It started on the street - in conversation with Filipa Morais, from a prospective career in law to leading SOS Childrens Villages global fundraising.

Face to Face Fundraising
Written By Rory W

  • 1. Face-to-face fundraisers should be separated from the rest of the staff Philippa calls out a piece of advice she received just that week that in-house face-to-face teams should be kept completely separate from other staff. Her reaction: "What? No." She argues the opposite is true, and that the energy face-to-face teams bring actually lifts the whole office. > ~42:24

    2. It's almost never the market — it's always leadership When people say face-to-face doesn't work in their country or market, Philippa pushes back hard: "It's usually not because of the markets." She lays the blame squarely on poor leadership and a failure to truly invest in people, not just money, but understanding. > ~41:34

    3. ROI-obsessed boards are killing long-term fundraising Philippa is blunt about how short-termism from boards and even fundraising directors damages face-to-face programs. People want to "switch on the tap" and see immediate returns, not understanding that face-to-face requires upfront investment before it pays off and when it doesn't deliver overnight, they blame the channel rather than their own impatience. > ~38:53

Rory W
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It started on the street - in conversation with Sally Wynter and David Morris - Being nearly fired was the best thing that could have happened
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It started on the street - in conversation with Matt Cassini, the shy engineer who chose rejection.