Kim Horton, President & Senior Counsel at The Hodge Group

Hyper-Philanthropy is all about the acceleration of giving through joy. For over 30 years, THG has had the privilege of serving communities across America which embody that spirit. These communities are primed to develop sustainable income through philanthropy thanks to a developed appreciation for the role of nonprofits toward enhancing the common good. You can read more about the components of Hyper-Philanthropy here.

While serving these Hyper-Philanthropic communities, we have also recognized unique challenges that should be acknowledged and appreciated. We work with organizations to develop strategies for “tackling” the “blockers” in a Hyper-Philanthropic environment. Some things to be aware of include:

  • Multiple Community Campaigns: Especially in a Hyper-Philanthropic environment, it can be expected that your nonprofit is not the only one gearing up toward a major fundraising campaign. It is in these environments that we find a Feasibility Study to be particularly helpful. During our study process we include research methodology that allows us to organically detect other projects in the community and conduct risk-mitigation strategies in real time.
  • Political Foresight: When conducting our feasibility interviews, we take an expanded view of what a “stakeholder” is by making sure we include those who may not personally give to the campaign, but whose positive perception of the project is crucial. These political considerations must be taken seriously in Hyper-Philanthropic communities where the major donors and political leadership have mutual expectations of one another toward the outcome of the common good.
  • Strong Leadership: There is no replacement for influential board and campaign leadership. One person who is well-respected in the community and is passionate about your organization and/or project can ensure the most effective path forward toward success. These are leaders who exist by and for the Hyper-Philanthropic community.

It has been my privilege to serve the greater good through philanthropy for the past 20+ years. In that time, I have staffed multiple campaigns from inception to completion, and it was my absolute pleasure to attend a groundbreaking just last December for an $8.8 million campaign that THG was a part of from the early days of conducting their feasibility study to recruiting a campaign committee and ensuring their success. By being cognizant of the points above, we were able to help a school foundation realize its dream of constructing a new performing arts center in a relatively short amount of time.

As concepts such as artificial intelligence and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) grow more and more important in our field of philanthropy, it will become equally important to consider the “blocking and tackling” of Hyper-Philanthropy. This is because that “blocking and tackling” becomes measurably easier to navigate if you are a Hyper-Philanthropic organization. For example, poor board leadership and a lack of community awareness are two obstacles that can be easily overcome by applying a Hyper-Philanthropic mindset to your organization. Check out the link above to learn all about the pillars of Hyper-Philanthropy so that you can drive your organization toward success today!