There is no “Golden Goose”
There is no one individual input who’s going to solve a big challenge or issue. It's going to be lots of things that make a difference in any situation. And that's something we should all talk about more often.
This is why I appreciate the article/commentary in the NonProfit Times entitled Technology Is Not the Solution NPO's were Promised. The authors comment that over the last several years we may have been sold a bill of goods that technology would solve all of our problems. And while they were not specific, things they might have been thinking about include that a really great CRM is THE solution to relationship management. Or that artificial intelligence ALONE will identify better prospects. Or that zoom will allow us to BEST communicate with effectiveness. And while all of those listed above are important in our nonprofit work, they are not a solution in and of themselves.
What the authors get to is that it's leadership and the people who are going to solve the problems and that, yes, they may use technology as a part of that process. But technology alone is not the answer to anything.
Several years ago when I started Hallett Philanthropy, I had this very same strong vantage point. I did not articulate it as well as the authors in the January column. But I wanted to continue to teach how the relationship-building skills of fundraisers were critical in meeting goals, which led to more philanthropic dollars for our nonprofits.
I embrace technology. As an example, I'm an outward and boisterous proponent of artificial intelligence. But even if artificial intelligence identified the perfect prospects time after time after time, the skills and desires to do some type of outreach to those prospects is still critical to garner the gift. Somebody has to go ask a prospect for a donation. How that's done is important.
We should all embrace technology to make what we do more efficient. But as the authors say, technology is a tool. It doesn't replace the dedication, drive, talents, and hopes of the people who make nonprofits what they are---dedicated energy and emotion in support of community need.
