April 28: Return of the Jedi Typer Font of Knowledge Mark Phillips

Mark

speeeedy, speedy typing

come on. Let’s go

Beate

OK! Hello lobsters!

And welcome back Mark!

How is everyone?

John

do we really want to speak time unpacking that?

Mark

I’m very well thankyou

Simon

Hi

Beate

speak time go fast

Mark

Boris – have delivered a new child to continue the Johnson dynasty. We are celebrating

Jen

Wow. Bossy Bea in full effect! Move along, pillow people

Beate

That wasn’t bossy bea!

That was making fun of johns typo’s bra

bea

fuck

that backfired

John

lol

Beate

anyway. I invited mark back today!

John

well we are off to a flying start here.

hi mark

Jen

Yay! Welcome back Mark!

Mark

Number one, because he’s funny and so far our most popular guest by reading numbers!

Mark

and I feel so excited to be allowed back in the lobster pot!

I’m laden with lobster facts

Beate

And two: He has some new research on donors done post corona shit fan hitting

Also three, he’s laden with lobsters facts

But let’s start with your donor research – kick us off, mark!

Mark

Yep. Was debriefed on the most recent study late last night

Jen

This has already exceeded my expectations. Mark is typing on time!

John

#imagine

Jen

GIve us the straight dope, Phillips

Mark

Ok. Key fact. The total weirdness of the last month has started to calm down a little.

Beate

(last two months for those of us without asshole science denying nation leaders, but go on)

Mark

People have started to expect the new ways of working and living as the new normal.

Beate

That’s depressing?

Mark

They feel they have more control. But they also feel that other areas of life – might need to change in order to reflect this new order – and that relates to giving to charity.

Jen

Ok, nodding along so far… Mark, maybe at some point, for the gearheads in the chatcast, can you break down how this research was done… because someone’s gonna ask… ❤️

John

?

Beate

Thank god typing speed is up because this is still taking its sweet time

Mark

This is a qualitative study. We have been speaking to donors since early March about how Coronavirus has impacted on their attitude to giving. This isn’t a. Survey. we hold long, hour long conversations about their lives and the role charities have in this new world.

Jen

Roger that. Thanks Mark!

Mark

Number one – and this is in the UK – people still don’t think they are being asked very much.

Beate

wow, for the UK that’s really something!

Simon

All the direct asking seems to have disappeared

There’s broad social asks out there but not much specific

Mark

By charities.

But they are by being asked. By friends . Peer to peer asks.

Simon

Interesting

Jen

Similar feeling here in Canada

Simon

For specific causes or very crowdfunder stuff?

Like personal causes

Mark

The fact that charities haven’t been asking has created a vacuum. And people have filled that themselves.

Jen

ooouuff

Mark

Crowdfunding stuff. People doing their own private’s fundraisers. Captain Tom Moore a 100 year old army vet walked up and down his garden 100 times and raised almost £30 million.

Beate

That is such an insane amount of money to raise!

Captain Tom, man. What a way to create a legacy before going out

John

Here’s Tom:

Jen

Captain Tom for PM!

Beate

So how do people feel towards charities?

Mark

People are very, very pro charities. Particularly those that are relevant to the situation. A cancer helpline, an animal sanctuary, nurses, medical research. If it is relevant. It is important.

Private fundraisers have exploded in the UK. We cancelled teh London marathon and people have adopted the 2.6 challenge. it’s been massive.

Coronavirus has seen the return of the citizen fundraiser.

Jen

LOVE THIS!

Simon

What would you say aren’t releveant now?

Beate

That’s one of humanity’s saving graces, most of us DO respond with generosity and kindness in tough times

Mark

Charities that speak about their needs aren’t relevant. So many companies are in trouble that people don’t think charities are a Special case.

One donor expressed it “if that charity closes, the staff can go and work for another charity. If teh need is still there, they can work for a better run charity.”

John

OOF

Jen

Wow…from the mouths of donors/babes

Mark

Tha citizen fundraiser is massive.

Beate

So those “our funding has fallen away”-appeals aren’t seen as relevant you mean?

Mark

Charities are delivering the service. People who care are delivering the money – without necessarily being asked.

Not unless it is a very specific cause – a care home, a hospice, or even a small animal sanctuary can do that because they have a specific constituency. If you are a general service organisation – perhaps doing what a number of other charities are doing in you locality – then that isn’t going to help.

Beate

I see.

So what would you say is the biggest learning point for charities from this research?

Mark

People also want to say thank you to staff.

John

like community foundations?

Mark

Front line staff.

Beate

❤

Jen

?

Mark

If staff are in harms way, people really value that. They know charity staff are poorly paid and ant to say thank you.

Beate

That’s really nice

Mark

Some of our biggest fundraisers in the UK have been to buy staff dinner! It is not dissimilar to a TIp. It’s to show appreciation and thank. Quite amazing really. People would rather £50 was given directly to a staff member than go into coffers.

Self-promotion is seen as poor form. This is not the time for a flash rebrand.

Beate

No time is the time for that

John

lol. good one.

Mark

You got it!

Beate

Is that why we’re seeing all these citizen fundraisers you think?

Because of the need to thank, I mean?

