The Rundown - Is Stunt Philanthropy Here to Stay? - June 2, 2023
Is Social Media permanently changing the philanthropic landscape?
Stunt Philanthropy
In recent years, philanthropy has witnessed a transformation with the rise of "stunt philanthropy," capturing public attention through attention-grabbing campaigns. Two articles, "After the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and the Rise of MrBeast: Stunt Philanthropy Might Be Here to Stay" from The Conversation, which you can read here, highlight these campaigns. Our little newsletter also offered some insights into the MrBeast phenomenon earlier this year, which you can find below.
Both pieces offer contrasting perspectives on this emerging trend. While The Conversation article celebrates the potential positive impact of stunt philanthropy, I tend to take a more critical view. Let’s explore the different viewpoints, analyzing the benefits and drawbacks of stunt philanthropy as a means of effecting social change.
The Conversation: Embracing Stunt Philanthropy's Impact
The Conversation article highlights the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and the philanthropic efforts of MrBeast on YouTube as examples of the power of stunt philanthropy. It applauds these campaigns for successfully raising awareness and generating substantial funds for charitable causes. The article emphasizes the ability of social media platforms to amplify the reach of such campaigns, making them accessible to a wide audience. It suggests that stunt philanthropy could be a transformative force, changing the way people engage with and contribute to charitable causes.
Pinnacle Strategies: A Critical Examination of Stunt Philanthropy
On the other hand, my work takes a more critical stance on stunt philanthropy. It argues that while these campaigns may generate short-term attention and funds, they often lack long-term sustainability and fail to address the root causes of the issues they aim to solve. I try to highlight concerns about the "slacktivist" nature of these campaigns, where individuals may participate for social validation rather than genuine concern for the cause. Additionally, I am raising questions about the potential negative impact of diverting resources from more traditional philanthropic efforts that have proven long-term effectiveness.
And as we look at the Ice Bucket Challenge and the work by Mr. Beast, it may be worth our while to look at some of the positive and negative aspect of these types of philanthropic actions.
Raising Awareness vs. Lack of Lasting Impact: Stunt philanthropy, as exemplified by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, undeniably succeeds in capturing public attention and raising awareness about specific causes. This increased visibility can lead to greater funding in the short term. However, critics argue that the attention quickly fades, and without sustained efforts, long-lasting impact may be minimal. It is crucial to strike a balance between immediate awareness and lasting change.
Engaging a Wider Audience vs. Shallow Engagement: The viral nature of stunt philanthropy campaigns allows for broad engagement across diverse demographics. The ability to reach millions of people quickly and easily through social media can spark conversations and inspire involvement. However, an arguement can be made that many participants are motivated by social validation and may not develop a deeper understanding of the underlying issues. To maximize impact, it is essential to encourage participants to go beyond the surface level and engage in meaningful, sustained action.
Innovative Fundraising vs. Diverting Resources: Stunt philanthropy campaigns often employ creative and unconventional fundraising methods that appeal to a younger generation. These approaches can attract new donors who may not have otherwise contributed. However, I would contend that the focus on attention-grabbing campaigns can divert resources and attention from more established philanthropic efforts that have a proven track record of impact and can be more sustained. It is crucial to strike a balance by diversifying philanthropic strategies while also supporting established initiatives.
Leveraging Social Media vs. Long-Term Sustainability: Stunt philanthropy relies heavily on social media platforms to amplify its reach and impact. The instantaneous and viral nature of these campaigns allows them to reach a wide audience within a short period. However, sustaining the momentum and translating the attention into meaningful, long-term change remains a challenge. A balanced approach would involve leveraging social media for initial awareness and engagement while also developing strategies for continued involvement and impact beyond the campaign's lifespan.
The discourse surrounding stunt philanthropy highlights the evolving landscape of charitable giving. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and Mr. Beast's philanthropic endeavors have undeniably raised significant funds and awareness. However, there are valid concerns about the long-term sustainability and depth of impact. Stunt philanthropy has the potential to engage a wider audience, particularly through social media platforms, but it may also perpetuate shallow engagement and overshadow other philanthropic initiatives.
By critically examining stunt philanthropy, we can encourage a more nuanced conversation and foster a philanthropic landscape that combines innovative approaches with thoughtful, long-term solutions. Striking a balance between attention-grabbing campaigns and sustained efforts that address the root causes of social issues is crucial. Ultimately, the goal should be to leverage the initial momentum created by stunt philanthropy to drive lasting change and make a positive impact on society.
The Weekly Notebook
A few notes and ideas of things I am seeing and hearing on the nonprofit world.
A Shameless Plug for Self-Promotion
A few weeks ago, I had the chance to sit on a zoom call to talk with David Schwab of Fundraise to put together an episode of his “Not Stop Nonprofit” Podcast. This was a wonderful opportunity to talk shop. You can hear the episode and learn more about the podcast here.
A Shameless Plug for Self-Promotion (Part Two)
I recently started a new substack that is focusing on my work here in my hometown of Troy, Ohio. As you may know, I recently ran for Mayor of my hometown and narrowly lost the primary election by 31 votes.
While it isn’t the outcome that I would have hoped for, there was a lot of positive energy that was ignited and is still burning bright. I started the Civic Capacity substack to steward that positive energy into productive conversations about our community.
Please check it out and let me know what you think! You can find it here:
Now Hiring!
I have a nonprofit in Sidney, Ohio that has reached out to me looking for a new Executive Director. I can tell you that this a very strong organization that needs leadership that has strong entrepreneurial and staff management skills. If you have any interest, please drop me a line at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com and let’s talk!
How Can We Work Together?
Did you know that Pinnacle Strategies works individually with nonprofit and public sector leaders to help them solve problems, achieve goals and gain confidence in their roles?
Why?
Because, this work is hard and it’s often a lonely road. Our nonprofit and public sector leaders need people that they can talk to to get solid advice and encouragement to do the work that is in front of them. If you feel that this can be of value to you, or a member of your team, please reach out to pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com and let’s talk.
Ready to Learn Something New?
One of the prettiest cities in the Midwest is Indianapolis and travelling there can open a perfect opportunity to sharpen your skills and meet new professionals in the field. I would encourage you to look at some of the offerings of The Fund Raising School at the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University’s campus in Indianapolis. The professional development school has great programming both on-line and in-person both in Indianapolis and at other sites across the country. Take a look at their course offerings here!
Online Learning Options from Texas A&M Announced
If travelling for professional development isn’t in the cards (or the budget), the Center for Nonprofits at Texas A&M University has some great offerings! I recently enrolled in one of their certificate programs and really enjoyed the online format and the online discussions that were developed. It was time and money well spent and I would highly recommend this program, especially for early or mid-career professionals. The next session begins in early February and you can learn more here!
Other Ways to Connect
Our coaching practice has openings and it has been a blast working with nonprofit leaders all across the country! If you are interested in working with me to get your nonprofit organization on a track to achieve the big missions you have, please reach out to me at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com.
Here are some other ways you can keep in contact with Pinnacle Strategies!
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