The Smart Communications Podcast: Episode 172 Summary
Title: What is the Role of Fundraisers in Creating Social Change?
Host: Farrah Trim Peter, Co-Director and Worker Owner at Big Duck
Guest: Marieva Mendez, Fundraising and Communication Strategist
Release Date: October 16, 2024
Introduction
In Episode 172 of The Smart Communications Podcast, host Farrah Trim Peter delves into the pivotal role fundraisers play in fostering social change. Joined by Marieva Mendez, a seasoned fundraising and communication strategist, the episode explores the dynamics of community-centric fundraising, challenges within the fundraising sector, and strategies for leveraging fundraising to drive systemic change.
Meet Marieva Mendez
Marieva Mendez introduces herself as a fundraising and communication strategist with over two decades of multinational experience. She has held senior development roles in notable organizations such as Harlem United, NRDC, and Girls for Gender Equity. Currently, she serves as the Chief Development Officer at LEAP, an arts education organization serving over 20,000 children in New York City. Through her consultancy, MEM Consulting, Marieva offers career and leadership coaching, conducts development workshops, and speaks to advancement teams nationwide.
Key Points:
- Background: Over 20 years in philanthropic enterprise training and program development.
- Current Role: Chief Development Officer at LEAP.
- Consultancy: MEM Consulting provides coaching, workshops, and speaking engagements.
- Connection to Host: Met Farrah two years prior while planning content for the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ annual conference.
The Evolution of Fundraising: From Community Service to Professional Practice
Farrah Trim Peter shares her personal journey from organizing bake sales in elementary school to her current role at Big Duck, emphasizing how her experiences have shaped her understanding of donor communications and strategic fundraising.
Marieva Mendez echoes this sentiment, describing her early involvement in fundraising as a teenager concerned with racial inequities, such as raising awareness for the Tulsa massacre and apartheid in South Africa. She highlights her transition into professional fundraising, driven by a desire to use her marketing and communication skills for mission-driven work supporting women, the LGBTQ community, communities of color, public health, environmental justice, and arts education.
Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF): A Paradigm Shift
The conversation shifts to Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF), a movement that redefines traditional fundraising practices by integrating justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) principles.
Marieva Mendez discusses her involvement with CCF, noting its emergence around 2020 as a response to evolving fundraising conversations. She played a significant role in expanding CCF’s Global Council and organizing multi-city retreats in Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Toronto to foster global participation and strategic planning.
Notable Quote:
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go big, you have to go and take the people with you.” – Marieva Mendez [14:07]
Key Points:
- Origins: Inspired by Nonprofit AF’s discussions on fundraising with a JEDI lens.
- Marieva’s Role: Supported strategic planning and facilitated global council retreats.
- Impact: Changed fundraising discourse, particularly in the U.S., by promoting a more inclusive and equitable approach.
Challenges in Current Fundraising Practices
One of the core discussions revolves around the systemic issues plaguing the fundraising sector, particularly the lack of diversity and representation.
Marieva Mendez presents alarming statistics highlighting the underrepresentation of Black and Latino leaders in nonprofits:
- CEOs and Executive Directors who are Black or Latino constitute only 15% and 6%, respectively, of nearly 60,000 national nonprofits ([05:35]).
- Females of Color: Women of color hold a mere 14% of leadership positions in larger nonprofits with budgets exceeding $25 million ([05:35]).
She also references a study by Zippia, revealing that professional fundraisers are predominantly white (77%), with Latino (8%), African American or Black (5.3%), and Asian (5.2%) fundraisers making up the remaining percentages. Disturbingly, the representation of Black fundraisers has declined by 3% since 2010 ([07:17]).
Notable Quote:
“How are we going to have diversity and innovation in our fundraising practices if our teams are so homogenous?” – Marieva Mendez [11:48]
Key Points:
- Lack of Representation: Significant underrepresentation of people of color in fundraising and leadership roles.
