If you are like me, you want to be better informed about Aotearoa NZ’s history, but you learned little or nothing on the topic at school, and most of the very worthy NZ history books seem a bit big and daunting. But I have belatedly found a way to fill some of my knowledge gaps,…
Continue reading →Ending Homelessness – we thought it couldn’t be done. Then along came COVID-19, and, thanks to a significant collaborative effort, a large proportion of the homeless population had some kind of roof over their head at last. It wasn’t perfect, and it isn’t a permanent solution, but it happened. So how do we build from…
Continue reading →Funding agreements – those dry, unexciting documents which funders generally require to be signed before they will pay a grant, are badly in need of a rethink. This blog proposes that funders should instead adopt a Relationship Agreement approach, based on mutual responsibility and accountability. To get straight to the point: Here is a free Funding…
Continue reading →How should funders be supporting our communities in light of the Covid-19 pandemic? All of us will be affected, directly or indirectly. But the impact for families and communities already struggling with issues like homelessness, mental health, addictions, family violence and poverty will be especially challenging. So, it’s time to step up our support funders!…
Continue reading →It’s a new year and a new decade. So, philanthropic funders, what will our New Year’s resolutions be? Here are three suggestions: 1. Aim for Equity: Is our funding reaching the causes and people who need it most? Or do we give to organisations which are already well funded, and which serve communities that are…
Continue reading →How can we best respond to online racism and hate? Social media is the “new village square,” and is increasingly the place where everyday racism is amplified. In extreme cases, it is also where white-supremacist-leaning people are radicalised and turn to violence, as we saw with the horrific murders of 51 people in Christchurch mosques…
Continue reading →The Philanthropy Summit, held in Wellington from May 15 – 17 and created by Philanthropy New Zealand, was one of the best learning opportunities I have had in a long time. Here are the top four things I learned: There is a curious and delightful parallel between dental health and a racism-free world. One of…
Continue reading →Weird story number 1: Last week I was in Los Angeles visiting family. Walking back from the beach there was a strong smell of burning plastic – on the steps of the overbridge was a young couple, apparently homeless, trying to barbecue pig trotters inside a plastic-coated supermarket trolley. I considered pointing out the carcinogenic…
Continue reading →The following was first published here as an opinion piece in the Dominion Post 11 May 2018 I have been thinking about harmony – in music and in our land. When I sing a line of notes I create a tune – hopefully a nice enough thing. But when we add other voices, instrumental…
Continue reading →Here is the second of two podcasts on generosity where Scott Miller from Volunteering NZ and I are interviewed by the wonderful David Binstead from Twice Podcast. (You might also be interested in the first episode.) Some of the concepts and questions explored include: How to attract great volunteers and ensure that they have a…
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