Big4 Reflections: Day 1 - major gifts and grants
Last week saw the much-anticipated return of F&P’s BIG4 Fundraising Conference. Hosted in Melbourne, attendees from across the country gathered, eager to dive into a day abundant with learning, networking and strategies to further enhance the impact in the Australian NFP sector. Gembridge is proud to partner with PD events like F&P Big4, and this year we had the privilege of sponsoring the Grants track.
Tessa’s key takeaways from Day 1:
Boasting an energetic mix of familiar faces and new connections in the making, this year’s Conference was kicked off with an insightful panel discussion hosted by Geoff Day OAM, Kate Bowdich (Australian Philanthropic Services) and Fiona Atkinson (F&P).
Geoff Day recounted a story of right time, right place being the catalyst for the launch of his family foundation. In a stroke of luck for our local NFPs, Geoff’s intrigue was piqued by an article highlighting the benefits of leaving a legacy through the means of structured giving. The unique story behind the Day Family Foundation highlights the untapped potential that lies within a collaboration between philanthropic and financial advisory services. As it stands, Australia is home to 424,000 HNWI and 3,600 UHNWI, and thus we hold the potential for between 70,000-90,000 PAFS, PUAFS and foundations to emerge within the next two decades. If that doesn’t motivate you to share the benefits of structured giving, I don’t know what will!
The upcoming generational wealth transfer remains another hot topic amongst the fundraising community, with seasoned fundraising experts exploring strategies to inspire people to give, be involved, and direct wealth towards communities in need. Chris and Lauren from Strategic Grants shared their insights on ways to tap into the ‘Invitation Only Funder Market’. According to their data, approximately $2.6 trillion will pass between generations across the next 20 years, and with this shift comes plenty of opportunities to be leveraged by strategic, forward-thinking fundraisers.
Some key insights from speakers:
The team at Strategic Grants suggest thorough prospect identification processes, to ensure your cause is in front of the right people, as well as individualised and well researched engagement initiatives.
DGB’s James Garland recommends empowering your major donors through collective peer-to-peer style programs (ie. Giving Clubs), providing donors with both recognition of their support and a sense of community. Done well, this strategy holds potential to create an ecosystem of donors advocating for your cause, including attracting and stewarding prospective donors from within their networks.
Berta Youakim of Variety suggests breaking down your internal silos by promoting collective ownership throughout your organisation. For example, offering fundraising onboarding for board and leadership members alongside tailored grant KPIs endorsed by leadership.
Julia Ridulfo from Assistance Dogs Australia, alongside Grantful’s Barbara Brangan, reflected on their successes gained through getting their finance and programs teams on board, aligning fundraising strategies with the overall needs of the business.
Or perhaps you’ll lean into Robert Byrne’s strategy of asking for forgiveness rather than permission when facing your high risk, high reward opportunities (Robert also has a book coming out soon so keep your eyes peeled for that!).
L to R: Jenni, Tessa, Lisa and Michelle
I enjoy networking with the fundraising community, and at my first BIG4 conference, I experienced a vibrant buzz of energy, opportunities and generous sharing of knowledge. As there were simply too many insights to capture in one article, I’d recommend checking out details on becoming an F&P member here F&P BIG4 and Gembridge hope to see you next year in Sydney
In the words of our local fundraising experts; be brave, be curious, get out of your comfort zone and don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions.
Thanks to all speakers, organisers, facilitators and attendees for a wonderful conference!