Slow cooker philanthropy
May 7, 2008I’m blogging from the PIGS event in South Florida, as mentioned previously. And for me the most significant conversations happened around the issue of what was termed ‘missional philanthropy’. Lance, Mark and I facilitated this roundtable.
First of all, what do we mean?
It doesn’t mean following along with your mission statement (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). It is philanthropy that attempts to be incarnational (another theological word).
Ok, let’s look at it this way: there is a big gap between givers and receivers, funders and implementers. What we are saying is reduce the gap with the donor coming down off her or his privileged position and embedding into the projects that are supported. It is giving with fewer strings and more trust. With the embedding comes a longer term relationship and cooperative partnership - this idea led Fred to coin the term ’slow cooker philanthropy’ - you know mix it up and let it stew for days (years). [Real transformative change only happens in years.]
This approach will also affect what is funded. Traditional Christian philanthropy was concerned about things such as evangelism, church planting and mission work - these are often elusively unmeasurable and unfortunately only dealt with one aspect of the human experience - the spiritual. Instead, a missional approach will fund activities that make a tangible difference in the lives of communities, and are responsive to what the people are actually saying they need. Water wells, microloans, drug rehab, skills training. It may include the spiritual, but it does not have to. It may also include partnerships with charities or donors who don’t share the same spirituality.
It is getting us out of our boxes, and into engaging with society - not on our terms, but theirs. This is serving others in Christ’s name with no strings attached.
May 7, 2008 at 7:43 am
love it. we were once offered some funds to start something quickly but chose to turn it down and wait, letting things “simmer” for a few years to see what would emerge organicially. the result is a social enterprise that has more local ownership, more contextual relevance, and far greater potential for replication.
the slow food movement is also related.
May 7, 2008 at 7:46 am
Mark Priddy is there? Please say hi from me.
May 7, 2008 at 7:46 am
He sure is, and I sure will.
May 7, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Preach it brother!
May 7, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Glad you’re blogging from PIGS - had been part of that years ago, good times, great connections. I might venture to even take it farther, that missional philanthropy could be simply doing the right things to serve people’s real needs without looking at short-term results. Doing good in and of itself can be a great missional witness, and impact people down the road in ways that defies acute measuring.
May 8, 2008 at 9:22 am
Without doubt this issue was the major theme of PIGS.
I was impressed by the grace I saw from those who have wholeheartedly embraced this approach and those who find it uncomfortable if not inappropriate. As much as I can enjoy a mildly heated disagreement, the tone of the interactions I observed on what it means to be “Christian” in philanthropy was the strongest impression of hope. In that sense, there was something missional happening in the midst of the conference.
May 8, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Actually, I did mean to say “slow cooking” as in the slow cooking movement instead of “slow cooker” as in crock pot cuisine. The slow cooking/slow eating movement to me personifies what we are hoping to produce - enjoyment, friendship, art, a sense of time, etc. You guys are so encouraging to me!
May 9, 2008 at 12:07 am
Fred … oooh, I like the slow cooking analogy even better. The slow cooker idea was starting to make me think of shag rugs and avocado appliances.
May 9, 2008 at 12:09 am
Chris, I was so glad you came to PIGS and were a part of the conversation this year. You will definitely add lots of insight in future gatherings, not to mention good company poolside.