KRISHAN MEHTA, an AFP Greater Toronto chapter board member and co-chair of the series, shares key highlights and insights.
The "Diversity to Inclusion in Philanthropy Series" is a groundbreaking project focused on understanding the philanthropic traditions and interests of diverse communities in Ontario. Organized by the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy - Canada, in cooperation with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Toronto and Ottawa chapters, the series was funded through the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration's Partnership Project Office.
It celebrates its close this month.
What has the philanthropic community learned over the three years of this unique series?
It was the first time anywhere in North America that philanthropists, community leaders and volunteers have been strategically engaged to work with donors in order to craft an agenda for each of the conferences. It required great collaborative effort. At the end of each event, all the stakeholders left with meaningful information to implement within their own lives or their own organizations.
We looked at the practices, traditions and interests of 12 different communities within Ontario, with an eye to uncovering stories of giving. Our aim was to look at what we know and don't know about philanthropy within these communities, to explore ways in which we say thank you to donors, and also to look at different community models of giving.
Some communities work in a more collaborative manner around funding projects, for example. Some have a few primary donors who focus their energies on one or two initiatives. Some communities think of community leaders as very important figures in giving; some see peer-to-peer solicitation as most important.
We weren't just focused on diaspora and immigrant groups, but on more nuanced dimensions such as gender, sexual orientation, ability and age – we took a very broad approach to what is understood as diversity.
What were some of the key highlights from your perspective as a fundraiser and conference organizer?
It was an important opportunity to see philanthropy in a much more complex way than the traditional North American world view, something that is so important in Ontario with our diverse demographic.
We've learned about different techniques, approaches and philosophies, and about some of the gaps in knowledge amongst fundraising organizations or charities. We've begun to develop an informed sense of what charities need in order to perform well with this emerging group of donors.
We also learned we can never stop expanding our understanding of inclusion – it's a lifelong journey for the fundraising professional and for the sector at large.
How has the larger philanthropic community responded to the series?
This project has really captured the attention of fundraising organizations and charities outside of Ontario. At a recent fundraising conference in San Juan, for example, this initiative was cited no less than 10 times. It provided inspiration for jurisdictions in the U.S. and around the world.
What happens next?
We need to infuse this understanding and knowledge among fundraisers from these communities. Our aim is to take these lessons and turn them into opportunities for learning, information exchange and skills development to prepare a wide range of people for careers in fundraising.
One of the greatest outcomes of the project is a series of educational training materials developed from the conferences. We've put together two summaries and a series of videos that provide both practical and theoretical tools or guides for fundraisers. When they're thinking about approaching a specific community they can draw on this information to inform their strategies and plans.
For more information, visit www.afpinclusivegiving.ca/about/.
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