support providing skills training (direct services) or strengthening grassroots organizations (increase effeciency).

The quiz gives you six choices per major issue, but you get my idea.  What I think is the most valuable way to solve an issue might not be the same as you think.


TAKEAWAY:

It's interesting to know your own giving style so you can spend your time and money in a way that fuels your soul, but it's equally interesting to learn the other ways to a solve problem.

There is no one right way (or giving style) to solve our communities' issues, but knowing about the other ways to address issues and encouraging the fusion between each of these approaches will support real change.


Thank you to Beth's Blog: Nonprofits and Social Media for connecting me to WiserGiving.

Successful Pathways Minus Standardize Tests

In honor of graduation season, a challenge of the definition of student success.

Sir Ken Robinson said that there is no singular utilitarian pathway for every kid and success lies in providing multiple pathways that brings out the talents and passion in people rather than a standardize test.

One program that sheds light on limitations of standardize as a predictor of success is the Posse Foundation. I read about it in my favorite online NYT column, Fixes, titled Beyond SATs, Finding Success in Numbers.

This article talks about how the Posse Foundation,  takes high school students who were clearly leaders — dynamic, intelligent, creative, resilient — but who might not have had the SAT scores to get into good schools and groups them into posses of 10 students from the same city that go together to an elite college tuition-free.

"Most Posse Scholars would not have qualified for their colleges by the normal criteria. Nevertheless, they succeed. Ninety percent of Posse Scholars graduate — half of them on the dean’s list and a quarter with academic honors."

It discusses that these stories of success tells us not just that the SAT is an inadequate predictor of college success, but that it can be malignant.  It shows that academic performance does not completely determine college success. There are other important factors: whether a student has social support, a sense of belonging and a network that can offer advice.  Minority students often do not have these sources of support as naturally as non-minority students. 


Take-aways:

1. Do Not Limit My View of Success

I grew up with a traditional and limited view of what was success as a student.  But, as Sir Ken Robinson says, success is not a linear path.  This was obvious to me the other month when I interviewed students for the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara .  I did seven interviews which consisted of:

• seven different students
• seven differed backgrounds from traditional high achieving families to non-english speaking families to abusive families
• seven different paths to success from high achieving G.P.A's to finding success through journalism, sports, or entrepreneurship to finding their way back to main stream high school after failing out to overcoming learning challenges
• seven different college dreams from Ivy League schools, to Junior Colleges, to trade schools, to schools with extra support for learning challenges

Who is considered more successful, the child from a traditional family with traditional academic success or the child who raised himself from a failing G.P.A to a C+ or the child that learned important leadership skills through sports, or the child that stepped up and saved one of the high school student programs.  Is success simply a GPA and a test score?  The younger me would have said yes, but the older me is learning to be open minded.


2.  Do Not Underestimate the Importance of a Support Community

This is especially important when we think about solving community issues.  I have had the pleasure of working on developing an emerging nonprofit leaders program.  The number one thing these leaders say they need is a community of support, a network to work through ideas and to offer advice.  If our community leaders say a support community is the number one thing they need to stay fueled to address issues, imagine how important a support community is to the underserved in helping them solve their own issues.

The Loss of Creativity and Innovation

"If school's function is to create the workers we need to fuel our economy, we need to change school, because the workers we need have changed as well."

-Seth Godin

If you have been within ten feet of me this last month,  you've been subject to the rant I've been on about standardize testing and the loss of creativity, innovation and critical thinking skills in our education system.

Specifically, I've been ranting about how my 8th grader will need to pass a standardize test for the high school to allow her to not repeat Algebra I as a freshman.   For someone with a history of weak test taking, the fact that my daughter needs to show a year's worth of knowledge on a single day, on a single test seems obsurd to me.  To further my frustration, I learned that the high school only requires the private school kids to take this test and not the public school kids.

So I've been ranting about how this is exactly what's wrong with our education system and how a single standardize test isn't the only way for a child to show proof of knowledge.  Isn't proof of knowledge what we are looking for regardless of the method used to identify it?  For some, this is like saying the sky isn't blue.

It didn't help that I saw Sir Ken Robinson speak this month on how our education system is based on utility and linearity with the assumption that we can predict the single best path for all. "We've designed a system that kills the discovery of talents and passion.  A system that alienates students.  No wonder they drop out," says Sir Ken

It didn't help that Seth Godin published a 30,000 word manifesto, Stop Stealing Dreams, pointing out that the public school system was designed during the industrial revolution to churn out good factory workers.  He also points out that the multiple choice test was designed during a crises in World War I when the male factory workers enlisted in masses.  The government needed a temporary and effecient way to sort immigrant students and quickly assign them slots in the factories.  The creator of the multiple choice test says this about the methodology he developed, "This is a test of lower order thinking for the low orders."

