Food for the Hungry is situated in an area where mountainous formations meet to give life to a bright valley. Its international headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, employs 1,300 people from around the world. Over the past several years, through participation in GEM's Organizational Excellence Program (OEP) and use of Appreciative Inquiry, Food for the Hungry International (FHI) has been able to articulate and implement a common vision - that of a global community. This vision defines FHI's corporate identity. What is more, in seeking to bolster its outreach, FHI has been pioneering a new paradigm for raising funds centered around the concept of "philanthropy." This story seeks to describe these exciting developments.
According to Jim Lord, founder of The Philanthropic Quest, this new approach values the donor above the donation. Food for the Hungry has been able to develop this philosophy using Appreciative Inquiry (AI) concept to engage and involve financial supporters more effectively. Mark Walker, director of development, first brought the philanthropist concept to a retreat for the executive committee and board of members, including an influential former chairman of the board.
Twelve key supporters attended that retreat. According to Mark "the primary focus . . . was on the important role philanthropy can play in charitable organizations and society. By personally involving key donors with the organization, we are saying to society that being involved in charitable endeavors gives people the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate around the world."
At the retreat, the twelve initial philanthropists did not hesitate, immediately sharing what was important to them and offering input that later became a strong basis for the implementation of FHI's year-end campaign. As a result, other philanthropists are actively making overseas program visits, participating in the Hunger Corps program, and joining the board (three new members in the past year).
As a second step, Food for the Hungry has created what it calls, the President's Advisory Council, whose purpose is to provide a meeting place for sharing new experiences with the philanthropists. What can be seen as a simple change - that of paying attention to the philanthropist as a talented and resourceful individual - has enhanced the commitment of philanthropists and rekindled the enthusiasm of FHI members in telemarketing and all other areas of engagement with donors.
The philanthropy model depicts FHI's new approach for engaging with philanthropists based upon recognition of them as partners that provide not only financial gifts, but important personal resources as well.
Food for the Hungry believes in developing relationships with philanthropists aimed at the long term. For example, right after the first President's Advisory Council, Mark Walker met a couple who although they did not participate in the Council, were interested in contributing. Using a personalized approach, Mark met with them and discovered their interest in health issues as well as their commitment to family values. With the purpose of meeting these philanthropists' needs, Mark invited a Hunger Corps member from Laos and his family to spend a day with this couple and their family. The experience, delightful and exciting for both families, served to engage the donors' whole family in the philanthropic spirit. Since then this couple has engaged in short-term mission work through the Hunger Corps program, increased their monetary contribution from $2,000 to $100,000 (in 1996), and joined the board of directors. This came about, very simply, because somebody paid attention to their deepest interests and passions.
The same passion and energy light the face of Melinda, another special member of Food for the Hungry, when she is relating a great story. Her story concerns school children in the seventh and eighth grade who have opened a new window of possibility for Food for the Hungry and the people of Africa. Through Born Free, an organization based in Ashtabula, Ohio, these children have experienced the joy of philanthropy; it is spirit such as theirs that brings about social innovation.
An African village needed a fence to help preserve local flora and crops as well as the lives of elephants in the area. Although technology for the fence, already exisited somewhere else, the cost was an impediment. And that is why the children in Ashtabula's schools became involved, asking Food for the Hungry, and Born Free how they (the childern themselves) could help. Already, students have organized themselves and collected funds for the fence. In addition, the word has spread and schools in Dallas and Seattle are inquiring about the project.
The outcome? Not only are the funds now available to buy the posts needed for the fence, but also the children have begun a process that will remain with them throughout their lifetimes. They have written letters to inquire about the elephants, and their letters have been answered - all of which has given the children a sense of pride and commitment. They are learning to share with people 12 thousand miles away, people who would otherwise be outside their awarenesses. Clearly, the new paradigm of philanthropy is allowing FHI both to align givers' hearts with their resources and to realize an ever-expanding impact.
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