Comments on: Sustainability is the New Growth http://www.annualgivingexchange.com/2010/01/11/sustainability-is-the-new-growth/ Dan Allenby's Blog Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:34:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mike Ziemski http://www.annualgivingexchange.com/2010/01/11/sustainability-is-the-new-growth/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Mike Ziemski Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:33:30 +0000 http://danallenby.wordpress.com/?p=1656#comment-97 After working in Development 25 years ago, when the field first started to move organization from fundraising to development, then discovering 10 years ago that development was moving toward advancement, it's interesting to hear your comments about "growth" moving toward "sustainability." Not only the annual fund, but "advancement" is now shifting (or, at least needs to shift" toward "growth." Advancement means moving in a particular direction, but there are other elements that must "grow" in order "advance the mission" (a phrase which I hate, by the way). Advancement is actually only a directional movement toward a particular goal. It's focused - like a ray that moves outward from a particular point. However, if you think of the point as the center of a sphere, the only way to move toward the vision is for the entire sphere to grow, creating exponential opportunities, but risking difficulties due to unintended consequences and unforeseen obstacles. Sustainability puts a cap on growth - which needs to happen at particular points along the journey so the organization can "check and adjust." Z After working in Development 25 years ago, when the field first started to move organization from fundraising to development, then discovering 10 years ago that development was moving toward advancement, it’s interesting to hear your comments about “growth” moving toward “sustainability.” Not only the annual fund, but “advancement” is now shifting (or, at least needs to shift” toward “growth.” Advancement means moving in a particular direction, but there are other elements that must “grow” in order “advance the mission” (a phrase which I hate, by the way). Advancement is actually only a directional movement toward a particular goal. It’s focused – like a ray that moves outward from a particular point. However, if you think of the point as the center of a sphere, the only way to move toward the vision is for the entire sphere to grow, creating exponential opportunities, but risking difficulties due to unintended consequences and unforeseen obstacles.

Sustainability puts a cap on growth – which needs to happen at particular points along the journey so the organization can “check and adjust.”

Z

]]> By: Gerard Grim http://www.annualgivingexchange.com/2010/01/11/sustainability-is-the-new-growth/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Gerard Grim Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:17:03 +0000 http://danallenby.wordpress.com/?p=1656#comment-48 Dan, Another great article but it doesn't help educational annual funds that are forced to supply the difference between tuition revenue and cost. Private High School education needs the annual fund to grow unless you can find a way to stop the rise in health cost for faculty, increased gas cost for bus's, technology cost, etc.etc. If you can stop inflation then sustainability is a great idea and one everyone in educational fund raising would welcome. Tuition alone can never cover cost especially in an inter-city private high school dedicated to serving the neighborhood. Gerry Grim Dan, Another great article but it doesn’t help educational annual funds that are forced to supply the difference between tuition revenue and cost. Private High School education needs the annual fund to grow unless you can find a way to stop the rise in health cost for faculty, increased gas cost for bus’s, technology cost, etc.etc. If you can stop inflation then sustainability is a great idea and one everyone in educational fund raising would welcome. Tuition alone can never cover cost especially in an inter-city private high school dedicated to serving the neighborhood. Gerry Grim

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