Comments on: Ending the Problem http://www.asmallchange.net/ending-the-problem/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ending-the-problem Making Sense of Fundraising Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:58:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John Risner http://www.asmallchange.net/ending-the-problem/#comment-775 John Risner Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:44:57 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=913#comment-775 In a Board meeting for our foundation (which is focused on NF-a genetic disorder), several years one of the members remarked how "we were all there to cure NF". It took some of us aback when our medical affairs chairman commented, "well really not, as it is unlikely to be cured in our lifetime. There has never been a genetic disorder that has been cured". This stimulated a very healthy discussion of "cure", vs. "treat" vs. "End". The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is one org we benchmark ourselves against regularly, and Dan's comments are spot on. They have not yet "cured" CF, but the advances they have made in treating it are remarkable. They have made a huge difference in the both the quality and quantity of life for people with CF. Maybe they will never cure it, but at their rate of progress, in 40 years CF may be equivalent to brochitis. The end of our discussion was that while realistically our goal is find safe and effective treatments for NF, we are comfortable using "cure" and "end" as shorthand words to convey our mission. Like CF, we may not cure it for many years, but in aspiring to that we will make a huge difference in the lives of those with NF. On point to the original post, I think poverty and hunger, while closely correlated, can be separated. As Jason noted, hunger is a logistical problem. At worst we should be able to make it a transient (flood, earthquake etc.) condition. And while the poor will be with you always, the goal of ending it is a noble one, and for marketing purposes captures the essence of the mission. Interesting post and thread! John In a Board meeting for our foundation (which is focused on NF-a genetic disorder), several years one of the members remarked how “we were all there to cure NF”. It took some of us aback when our medical affairs chairman commented, “well really not, as it is unlikely to be cured in our lifetime. There has never been a genetic disorder that has been cured”.
This stimulated a very healthy discussion of “cure”, vs. “treat” vs. “End”.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is one org we benchmark ourselves against regularly, and Dan’s comments are spot on. They have not yet “cured” CF, but the advances they have made in treating it are remarkable. They have made a huge difference in the both the quality and quantity of life for people with CF. Maybe they will never cure it, but at their rate of progress, in 40 years CF may be equivalent to brochitis.
The end of our discussion was that while realistically our goal is find safe and effective treatments for NF, we are comfortable using “cure” and “end” as shorthand words to convey our mission. Like CF, we may not cure it for many years, but in aspiring to that we will make a huge difference in the lives of those with NF.
On point to the original post, I think poverty and hunger, while closely correlated, can be separated. As Jason noted, hunger is a logistical problem. At worst we should be able to make it a transient (flood, earthquake etc.) condition.

And while the poor will be with you always, the goal of ending it is a noble one, and for marketing purposes captures the essence of the mission.
Interesting post and thread!
John

]]> By: Jason Dick http://www.asmallchange.net/ending-the-problem/#comment-774 Jason Dick Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:06:43 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=913#comment-774 Great comments. Janice I agree that there is something appealing about the big hairy audacious goals. I feel like that is the kind of message that feeds a good vision for an organization. But it seems that many organizations lean so heavily on this kind of messaging that specific tangible or attainable goals can get lost. What can our organizations do to live in both worlds? It would be great to have an inspiring vision that is being accomplished in tangible measurable ways. Dan I think you make a really great point about what we deem as a lost cause. I think it's great that donors have so many different passions. And, it is important that our organizations find relevant ways to talk about what we stand for. Great comments. Janice I agree that there is something appealing about the big hairy audacious goals. I feel like that is the kind of message that feeds a good vision for an organization. But it seems that many organizations lean so heavily on this kind of messaging that specific tangible or attainable goals can get lost.

What can our organizations do to live in both worlds? It would be great to have an inspiring vision that is being accomplished in tangible measurable ways.

Dan I think you make a really great point about what we deem as a lost cause. I think it’s great that donors have so many different passions. And, it is important that our organizations find relevant ways to talk about what we stand for.

]]> By: Janice Chan http://www.asmallchange.net/ending-the-problem/#comment-773 Janice Chan Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:30:44 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=913#comment-773 I agree that the likelihood that we are ever going to eradicate hunger or poverty approaches zero. However, I tend to take these calls to end a problem the same way as striving for perfection. No one and nothing is ever perfect. But if you strive for perfection, you can end up with something pretty good. Like that saying in karate that if you want to break the board with your hand, you have to hit through the board. And though there are plenty of dreamers, many organizations working to end poverty etc. are working on making progress in a practical manner. However, I get the sense that your (and many people's) real sense of frustration comes from those dreamers who are very much all or nothing, and how that can be counterproductive (as exemplified by all the fighting over the recent health care legislation). And you're right, there will always be people in poverty or going hungry because life is unpredictable and extremely unfair. There will always be natural disasters, manmade disasters, etc. We will always need both short term treatments for the unpreventable and long term solutions so that we can prevent the suffering we are able to prevent. As long as you keep everything in perspective (as in, this small change means X more people who were hungry yesterday now have food vs. we were unable to end hunger), then I think we're on the right track. I agree that the likelihood that we are ever going to eradicate hunger or poverty approaches zero. However, I tend to take these calls to end a problem the same way as striving for perfection. No one and nothing is ever perfect. But if you strive for perfection, you can end up with something pretty good. Like that saying in karate that if you want to break the board with your hand, you have to hit through the board. And though there are plenty of dreamers, many organizations working to end poverty etc. are working on making progress in a practical manner.

However, I get the sense that your (and many people’s) real sense of frustration comes from those dreamers who are very much all or nothing, and how that can be counterproductive (as exemplified by all the fighting over the recent health care legislation). And you’re right, there will always be people in poverty or going hungry because life is unpredictable and extremely unfair. There will always be natural disasters, manmade disasters, etc. We will always need both short term treatments for the unpreventable and long term solutions so that we can prevent the suffering we are able to prevent. As long as you keep everything in perspective (as in, this small change means X more people who were hungry yesterday now have food vs. we were unable to end hunger), then I think we’re on the right track.

]]> By: Dan Smith http://www.asmallchange.net/ending-the-problem/#comment-772 Dan Smith Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:48:41 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=913#comment-772 Jason, As sad as it is, I agree with you. I think we should pick our battles a little better. However, some people might have said once that cystic fibrosis was a lost cause, so why raise money for research? Well, we've gone from an average lifespan of 5 years to 37. Of course, we hope for a cure someday. Anyway, it's tough, and of course I'd love for everyone to join our team, but I just know that if I were being told that I needed to drop our program because we can't really cure it, I'd be devastated. Dan Jason,
As sad as it is, I agree with you. I think we should pick our battles a little better. However, some people might have said once that cystic fibrosis was a lost cause, so why raise money for research? Well, we’ve gone from an average lifespan of 5 years to 37. Of course, we hope for a cure someday.
Anyway, it’s tough, and of course I’d love for everyone to join our team, but I just know that if I were being told that I needed to drop our program because we can’t really cure it, I’d be devastated.

Dan

]]> By: Dana Van Nest http://www.asmallchange.net/ending-the-problem/#comment-771 Dana Van Nest Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:33:31 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=913#comment-771 I completely agree. I had this exact conversation with colleagues yesterday. I completely agree. I had this exact conversation with colleagues yesterday.

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