Nov. 12: where they basically just talk about Dan Palotta (Hello Dan??!)

Simon

Hello lobstery fundraisers x

Jen

Hello Dublin, Oslo and….. VEGAS!

Simon

Surprise guest from Vegas…Clay Buck (because John is at the gym or something)

Beate

*London

Simon

*Birmingham

I’m waiting for my flight back to Dublin

Beate

Hahaha great start

Simon

Is anyone where they’re supposed to be?

Beate

John I guess

We should all be at the gym

Simon

Haha

Clay

Well technically I live in “Enterprise” so there’s that?

Beate

You live in a place called enterprise?

Simon

That’s a place? Does Amazon own it?

Jen

Hello, Enterprise!

Beate

That is the most American thing I have ever heard!

Clay

Morning side-eye before coffee

Simon

Do you know who is in Dublin that I’m missing?

Simon

Dan Pallotta

Beate

Oooh!

Simon

The way Jen thinks about where we live is dead wrong

Clay

He will be in Vegas on Friday (not Enterprise) so he’s really racking up the miles this week.

Jen

We all know how much I suck at maps

Clay

Bea – what’s truly American is that the Las Vegas Strip is technically in a township called Paradise. There’s your random trivia for the day.

Simon

Clay are you going to see Dan Pallotta?

Wait…do you know him? You’re both American

Jen

?

Clay

Yes

Ha!! Yes I will see him. No I don’t know him.

Beate

And what’s he doing in Dublin?

Simon

Do you ❤ him?

Clay

I don’t know how to love him.

Simon

He’s running a better boards thing or something. Training fundraisers and people who hate fundraising to present their stuff

Basically just cruising in and being a celebrity

Beate

Much like yourself in Birmingham

(badum-tssssh)

Simon

He’s A-List

I’m Z

Jen

I saw him speak years ago at Congress in Toronto. Right at the beginning of what is now the Dan Palotta conversation

Clay

You should do a TED talk, Simon!

Clay

Oh. Wait. #Nugs.

Beate

I saw Dan do a plenary at the IFC years ago too. His message resonated well with the crowd there

Technically he’s saying everyone who’s a fundraiser should get paid more and not feel bad about it so no wonder a lot of fundraisers love him?

Jen

If you guys could describe Dan’s work in a few words, what would you say?

Simon

I do love Dan…maybe ‘slick’

And ‘smart’

And ‘factual’

Clay

He is definitely a crowd pleaser. I’d say “thought provoking”

Simon

But also…I do feel like it was a ‘this is going to change everything’ moment…and I’m not sure anything changed

Clay

Right. His TED talk is from 2013 – has anything changed? Are charities or the public thinking about overhead differently?

Jen

I think he did give lots of people language about charity overhead which we desperately needed (and still need) — and he also gave us permission to have tough conversations about the structures of fundraising

Beate

I think it changed some attitudes within organisations. But it’s certainly not done overnight to change the public’s opinion on overhead

Simon

I am on such shitty wifi. Birmingham airport…the capital of England…youd think they could maintain a decent connection

Jen

Well, we’re talking about it! We weren’t in any meaningful way before that

Simon

Oh my god 2013

The summer of apathy

Beate

Wow time flies

Jen

I was going to make a lame brexit joke

Clay

Several Foundations have since stated they will fund overhead.

Simon

Fair point

Beate

Yes! I think like Jen says, it gave us language. And courage to state the obvious; overhead is part of doing a good job.

Clay

But has it caused fundamental shift “in the trenches”? Was it supposed to?

Simon

His book and talk helped me get it straight in my head I think. He gives us confidence

Jen

Good questions Clay. I think it has inspired confidence

yah, what Simon just said

Simon

I guess it’s unfair to expect a seismic shift. He’s not the messiah

He’s good for our sector

Jen

And it’s also allowed us to see things from the other side: “what? we pay this dickhead $250,000? no way he’s worth that…”

Simon

Is that how much Dan’s paid

Jen

haha, no i mean charity CEOs… but good one

Clay

I had a CFO get rather angry with me, finger pointing, angry words, the whole bit and “instruct” me to cancel the remainder of the year’s DM/digital program to focus on major gifts and events because it was irresponsible spending. She was wearing an “I Am Overhead” t-shirt.

Simon

Hahahahaha

Beate

Jesus, THAT is irresponsible!

