Wild Woman Fundraising

Have you ever played fantasy baseball? Me neither.

But have you ever had a fantasy conference?

I mean, have you ever wished that a conference you went to was more engaging?

Have you ever sat there, BORED OUT OF YOUR SKULL at yet another presenter who was just READING OFF THE POWERPOINT SLIDES and wondering where all of the smart, crazy, funny speakers were? Seriously. We’re colorful nonprofit professionals, not drab grey suited dorks. We need people to engage us.

Like, why were you expected to sit there for 5 hours a day, with your butt falling asleep in an uncomfortable plastic chair, as people talked AT YOU and asked you questions and then answered their own questions?

We’re in this field because we’re passionate about saving the world. Where were the people who get you to jump around? People who give you group tasks? Who play games with you and help you learn that way? What about the beachball in the front row that should get bounced back to you?

Well, I am sure that there is a reason we need a 3 hour presentation on planned giving, but it needs to be more interactive, you know?

What if you could put together your own conference?

Who would you invite? And why?

And what would your workshops consist of?

My Star Lineup

Dan Pallotta, author of “Uncharitable”

Kim Klein, author and editor of many fundraising books including “Toolkit for Social Change” and the excellent “Raising More Money,” which I ran out and bought and gave away and I’d do it all again.
Beth Kanter, a generous, visionary blogger who just came out with a book called “The Networked Nonprofit” which you should ALSO run out and buy
Hans Roslin, Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you’ve ever seen Paul Stamets-6 ways mushrooms can save the world

Oh ditto for Lynne Twist, she should be there too!

And I bet that Pamela Grow could rock a grants presentation!

Oh, of course, I want to do a presentation too. I want to help people just really understand how to move ahead in their nonprofit, how to deal with conflict, and how to stand up for themselves.

So I would start with 5 minutes of yoga stretches. Then once we were all limber, I would get people into groups of 4 and 5, and then give each group a basketball. They could bounce it to each other, while they took turns talking about a time they had conflict in their nonprofit, and what they did or didn’t do about it. Then I would ask the groups to appoint a spokesperson and check in 20 minutes later and ask what they learned, what some of the commonalities were. Then we’d have a quick 10 minute presentation on rankism, oppression, and standing up for yourself. Then we’d have some roleplay in different 4-5 person groups for 20 minutes, where each person could say, “Here’s the kind of rankist I have in my office, please role-play them while I try a new technique out on you.” Then I’d have a different spokesperson from each group and ask, “What did you learn? What surprised you? What could you do differently next time?” Then we could break for questions, and network for the rest of the time. What do you think? Would you dig that presentation?

What conference presenters would make you jump up and down with joy?

And then, what about having a concert after the conference hours are done?
Why not have, oh, I don’t know, Neko Case, or Beyonce or name your favorite music artist?

Take a poll of people at the conference and ask them who they’d like to have next year?

Hey, AFP Conference 2011, WVDO conference, NTEN conference, Greenlights conference, I’m looking at you. You need me to come and present and get people moving!

PS.
These are the people I would ask back for the 2012 and 2013 conferences!

Becky Blanton-The year I was homelessSunitha Krishnan-Fights sex slavery

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