[Ailist] Fwd: AI in capital campaigns

[Alice Leibowitz]

Coincidentally, I just received this e-mail on the Future Search Network
about using AI-type questions for a capital campaign (in response to a
highly unrelated question; see below.)

Subject: FW: Future Search for internal development planning
From: "shem cohen" <shem at ulster.net>
Date: Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:37:10 -0400
X-Message-Number: 1

Subject: RE: [searchnet] Future Search for internal development planning

Alice

Re: Does anyone have experience to share about using FS for internal
development goals such as board recruitment and succession planning?"

Yes - I used FS for just this purpose with a well-established (29 years)
arts organization -- reinvigorate the Board and plan/launch a capital
campaign with great success.  Circumstances were a bit different than what I
understand in your summary.  The ED had a vision for the organization and
long term growth, they had just acquired a new piece of land and an
architect was donating time towards developing a site/new buildings plan.
But the Board was laissez fare and new blood/energy was needed to help
launch the organization towards the vision.  We identified stakeholder
groups (who are all of the subgroups who make up the community of this
organization?) and then identified 1) all those who could play a role in
helping to move the organization forward/had stakes in outcomes and
2)identified candidates from across all subgroups desirable for board
positions, and held a 1 day planning event based on FSC with the theme of
launching a capitalization campaign to achieve the vision.  We did
timelines, the ED presented her vision and the architect's model -- the task
for the group was 'How can we accomplish this?'.  Dialogues held included:
For whom does WSW create value? How do we create value for them?  Think of
what it's like to be truly passionate about accomplishing something. What
does it feel like?  What does it look like? When thinking of someone who
successfully champions a cause and raises substantial funds through
gifts/endowments, what activities are they engaged in?  The MIND MAP: What
are 'attractors' for funding, useful strategies, or good leverage points?
The conference was a catalyst for people to energize the network and they
had the most successful capital campaign in years.  Less than a year later I
received a call informing me that the board had 5 new, hard working members,
'thank you again...'

I'm happy to share the design if anyone's interested -- please contact me on
my private email account: shemcohen at verizon.net with Future Search as a
reference in the subject line.

I've also used FS for internal development in a wide array of businesses
undergoing significant internal challenges (politics/conflict, shaping
responses to external strategic challenges) and have integrated FS
principles/methods with various OD approaches/tools over the years with
great success.  In fact, FS is at the core of all of my consulting work now.

Best,
Shem Cohen
(518) 489.5497


Original Message:
-----------------
From: Alice Leibowitz alice at insightunlimited.org
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 10:42:33 -0400
To: searchnet at list.nea.org
Subject: [searchnet] Future Search for internal development planning


I have been talking to the Executive Director of a non-profit advocacy
organization about possible doing a Future Search for them. I originally
pitched the idea as a way to move into deeper collaboration with the outside
organizations (mostly state agencies) they have historically tried to
influence. She was very enthusiastic and invited me to make a presentation
to the Board of Directors.

Since then, they have set several internal development goals. Here is what
the Director wrote to the Board:

"there is going to be significant board changes over the next several
months, including recruitment and retention, We need to create a strategic
plan and develop a Board and ED transition plan "
I feel confident that a Future Search could help them achieve those goals as
well, but I
m not sure how to explain to them why I think so.

Does anyone have experience to share about using FS for internal development
goals such as board recruitment and succession planning?

Thanks,

-Alice

--
Alice Leibowitz
Partner
Insight Unlimited LLC
Non-profit, Community, and Grassroots Consulting
Hartford, CT
alice at insightunlimited.org
www.insightunlimited.org
(860) 956-9299

~Contact us for a free 1-2 hour consultation~