Simon

Have to say, it’s also good that he’s a successful, white man saying this…so he doesn’t get called out for being jealous or whatevs

Beate

I don’t think it’s changed much for Average Joe or Joanne. Not sure it ever will – or wether it’s that important. I think that’s something that comes way down the line. What changes is our attitude, letting us ask for overhead funding, defend ourselves properly in the media. And then maybe, maybe, in 20 years retired millennials will think differently..

Jen

I also think the part of his message around asking for more, having bigger dreams, is important

Simon

Yeh…he’s an icon for the sector…and his message gives us a voice which charities then (slowly) get round to supporters

the stuff he says about expectations and what our sector is capable of is great.

Beate

what’s stuck with me since his talk at IFC is the origin of the words non-profit.

Beate

It literally means “no progress”

Clay

It’s a great thing to have fundraisers and NP leaders walking around going “Yeah! We should invest more!” But until it REALLY gets to leadership and becomes part of culture – implementing proven results, investing in infrastructure, etc – sound/fury.

Jen

Oh man Bea I hadn’t heard that non-profit = no progress. OUCH.

Beate

Yep, from latin (ep1 call back??)

Simon

You know he commented on my blog once?

Beate

Haha, really? What did you write? What did he say?

Simon

He disagreed with me

Beate

Vehemently?

Simon

But it was a clickbaity blog post about the problem with Dan Pallotta

So fair play to him

No he was cool…but I still stand by it

Beate

What did you claim the problem was?

Simon

Cant remember exactly what I said but it was basically in his TED talk talking about people earning less than $100,000 and the divide there

And what I was saying is that the message could get lost on loads of people

Because the average salary is like $20-30k

So majority of people in America and the world are still like, what the fuck are you talking about?

Beate

Mhm, fair point

Simon

Like that the message we’re talking about is still excluding the 90%

My point was put together much better than that of course

Beate

Of course

Simon

It was an amazing point. But dont go confirm that by reading the blog

Beate

I will link to the blog for everyone to see

Simon

Oooof

Beate

And the TED talk

Yours and his

Simon

This wifi disconnects every 5 minutes

Jen

I also think that part of the conversation he encouraged was about how we create our fundraising programs based on reducing expenses by 5% and increasing revenue by 10% without a plan

That the structural part of how our charities work is broken

Simon

The way I think about wifi is dead wrong

Clay

LOL

Simon

I actually must watch the TED talk again…it’s been a while

Beate

Clay, what’s Dan doing in Vegas

Clay

Lack of planning and then investing in the right resources to execute the plan – agree, Jen!

Simon

Do you think he’ll just go round telling casinos they’re dead wrong

Clay

His Bolder Board training.

Simon

Oh same thing as Dublin!

Really interested to hear how you go. Live tweeting?

Clay

It’s like you’ve never met me.

Simon

Hahaha

Beate

Hahah

Jen

Should be, Bea, Be Bold Bolder Boards

Beate

Today I ate at b-bakery. True story!

Simon

Get a photo with him. And do a secret signal in the photo for me

Clay

Oh, that is ON!

Jen

I don’t know much about what he says about boards…

Might need a report back from Clay!

Clay

I am actually really looking forward to it! I’m curious to hear what he says

Simon

I’m going to commission an artist to paint a last supper recreation with Dan Pallotta, Scott Harrison, Vu Lee, Kishana Palmer, etc

Jen

OH MY GODDESS

Simon

Yeh I’m really interested to hear how he confronts boards and changes their mind. Obviously the problematic people are those not in the room….but still…it’s not what I’ve seen him speak abotu before

Beate

Based on title alone, I would guess don’t be afraid to invest and believe in fundraising? Definitely report back Clay!

Clay

I want that supper IRL tho!

Beate

We’ll invite them all and serve them lobster

Simon

Oh by the way…

Did you know lobsters have tiny brains?

Like the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen

Jen

Not these lobsters!

Simon

…like Jen

Jen

Come on, man!

Beate

#LobsterJen

Clay

Sidebar – it is now Kibble Time in Vegas so officially multi-tasking – Fundraising Dogs Feeding Time waits for no one…

Simon

Well OK I’m going to get a cup of tea anyway

Beate

And I’m stepping off a bus and into a meeting

Simon

Let’s wrap it up and boot Clay out of this whatsapp group

Love to you all

Jen

Lots of lobster love, except to Simon for the roast

Beate

❤

Simon

Clay…y’all come back soon, y’hear?

Clay

You guys are awesome! And dogs are eating! All is good!

Simon

OH SHIT CLAY! I forgot to tell you something really important!

Will change your life!

Clay

I’m giddy with anticipation