Code, Camera, Action

Judi Sohn thinks beyond nonprofit "vote for me" fundraising competitions.

Here’s a community challenge I want to see: Reward nonprofits for projects that require collaboration and networking. 

An example straight off the top of my head: A cancer support organization working with a meals-on-wheels organization and one that helps people with job skills designing and implementing a program to make sure that patients are eating right after treatment and can get back into the workforce after a long health-related absence. 

I think the possibilities are endless if we can get out of our silos long enough to consider them.

Extra points to the projects that require the most diverse organizations to actually work together towards a common goal. The general public can view and comment on the proposed programs, maybe even make suggestions of partners. Community insight and transparency is wonderful. Yet ultimately the funding decision is by a team that will evaluate based solely on the viability of the project and what will have the most benefit for the population it will serve. Not necessarily which will serve the largest population. Not necessarily which has the largest mailing list or Facebook fan page.

Nice dream. 

In the meantime, all I can do is beg corporations to think it through before the next challenge. If you sprinkle food at the top of the crowded pond, the fish aren’t going to say, “you know, I’ve thought about it and I’m not really that hungry to fight for it.” They’re going to eat each other up like it’s their very last meal. It’s the fish’s nature. It’s ours. It’s up to you to design your giving programs to make sure we’re helping each other to the next meal and we’re all being fairly judged on our own value, not purely in competition.

via judisohn.posterous.com