Mark

Yes. – and because charities haven’t asked. People still don’t feel like charities really need their money. Because they are not asking

Jen

Random question: Is Giving Tuesday Now part of the UK/Euro/Scanda plans?

Beate

Yes

Mark

Yep – it’s starting to catch on.

Beate

Well, it’s *there*. i don’t know how much planning there is around it yes.

Mark

Still quite small though. And mainly around social media. The traditional philanthropic generation won’t really have picked up on it.

One of the reasons people like citizen fundraisers is they are free of political or commercial baggage.

Beate

Depends wether charity staff have the time and head space to come up with something for it, no shortage of work while figuring out how to do your whole job from home and creating emergency appeals..

Mark

Its so easy to give to a veteran.

Jen

I wonder how some of the influence of GT Now, plus emphasis on digital because it’s fast, cheap and “safe” delivery, whether there will be a pick up or change or at least something to reflect on…

Mark

We are seeing a massive boost in online giving in the UK. One of the new rules is that it is OK to give online.

The other element that is attractive is the concept of considered uncertainty

Jen

“Considered uncertainty” what now?

Beate

You’re going to have to explain that one..

Considered uncertainty refers to the fact that things are changing so fast, you are not expected to know the answers. In fact it is good to say, “we don’t know, but this is what we are doing.”

Beate

So Mark, did people talk about economic insecurity at all?

Are people worried for their own finances I mean?

Mark

Yes. The people who are economically scared are cancelling direct debits and monthly gifts

They don’t want to, but have no alternative. What was interesting was that they did not stop giving. They were still giving to citizen fundraisers that they knew.

they were moving from automated giving, to giving that was more controlled and offered greater social capital.

Beate

So still giving when emotionally moved, imagine that

Almost as if the amount of money you have to spare really is not a deciding factor in wether or not people give!

Mark

Yes – they might just be giving £5 – but they were giving even though they had been economically hit. What was interesting was that people who had not been economically hit were also considering cancellations.

Beate

In anticipation of being economically hit?

Mark

No. They are reappraising their portfolios. Charities they don’t fit with the new way of life will be removed. Those with less need, those who aren’t asking, those who don’t offer value.

We think there’s ill be a second wave of cancellations that go beyond the financial cancellations. People are recognising that old loyalties don’t have to be adhered to. New rules again!

Beate

Yeah. I think you’ll have to prove that you are handling the crisis well (not just freezing and waiting for it to pass) and being proactive and ready to change

and effective in spending people’s moey

Mark

There is a simple equation. Don’t ask = don’t need.

Beate

True

Jen

#trifecta

Beate

Alright. We’re approaching our half hour mark. Mark, what would you say is the most important actions charities should be taking right now? your top three pieces of advice based on this research?

Mark

people want to show what tribe they belong to. they want to be seen as the good guys. Charities can help. What will be interesting is how this will impact on other areas such as the environment and social justice. There MAY be ongoing changes.

Beate

how so?

Mark

1. Show staff who are doing the work. 2. Demonstrate humanity – be authentic and honest – even if you don’t know. This is about what WE are doing as much as it is about what the donor – YOU – are doing. It’s weird, but I’m putting more WE in our copy. That the you and me WE. Not the us in the charity WE.

The We thing is number 3

Are we done? have you all just left me? Have I bored you all to death?

Beate

We are here!

John

LOL

Simon

Sorry just starting webinar!

Jen

Here…reading and digesting… this chat and my lunch

John

Same.

Mark

Also – badges and stickers are great ideas at the moment. It shows who and what you believe in.

John

STICKERS!!!!

Jen

I’m feeling this in my writing too, Mark.

Beate

I had to go over that third tip a few times to make sure I read it right

Jen

Like Simon

Simon

lol

Jen

(would have been better if said “get it right” but I’ll take it

John

evertyone should be doing stickers!

thanks for sharing that mark

Mark

No worries. Trying to get it written up properly, but this is the first dump of insight!

Jen

We appreciate the inside look…

Mark

You got it!

Beate

Will you be revising your free templates to reflect this in any way? Just curious how much it should change your copy

Mark

Yep. We need to look at those.

Beate

So mark, did you want the honour of sharing a lobster fact today?

Or was “I’m laden with lobster facts” a wild exaggeration to fit in?

Jen

imagine!

John

haha

Beate

IF you quickly go to our list of already used facts, you can copy one of those like John always does

John

?

Mark

Yep. Pin back your lug ‘oles

Jen

WTF?

Beate

Not sure what part of my anatomy that is, but I’m…listening..?

Mark

being a Lobster fisherman is one of the most dangerous professions in the world.

John

tha’ts it?

Mark

yep. amazing. wrote a leaflet on it once.

Beate

hahaha!

And is that all you remember from the leaflet?

Mark

always like giving you guys a treat!

John

LOL

Jen

I think Lobster fishers who are women are way smarter and safer

Mark

They probably are!

John

oh boy.

Beate

ok. Well. I think we’re done then, with that sligthly anticlimactic lobster fact!

John

sigh.

Beate

Thanks for coming back and typing much faster, mark!

Mark

No worries. Thanks. I’m back to the grindstone now. Take care and stay safe. Xxx

John

thanks mark!!!

Beate

You too❤

Jen

Good luck with your stickers!

Mark

“The women doing Canada’s most dangerous job fishing”:

Jen

?????‍??