It didn't help that the other week, at Partnership for Excellence, when asked what keeps her up at night, that the women on the panel representing the Health Careers Collaborative stated, "Employers comments that we've lost a generation of people with critical thinking skills."

It didn't help that an expert on early childhood education for low income families told me that she is seeing a wave of low income kids being medicated in schools.  Unfortunately, this is not always because they have true issues requiring medication, but instead these kid's behavioral problems are due to unresolved social and emotional trauma from their home lives.  Kids are being medicated to fit into the system because the system isn't flexible enough to fit their needs.


So it's been a month of ranting and what have I learned from it?


TAKE-AWAY #1:

My loss of sleep about my own daughter turned out for not.  The public high school made the sane decision to not standardize test the private school kids as the sole determinant of their math placement.  Thank you for renewing my faith.  However, if she had bombed the test, which many capable kids did last year, I would have fought tooth and nail that the results of the test were not an accurate proof of knowledge.  Every time I push back on the system for my own daughter, I am pushing back on the system for other children who don't have an engaged (okay, sometimes too engaged) parent to do it for them.


TAKE-AWAY #2:

I imagine my battles aren't over.  However, I have been impressed with the high school's talk about creating different pathways for kids.  I am proud of them for seeing that there is no singular utilitarian pathway for every kid and success lies in providing multiple pathways.  For this reason, you will see me donating my time to supporting the existence of these different pathways with programs like MAD and VADA.


TAKE-AWAY #3:

I need to push myself to think outside of the box.  I am naturally a linear, in the box thinker and yes, the school system was just perfect for me.  However, without creativity and innovation we wouldn't have people thinking like the biomedical engineers in my last post, who are creating innovative solutions to health issues in developing countries.  I am also reminded of a post I did a year ago where I realized we need creative and innovative thinkers to find solutions to gobal development issues, not factory workers.

TAKE-AWAY #4:

As for the lower income kids being alienated from the system or being medicated to fit the system, my heart bleeds for them.  I continue to have faith in early childhood education programs, like Storyteller.  I truly believe being ready for kindergarten, as shown on the Cradle to Career Roadmap, including being socially and emotionally ready, is the single first critical benchmark on the path to college.

Boimedical Engineering IS Philanthropy

When I think of philanthropy, I think about giving time or money to help a cause.  Last month, I saw Dr. Harshad Sanghvi, an internationally recognized expert on maternal/child health, speak.  He made me think about philanthropy in way that had not occurred to me.

Dr. Sanghvi made a poignant point on the impact Community Health Workers, with minimal training, can have on reducing  the over two million child birth related deaths a year.  However, he also made me realize the importance of bioengineering on making these Community Health Workers successful. 

I am not a person naturally drawn to science and could probably not define the term bioengineering if asked.  However,  Dr. Sanghvi pointed out the urgent need for culturally adapted, extremely affordable, and easy to us tools for people with almost no training.

For example, preeclampsia/eclampsia is one of the main sources of maternal/child deaths.  One of the innovations the bioengineering field is working on is a blood pressure cuff that is simple enough for use by Community Health Workers who may not even know how to read, durable enough for harsh, rural environments, and takes advantage of large manufacturers to reduce the price.  

Another solution for detecting preeclampsia/eclampsia is a Magic Marker test.  This device allows the Community Health Worker to test protein levels in a pregnant women with a special pen that is easily portable and costs less than a penny.  Early detection of this number two killer of pregnant women is lifesaving for both mother and baby.  You can see a brief video about Dr. Sanghvi's work and the Magic Marker here.

Postpartum hemorrhaging is another leading cause of death in the developing world for delivering mothers.  This is a condition women almost never die of in the United States.  To help solve this problem, bioengineers have developed a pill for women in remote, rural communities which greatly reduces their risk of postpartum hemorrhaging.  The Community Health Worker gives it to the pregnant women to carry with her at all times and is taken at the onset of labor.

Another example that illustrates the need for innovated minds focused on solutions to health problems in the developing world is a new way to test for cervical cancer.  Eight-five percent of the 250,000 women who die of cervical cancer are in poor countries.  In some countries, if a women was even able to get to a doctor for a pap smear, it would take years for the labs to have the capacity to evaluate the results. Experts at John Hopkins Medical School have developed a simple procedure where a health worker can use vinegar to detect precancerous spots and the ability to freeze them off immediately with carbon dioxide, available from any Coca-Cola bottling plant. New York Times

A new alliance between Jhpiego, John Hopkins Center for Bioenginnering Innovation and Design, and Laerdal Global Health called Day of Birth Alliance, has committed to developing and producing 10-15 products to reduce maternal/child health in the developing world.


TAKE AWAY:

Bioengineering might not define myself as your Everyday Philanthropist, but I am glad that it defines the organizations and people who are committed to developing innovations to reduce everyday fatal risks in poor communities, risks that don't even cross our minds, let alone that we associate as fatal.

