Scott Gelzer on How to Focus your Nonprofit | Milwaukee, the Virus & Fundraising

Scott Gelzer is a legendary Milwaukee nonprofit leader who continues to do good work. We asked him a simple question: What do you think the world of philanthropy should be focusing on during these times?  

He gave us a thoughtful and nuanced answer, typical of Scott:

Let’s begin the “should” response with data.  Exponent Philanthropy, formerly the Association of Small Foundations recently published the results from an April 2020 survey of 900 funders from across the country.  Funders apparently ARE changing their approach.    Highlights from the first report include:

• 72% of funders are making emergency response grants outside the foundation’s normal grant cycle

• 64% of funders are converting existing grants to more flexible funds (e.g., converting project grants to general operating support grants)

• 63% of funders are making additional grants to existing grantees

• 56% of funders are delaying or postponing reporting deadlines

• 55% of funders are collaborating with other funders.

How are we doing in the 414 areas?  The initial funder response has been all hands on deck.  Greater Milwaukee Foundation, United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, and UPAF created response funds.  They were joined by Imagine MKE with the Milwaukee Artist Relief Fund, which provides financial assistance to artists.  Bravo!  Many smaller efforts have also been launched such as the Wisconsin Humanities Council offering operating grants. 

Nonprofit leaders have been equally nimble if not more so.  Hunger Task Force stepped into its own food shortage and the State’s agricultural supply chain crisis and purchased directly from farmers and agri-business.  Staff at many nonprofits moved quickly to a new service reality - no hug, group outing or friendly home visit.  Arts organizations like Woodland Pattern and Ex Fabula (among many others) adroitly moved from in-person to online programming.  

So, what’s next?  In times of disaster, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy identifies  two broad stages of philanthropy – relief and recovery.    We must be very careful with this metaphor because it’s built around natural disasters, not pandemics.  The havoc from storms tends to be within a state or region in a short period of time – this is worldwide, continuing to wreak havoc over many months, and invisible.  Relief and recovery are a starting point for planning. 

Let’s try and move beyond the statistics that started this post.  Here are some thoughts. 

1) Define what I’ll call your PhilanthropyNext.   Have conversations with grantees, Trustees and in funding collaborations about what you think has changed…..and how you must change for the next 6 months, year and perhaps beyond.  Write it down, document your experiences and make changes where needed.   

2) Re-examine your funding stance on advocacy.  If changes in policy, regulations and funding levels will help create a “better normal” will you consider supporting such change?   I hope so.     

3) How can we fuel community advancement?  What tools do essential volunteers and staff need in the coming months and years?  An example is technology – does every Milwaukee student have access to reliable internet?   What tools will deliver the best service with little face-to-face contact?   Is there a cell phone deficit in any part of our City?    What is required to share experiences online, such as children’s reading this summer?   What’s the approach to visiting a museum? How can philanthropy help with such infrastructure challenges?  

4) As we move into a next phase lean toward funding organizations, away from projects.  If you need metrics, ask for an organization’s 6 or 12-month plan, and support that overall effort.  Our nonprofit leaders are only as good as their imagination, incredible work ethic AND access to flexible capital allow.   If you must fund projects, I suggest you relax any limitations on expenses that help the organization operate. 

5) Finally, find time to reflect.  There’s a glut of information and being overwhelmed is normal.  It’s amplified if you’re a stay-at-home worker and a parent.  And, we need time to mourn and remember what’s been lost. 

In a pandemic, if we use the disaster paradigm as a starting point, it strikes me that relief funds are reactive and recovery funding is purposeful.  Celebrate and evaluate the relief initiatives we have.  Then, join a push for purposeful recovery.  There’s an opportunity to help shape a new and better normal.   

Scott’s Bio:

Scott Gelzer was the last Executive Director of the Faye McBeath Foundation from 2004-’14.  He was co-Fund Advisor for the Nonprofit Management Fund from 1994-2003.  Philanthropy is a professional and personal passion.  He supports two donor-advised funds as memorials to beloved family members, son Brandon Gelzer (Brandon’s Toolshed - mental health) and wife Patricia Wyzbinski (Art$upport).  He lives in Lake Geneva after a 19+ year residence in Milwaukee and 25 years in Chicago.  Current personal priorities include friends and family, advised fund projects, heritage travel (U.S. Civil Rights Trail, Presidential Museums) and the conversion of the family’s Michigan farm from Christmas trees to hardwood forest.