Chapter 7: Fundraising in Challenging Times: Crisis Survival, and Transformation
Fundraising is no stranger to crisis or challenging times. Some crises are familiar and periodic, while others can represent fundamental discontinuities for society and the roles of fundraising and philanthropy. Fundraising can be energized by crisis and challenge, especially when the philanthropic organization is prepared to act appropriately and ask good questions about its purpose.
This chapter discusses leadership habits and coping mechanisms for fundraisers during the stress and ambiguity of challenging times. It addresses the importance of synthesizing knowledge and reaffirming the ethical foundations of fundraising to understand the ongoing impact of challenging times. The chapter also presents leadership responses that involve articulating and reaffirming shared purpose, understanding and deploying power intentionally, and developing a useful perspective on the crisis. These responses require combining nimble engagement with rapidly developing circumstances and connecting these to the ethical foundations of the fundraising craft.
Amir Pasic
Amir Pasic, Ph.D., is the Eugene R. Tempel Dean of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Previously he held positions at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), Johns Hopkins University, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, The George Washington University, and the Library of Congress. Dr. Pasic earned his doctorate in political science at the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Yale University.
TFRS First Day Podcast featuring Dean Amir Pasic discussing his chapter with Bill Stanczykiewicz.