Philanthropy Starts with People

Read time: 3 min

👋🏾 Hey! I’m Sid and this is The Philanthropy Futurist, a weekly advice column preparing you for the future of the nonprofit sector. Each Friday, I tackle reader questions about measuring impact, driving growth, and managing your nonprofit.

This Week’s Newsletter at a glance:

• Philanthropy Starts with People

• Philanthropy News From This Week

• Sid’s Book Recommendation

Philanthropy Starts with People

International Women’s Day is in 2 days.

For many folks, it’s a time to celebrate women around the world, and rightfully so… but it’s also a chance to celebrate the very women you work with every day.

The nonprofit sector runs on people… on teams that care deeply and show up for each other and for their missions. Days like this Sunday give us a chance to pause and recognize the women who make that work possible. The ones leading programs, supporting communities, organizing the details, and holding everything together behind the scenes and from out front.

Recognition might seem like a small thing, but it’s one of the simplest forms of leadership. Taking a moment to acknowledge someone’s work tells them they’re seen. It reminds them that what they do matters. And over time, those small moments shape culture in ways policies and mission statements never quite can.

Strong teams are not built only on strategy… they are built on appreciation. A kind word in a meeting, a thoughtful message, or a public thank-you can stay with someone far longer than we realize. Small gestures have a way of creating belonging, and belonging is what keeps people committed to the work.

International Women’s Day is a meaningful reminder to celebrate the women around us, but the spirit of it shouldn’t live on just one day (or one weekend). The best nonprofit cultures find ways to celebrate people year-round… across roles, identities, and experiences… because everyone contributes to the mission in their own way.

The future of philanthropy won’t just be shaped by ideas or funding… it will be shaped by the way we show up for one another.

Until next time y'all ✌🏾

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Philanthropy News From This Week

• Beyond the ask: Fundraising as building donor trust

• Key takeaways on the public perception of nonprofits

• Are You Addicted to “Philanthrobabble?”

• Changing the narrative: Who benefits from nonprofits?

Sid’s Book Recommendation

Each week, I recommend a book or film that has impacted my life in a positive way. My recommendation this week is:

The Carrot Principle by Adrian Gostick & Chester Elton

This book shows that consistent, specific recognition is the key differentiator of high‑performing managers and teams. Drawing on a large multi‑year study, it argues that recognition amplifies the basics of good management clear goals, communication, trust, and accountability... making people more engaged and productive. Learn more.

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