Rethink Philanthropy: Breaking Rules, Raising Funds and Doing Good

As fundraisers, we're often overlooked and quite misunderstood. "Just go raise the money," they say. "If you need a bigger team, raise more money so we can hire."

Philanthropy is a tough gig. We're working with what we've got, and it is often beans. We make magic happen and operate as a conductor in the beautiful symphony that is community, impact and sustainability, and we're often sacrificing ourselves along the way.

Throughout my career, I've broken the "philanthropy rules" and established...