- Impact on Fundraising: Homogenous teams limit diversity of thought, leading to less culturally affirmative and transformational fundraising practices.
- Call to Action: Encourage listeners to evaluate the diversity within their own development departments.
Strategies for Inclusive and Effective Fundraising
Transitioning from challenges to solutions, Marieva Mendez advocates for a community-centric approach that actively involves the communities being served in the fundraising process.
Key Strategies:
- Community Involvement: Regularly engage communities in program development and fundraising strategies to ensure solutions are culturally relevant and owned by the community.
- Advisory Boards: Establish advisory boards composed of community members to guide fundraising and programmatic initiatives.
- Partnership with Donors: View donors as partners rather than mere sources of funds. This partnership approach fosters mutual investment in solutions.
- Education and Capacity Building: Educate donors and stakeholders about the importance of diverse and inclusive fundraising practices. Advocate for infrastructure and capacity-building solutions over restrictive, program-based funding.
- Trust-Based Philanthropy: Emulate models like Mackenzie Scott’s trust-based philanthropy, which empowers nonprofits with general operating support, allowing them to leverage their expertise without restrictive conditions.
Notable Quote:
“If we want to go big, we have to take the people with us.” – Marieva Mendez [14:07]
Key Example:
- LEAP’s Annual Plan: Integrating different fundraising channels and educating the board to better support programmatic growth.
The Role of Fundraisers in Social Change
As the discussion culminates, Marieva Mendez underscores the transformative role fundraisers play in society.
Key Points:
- Change Makers: Fundraisers are essential in driving social change and mobilizing resources for impactful initiatives.
- Intrinsic Motivation: Emphasizes the importance of maintaining the passion and purpose that initially inspired fundraisers to enter the field.
- Resilience: Encourages fundraisers to stay focused on incremental victories and the broader mission despite challenges like grant rejections and setbacks.
Notable Quotes:
“We are the change makers, baby. We are the ones who make it happen.” – Marieva Mendez [17:06]
“That revolution, it might not be televised, but I am pretty sure it's going to be fundraised for.” – Marieva Mendez [17:06]
Vision for the Future: Marieva envisions a future where fundraisers can see the day when their roles become obsolete because systemic issues have been resolved. Until then, fundraisers must continue to harness their energy and purpose to drive meaningful change.
Conclusion and Call to Action
Farrah Trim Peter wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to identify their personal motivations ("your why") and to adopt a spirit of partnership and positivity in their fundraising efforts. She invites listeners to connect with Marieva Mendez on LinkedIn for further engagement and resources discussed during the episode.
Final Advice:
- Find Your Why: Understand what drives you in your fundraising efforts to maintain motivation and resilience.
- Partner and Collaborate: Embrace a collaborative approach with donors and communities.
- Stay Positive and Persistent: Focus on the bigger picture and celebrate small victories to navigate challenges.
Contact Information:
- Connect with Marieva Mendez: LinkedIn (profile linked in podcast description)
- Podcast Feedback: Reach out to Big Duck at hello@bigduck.com with feedback and topic suggestions.
- Review the Podcast: Available on iTunes and other podcast platforms.
Closing Remarks:
The Smart Communications Podcast emphasizes the critical role of fundraisers in driving social change through inclusive, community-centric practices. By addressing systemic challenges and fostering diverse, collaborative approaches, fundraisers like Marieva Mendez are not only advancing their organizations’ missions but also contributing to broader societal transformations.
Resources and Studies Mentioned:
- Candid.org Study: Demographic data on nonprofit leadership ([05:35]).
- Zippia Study: Professional fundraiser demographics ([05:35]).
- Harlem United: Beneficiary of Mackenzie Scott’s trust-based philanthropy funding ([14:07]).
Listeners are encouraged to visit nonprofitaf.com for more insights and to explore the detailed studies mentioned by Marieva Mendez during the episode.