As Dr. Sanghvi says, "There's no point in having technologies that are super duper but can get only to two-percent of the population. We need those kinds of technologies that can get to everybody and that everybody can afford."

Flow and Skill Based Volunteering

This past year I heard about a psychological concept that is a determinant of happiness called "flow".  Flow is a mental state where a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity.  The more moments of flow in your life the greater your happiness.

When do you experience flow in your life?  In my prior professional life,  I didn't use the word flow, but I knew that I felt the most rewarded when I worked with a group of people toward a common goal, each bringing our professional best.  In my volunteer work, I've noticed something similar, when I can apply my professional skills to help a non-profit, I feel that same sense of flow.

The trouble is, it's easy to find opportunities for event planning, other fundraising, long term board commitments, one day beach clean-ups, etc., but it's trickier to match an array of various professional skills with non-profit needs to make an impact and experience your own sense of flow.

So how do you find a volunteer opportunity that will enhance your own happiness while doing good?

1.  My first suggestion is to just start thinking about the concept and what you would like to offer?  What professional background or skills do you have?  Some suggestions include expertise in:

•  Design
• Strategic Planning
• Finance/Acoounting
• Marketing
• IT
• Architecture
• Project Planning
• Development
• Business Planning
• Governance

2.  Think of causes you care about?  Get to know organizations that support these causes and look for ways to help them using your skills?  Don't wait for a silver plated invitation to engage them in a conversation.

3.  When asked to make a volunteer commitment ask yourself if this will be a rewarding commitment for you or just another thing on your "to do" list?

4.  Check out the following resources.  These websites can help you tap into the right volunteering opportunity for you, but there's a lot of room for growth.

• Volunteer Match
• Partner in Education - while many of the requests center around traditional educational help, there are also requests for speaking about your field of expertise, job shadowing, and helping with mock job interviews.
• Sparked - This site lets your micro volunteer online.  You submit you area of knowledge and they hook you up with online opportunities to help a non-profit.  They will also email you suggests that they think are a good fit for you as they come in.
• Volunteer Guide - This sites lets you state the amount of time you want to give and helps you find a match for your time and interests.

Two amazing organizations not yet serving the Santa Barbara area are Taproot and Catchfire both offering high level skill based volunteering opportunities.  I'd love to see the skill based volunteering market expand in Santa Barbara.

The Absolutely Easiest Way to Give - iGive

I can't imagine any easier way for an everyday person to give than iGive.  It takes about two minutes to sign-up for iGive and once you do, whenever you shop at a participating retailer a percent of what you spend is donated to the nonprofit of your choice. 

I have been trying this out for the last month and have been so impressed with how many retailers participate.  Once you register, the moment you go to a participating retailer's page you will automatically see they are a participant, in fact, you can even tell when you do a google search on any retailer.

What this means is as you go about your normal shopping with retailers like Nordstrom, Gap, Nike, Patagonia, Shutterly, Hotels.com and hundreds more, a percent of what you spend goes directly to the cause you care about. 

I designated Direct Relief International, but there are hundreds to choice from and you can even designate a non-profit not listed.  All you have to do is spend the two minutes to register.  Ok, so right now, start the year off right and spend the two minutes and shop away.


P.S.  I also tried out another similar site, Good Search, which I only found annoying.  The sign up process imploded and now I get way too many emails promoting their partners and special deals to me.

Holiday Volunteering with Kids

The kids are out for two weeks and I am wondering how I am going to get them to do anything that doesn't involve a technological device or isn't fighting with their siblings.  This is a great time to take advantage of some easy ways to be philanthropic with your family that doesn't involve any more shopping.

Baking - not only can you bake cookies and have a stand to sell them to raise money for a cause your child supports, but what about bringing a plate of holiday cookies you make with your kids to your favorite non-profit to say thank you to the staff who work so hard all year long.


Unity Shoppe - the great thing about spending time volunteering at Unity Shoppe is little kids can do it, too.  They have projects sorting cans goods or stocking the shelves.  Above is a photo taken of my kids with some friends doing this a few years ago.  You can see how young my little one is.


Card Making - have your kids make general holiday or new year cards and deliver them to a retirement community, transition house, etc.  You can also always make cards for Dream Foundation who is always in need of a supply home made cards.  They have a specific size they like and a few words of well wishes they prefer not be used, like "get well soon," so give them a quick call before starting.


Music playing - have your child practice the piano or violin by going to a retirement community and having them play for the guests.


Reading/Coloring - have your kids go by Storyteller to read a holiday story to the kids or bring some coloring pages with holiday images your kids can color with the kids.

Cooking - this is a little more daring, but one family told me they assemble homemade burritos and then pass them out to homeless people, especially down by "the work wall" area.

If you have any ideas of your own, I'd love to hear them!