I’m sorry I abruptly cut short my report on Washington but you know, I’m a very busy person! Anyway, as I was writing, Washington is heaven for professional networkers. In 5 days I met as many people as I meet in Europe in a month. I made around 100 interesting and useful new contacts and have started to dig out new funding opportunities worth around 1 million in total. I love the capital of the world!
These are very hot days here. Not just because of the weather or collective arousal. Everybody is in a hurry for the presidential election and finacial crisis. There is not much time for our lovely sector. However, both candidates are committed to working with the sector. Obama seems closer to us since he did social work and is supported by the main bulk of the sector. At least the people I met. Unfortunately I missed the national rifle assocciation and ku kux clan.
The centre of civil society study at the Johns Hopkins University is undertaking a survey about which candidates are better for the sector in the opinion of practitioners. see:http://www.jhu.edu/listeningpost/news/
If the sector is not the main concern, Europe is even more of a blind spot. I must confess people don’t have a clue about Europe, even less about our third sector. It’s a “big black hall” as Howard Husok defined American people’s knowledge of our beloved old continent. This might be an opportunity to bridge the shores of the Atlantic and show them that we recently have been able to produce something interesting as well and it might be useful in this economic slowdown. This not a news for us and the sector can be very useful when it comes to tackling social problems and saving money at the same time.
Don’t worry i’m working on it and might ship 100 american third sector leaders to Europe by next year!
Another revelation I had in DC is the debate on the impact of the war on terror on the third sector. In brief, goverment forbade organisations to work with terrorist groups in anyway threating to rip off charity status if any link was discovered. I can’t see how you can work in Palestine or Nigeria without messing up with a relative of someone in Hamas. Anyway, organisations have been brought to court without the need to inform them ablout the causes and the opportunity to show alternative evidence. It’s sounds old soviet union to me. what’s your view?
if you want to know more read collateral Damage. How the War on Terror Hurts Charities, Foundations, and the People They Serve in http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/4290/ – punchy title!
We missed this in Europe – except for an attempt of Commissioner Frattini in 2005 which didn’t last long – But the US was a very painful process that umbrella bodies – eg Indipendent Sector and National Council of Nonprofit Associations – managed successfully. I will include all information in my report. It might turn out to be useful sooner or later.
If you want to know more read Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice. A Guide for Charities and Foundations can be found at www.nonprofitpanel.org
Recommendation of day: Third sector leaders should be for Washington what San Peter is for Christians and Mecca for a Muslims. You must visit it at least once in your professional life!
