Confess Listen Friday Tape Confessions to philanthropy
We pointed a gold phone at philanthropy. We asked what people wish it knew. No forms, no grant language, no dear valued stakeholder. These are the voices that called back. The thank-yous, the heartbreak, and the things people usually keep tidy.
gratitude the ask the weight frustration grief
Play the gratitude message (shared as words): Hi! I wish there was more money, I wish there was money for everything. In the meantime, keep doing the good work that you’re doing, and keep sharing the stories because hopefully that will inspire others. Play the frustration message: Hello, this is a message for philanthropy. I just think you've got a really difficult job, and you do it really difficultly. I think if you just gave up on thinking that you knew what you were doing, then you'd actually do a much better job. Just give the money to the people who actually know what is going on, and then you might actually have a better job. That's all. Play the the ask message: My confession is, please just ask us. Genuinely ask. Not with a corporate brochure or a glossy annual report. Tell us about the people, the animals, the places, the ecosystems you're actually saving. Show us the real story. Not talk about the organisation. And please don't be shy about it. When you make the ask human and honest, the answer is always yes. Play the gratitude message: So, my confession. It's not really a confession. It's to say that I wish you didn't have to exist. I'm incredibly thankful that there are people who believe in philanthropy and put time and effort and soul into it. Our society benefits so hugely from it. But I wish you didn't have to exist. I wish we lived in a world where capitalism didn't drive us, where governments were able to support everyone, where equity was just a given. But it's not. And so, until then, we have amazing philanthropic organisations and givers and providers, those who pour their heart and soul into ensuring our world is still providing the best opportunity to those who don't have it. So I guess, yeah, my takeaway is just a huge thank you. But I wish you didn't have to exist. I love this idea, and love following all of those that are in the post. So thank you. Thank you, and keep being inspiring. Play the grief message (shared as words): Philanthropy is the practice of giving time, money or resources to help others and benefit society. The word actually comes from the Greek, meaning love of humanity. Whilst the concept has existed over millennia, in many, many different cultures, I think it's lost its way a little bit, in that it tends to be about money now, and it can be quite divisive. Play the the weight message: I wish that I could do more. I love working in this sector, being able to make a change. But I also hate it, because it's opened my eyes up to this huge, gigantic need. And I struggle to sleep every night, knowing that while I'm making a difference, it's only a very small drop in a very big ocean. Play the the weight message (shared as words): I wish philanthropy understood that many Aboriginal people are exhausted from constantly proving disadvantage, retelling trauma, and competing for limited funding. We don’t need funding for problems. We need investment in strength, leadership, culture, enterprise and healing, that communities need to make their own future. And truth. Play the the ask message (shared as words): Hey, g’day, thanks for doing this. I just wish you would support some of the small organisations, the ones that don’t have a marketing budget, or a grant writer, or even someone to put together a snazzy website with people’s stories, but are still doing great stuff in small places. Often too small to put the money into the things that get them more money. Tap a voice to hear it
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