Observations on Development
The difference between reading a business plan/strategic plan and talking through a plan with a founder is massive. Seeing in person the passion, determination, confidence, thought, sincerity, competence, awareness, etc, etc, is way beyond the communication ability of a slide deck.
There are also limitations on how much time an entrepreneur or leader can spend meeting funders and other supporters. Which is why it’s impossible to under-communicate how important a development hire is. Great development people don’t feel like development people. They communicate similar passion, determination, confidence, thought, sincerity, competence, awareness, etc, etc, to their org’s founders.
They can answer questions about org culture, innovation, in the field progress, current challenges, and most other things we’d ask a founder. And they never schmooze, ego-boost, or leave you feeling hit-up. It’s relationship building at its best.
The Peery Foundation is a Palo Alto-based family foundation established in 1978 by Richard Peery. Our mission is to strengthen youth and families to build lives of dignity and self-reliance. We do this by investing in and serving social entrepreneurs and other leaders who are working to empower youth and families living in poverty in the San Francisco Bay Area and around the world. Hereʼs a bit about our founder and the values which inform our approach to philanthropy.
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