By: Sarah Dyer, BBA 2017
In Peter Frumkin’s The Essence of Strategic Giving he outlines a logic model for strategic giving. Frumkin encourages philanthropic givers to think about the direct outputs and long-term outcomes of each gift. As we approach the end of the semester we are making our final grant decisions. It is crucial that we think through what immediate and long-term results our gifts will have. What will our gifts do in the next year? What will they do in 15 years? Is giving to an immediate project better than supporting a long-term vision?
As a group we want to support arts and culture in Waco, especially arts education in impoverished areas. We know that art is crucial for a child’s development and we know that many schools in low-income areas do not have the funding to maintain thriving arts programs. Our group met with several nonprofit organizations, and the question we have been faced with is whether we want to meet an immediate need or fund a long-term plan to support arts and culture as a whole in Waco. I have learned that there is so much value in supporting individuals who have dedicated their lives to arts and culture and passionately believe in creating a better Waco. When arts and culture are thriving, the economy thrives, children develop creativity, and a community is strengthened. We have chosen to give to projects that will meet immediate needs, but we have also chosen to support a long-term vision to create a better Waco.
As I become more familiar with the philanthropic world, I have realized the necessity of funding long-term goals and visions rather than solely immediate projects. We live in a society that is obsessed with quick turnarounds and efficiency. While these things are important, when we lose sight of supporting individuals’ long-term goals we restrict the creativity of nonprofit executives who have a greater vision for their city. This course has taught me many things, but the most impactful has been that the nonprofit world needs a balance of efficiency and vision. When we allow nonprofit executives to dream big and support their goals, we may not see the immediate results we are craving, but the long-term impact on the community can be exponentially greater.