Innovation for Social Change

Chapter 10Attract Donor‐Partners Who Fuel Social Change Breakthroughs

We can thank the vision and generosity of donors for breakthroughs like hospice care, public libraries, the discovery of insulin to treat diabetes, the 911 phone emergency system, and even the painted lines on highway shoulders to prevent accidents.¹ Translated from ancient Greek, the word philanthropy means “love of humanity.” The individual donor who embodies that spirit of caring and generosity brings many gifts to the table—heart, life experience, selflessness, vision, time, money, ideas, and passion for a cause. Donors inspire those of us carrying out the work in nonprofits to strive even higher. We owe a debt of gratitude to these generous souls who are our essential partners.

Donors are a key part of our ecosystem. We certainly can't build an innovative nonprofit without the generous support of donor‐partners who share our passion for our vision and mission. As we go about building innovation into our nonprofit's organizational DNA, where do donor‐partners fit? As I researched this book, I sought answers to two questions:

1. What can donor‐nonprofit partnerships teach us about innovation?
2. How do nonprofits navigate donor partnerships—both opportunities and pitfalls—so that teams are empowered to innovate?

What Can Donor‐Nonprofit Partnerships Teach Us About Innovation?

The following examples showcase ways that donors and grantees work creatively together to solve seemingly insurmountable social problems. ...