So…I guess I’m one of those philanthropist wankers. (Part 4)

In part four of this special four part series, David Hardie looks ahead and thinks about what needs doing to take his philanthropy to the next stage.  You can and should check out parts one, two and three of David’s wonderfully honest story about his philanthropic journey.

A set of values is a good start but as I’ve been reading through the Annual Reports and websites of various Foundations I have noted that the vision and mission thing features prominently. Now I suspect it’s a result of sitting through a few too many strategic planning sessions in the government sector, but I’ve traditionally been a bit of a cynic when it comes to visions. So I initially decided that what would work for me was capturing how the Foundation would work – the things that would help define our approach to grantmaking. This may have been a ‘vision avoidance strategy’ but it kind of worked! I again just started writing down some words and phrases that are important to me, some of which are certainly borrowed from others and some that come from my own observations. Now I first wrote these down a few weeks back but reading them through again as I write this has made me realise that I’m still pretty happy with them. So here they are:

• Open, honest communication in all its relationships
• Listening with an open heart
• Fun and laughter
• Supporting good people with good ideas
• Trust and mutual respect
• Collaborating with and learning from others
• Acknowledging and alleviating the power imbalance in the grantmaking relationship
• Enabling grantees and communities to steer the work.

Now like a set of values, this is just a bunch of words and until they get tested by the complex realities of the grantmaking relationship, a bunch of words (albeit nice words!) is all they will be.

So that was where I got to over a few days and I was pretty happy with it. But when I revisited it after a break and after a bit more reading of some of my philanthropy journals, I did realise that there was something missing and that the ‘v and m thing’ did need to make an appearance.  So I sat back down and I eventually came up with this Slingsby Foundation vision and mission:

Our Vision:  A just and caring society that embraces difference.

Our Mission: To fund initiatives of the not for profit sector that strengthen the lives of those who are marginalised or experiencing disadvantage. We support organisations and projects that build on people’s strengths and help equip them with the capabilities to overcome disadvantage and lead happy, fulfilling lives.

And you know – I finally got to see what these things can do – they help set out what I’m aiming for and how I might go about helping to achieve this. I think they also will help the organisations and people that the Foundation will eventually support to get some insights into the type of Foundation that we want to be and why we might want to support them.

So that’s where I’m up to in June 2011. A little over ten years since my grandad passed away and approaching the year that will represent the 100^th anniversary of his birth. And much to his surprise (and I suspect wry amusement), I’m finally interested in the share market. The Foundation has recently made its initial investments and I’m actually really enjoying the process of tracking them and learning about the vagaries of such things. Week one was looking great, week two not so great!

Of course it’s all about purpose and for me, the purpose of sound financial investment and wealth generation is related back to that vision and mission of the Foundation. And yes, a wider purpose of celebrating the life of someone (my grandad LindenLittle) whose hard work and commitment to excellence enables others to share the benefits of a life well led.

David Hardie recently worked as a Program Manager and Intern at the Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund. He is the Founder of the Slingsby Foundation and strongly believes that those Australians who are financially well-off should grow Australian philanthropy and help build the social fabric of the nation that has provided their wealth.