By Birce Altay, GivingTuesday Europe Hub Director
The recent webinar on ‘Building a Generosity Movement in Europe’ marked the launch of the GivingTuesday Europe Hub, the fifth hub to join the global movement alongside Latin America & the Caribbean, US & Canada, Africa, and India. Co-hosted with Salesforce, a longstanding partner of GivingTuesday, the webinar convened leaders and community members to reflect on the history of GivingTuesday, outline the vision for the Europe Hub’s future, share the latest data on giving and generosity across Europe and globally, and discuss both the sector’s challenges and future opportunities.
The webinar, featuring GivingTuesday’s CEO Asha Curran, Director of Global Engagement & Learning Cherisse Faith Beh, Chief Data Officer Woodrow Rosenbaum, and myself from the GivingTuesday team,GivingTuesday country leaders, Pia Tornikoski from the Finnish Fundraising Association and Rob Cope from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, and Salesforce Senior Manager of Nonprofit Industry Field Marketing Oliver Shiel as speakers, also provided an opportunity to explore strategies for enhancing community engagement and sustaining philanthropic efforts. It underscored the significance of collaborative approaches in fostering impactful change.
Here are my 4+1 takeaways from the event:
1. Empower Everyone, Lead Together
GivingTuesday’s immense impact on people and causes around the world in the last 12 years is a result of more than a shared vision of amplifying generosity around the globe. It is rooted in the understanding and application of distributed leadership, where a sense of ownership is fostered among participants. Listening to Asha in her opening remarks made me realize once again that, thanks to this collective endeavor, the movement now encompasses many different and rich layers of expertise. These diverse perspectives lead the way for radical generosity to be embraced and practiced by as many people as possible, in every corner of the world. Each year, GivingTuesday not only expands its reach but also deepens its impact through collaborative efforts and shared responsibility. This growth is a testament to the power of distributed leadership, where leadership is not confined to a few individuals but emerges from the collective action and commitment of a global community united by a common goal: to create positive change through acts of generosity.
2. 2Cs Rule: Connect & Co-create
Being connected within our community enables us to share vital resources, exchange diverse perspectives, and mobilize collective action, essentials for fostering collaboration and accelerating societal progress. In addition, I believe co-creation is more than just a strategy—it’s been essential in overcoming challenges and achieving significant successes. The launch of the Europe Hub is set to foster a deep sense of connection right from the beginning, creating an environment where ideas can freely exchange, and partnerships can thrive. I firmly believe that by uniting in this collaborative spirit, the Europe Hub will empower us to collectively tackle complex challenges and drive transformative change.
3. “Organizations need not only to survive, but to thrive.”
During the webinar, we had the opportunity to hear from Woodrow, who shared recent data on the global and European giving landscape, emphasizing how GivingTuesday encourages diverse forms of participation in acts of generosity. His insights underscored the importance of understanding that people engage with causes and organizations in multiple ways, not just through one form of support. This highlighted for me the crucial need to advocate for an abundance mindset over a scarcity mindset, especially during challenging times—when maintaining this perspective can be most difficult, yet most valuable. It’s essential to consciously shift our outlook towards recognizing opportunities and fostering growth. Ultimately, charitable organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), and movements must not only survive but thrive. GivingTuesday serves as a vital catalyst in supporting these efforts.
4. It is Circular rather than Linear
Rob and Pia discussed findings from the Nonprofit Pulse 2024 Report, jointly published by the European Fundraising Association, the UK’s Chartered Institute of Fundraising, and Salesforce. Their insights illustrate our pursuit of a circular approach rather than a linear one, navigating both challenges and opportunities simultaneously. It’s unsurprising that nearly a third of organizations reported increased service demands in 2023, alongside significant organizational challenges such as declining individual donors and staff reductions. However, the report also highlights organizations’ proactive adjustments in fundraising strategies—a crucial indicator of their adaptive capacity. Moreover, the report underscores opportunities presented by emerging technologies like AI (along with the concerns such as on ethics, data security, etc.) and the potential for more sustainable collaborations. In this dynamic environment, organizations must embrace change, adaptability, and resilience, continually refining strategies to remain agile and responsive to evolving needs and trends.
Bonus: 1% More Courage Never Fails
At the end of the webinar, Oliver asked the speakers what their suggestion would be for the GivingTuesday community. It was inspiring to see almost all speakers’ answers included thinking outside the box and trying something new. This reminded me of my own experience as a former country leader: GivingTuesday serves as the catalyst for innovation, too. Whether it’s testing that ‘crazy idea’ to see if it works, or sending that email to initiate collaboration, the spirit of experimentation and boldness is what propels movements forward. Embracing ‘1% more courage’ each day, even in the face of uncertainty, amplifies our collective impact and drives meaningful change. As we look ahead, let’s cultivate this spirit of courage and creativity, knowing that each initiative, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in our communities and beyond.
If you missed the webinar, you can can watch it here.
