Dan Brown

You have a choice. Put your head in the sand and pretend the world is still round and suffer the consequences, or take advantage of this incredible opportunity. Philanthropy in a Flat World: Inspiration Through Globalization is your insider guide to meeting and exceeding your nonprofit's goals for decades to come.

I haven't yet had the opportunity to read this just released book - but like many of you, I know Jon. As a bursary recipient at the most recent IFC, Jon was our "coach" as we crafted our presentation on international fundraising. Jon is not only animated, energetic and motivating, but he truly understands the art of fundraising.

From the book's inside flap:

According to Thomas Friedman, our world is now flat - with lowered trade and political barriers and unimagined technical advances that have made it possible to do business, or almost anything else, instantaneously with billions of other people across the planet - but what does that mean for your nonprofit organization, whether it's new or established? In today's "borderless" world, your nonprofit must become more flexible, adaptable, and international in approach to help it survive the coming challenges.

Philanthropy in a Flat World: Inspiration Through Globalization is a compellingly practical handbook for your nonprofit on what a flat world means for you and, more importantly, for your donors, as well as on how you can become equipped to deal with this new global society. Engaging fundraisers in an open, honest, and challenging look at the forces at work in creating the global philanthropic world of tomorrow, author and internationally renowned fundraising consultant Jon Duschinsky shows you how your nonprofit can:

• Understand what the Flat Philanthropic World is and what it means for your organization
  
• Chart your own course in today's world of instant information transfer and of media power and concentration
  
• Mobilize capital for good
  
• Compete against other Flat World fundraisers: the media, corporations, and retailers
  
• React to and grow with the opportunities presented by the Flat Philanthropic World 

Offering candid advice to help you chart your nonprofit's course in realizing what will make your organization different and attract donors to it, Philanthropy in a Flat World: Inspiration Through Globalization holds the tools and keys you as a fundraiser need to be effective in the world of tomorrow.

Available through Amazon.com, Wiley or your bookseller of choice.

2008 was a triple whammy. We ushered in the year with the continually falling value of the US dollar - and our budgets headed south. By the time the financial markets crashed in September, we were well into an austerity and rethinking mode. Then came the unthinkable in December, when the Madoff tsunami wrecked havoc through our community.

On the positive side, during the past few months I have served on several panels (and guest lectured in an MBA program) on the role of social entrepreneurship in the nonprofit world and continue to explore, speak and write on the issue.

Most exciting of all, I have leveraged contacts made during October's IFC to provide meaningful new resources to our community. And the announcement of the upcoming IFC eConference spurred some unique creative thinking. Stay tuned. 

I wanted to formally thank the Resource Alliance for the Bursary award that allowed me to attend the recent Congress.

I found the experience of meeting, networking and learning from many different individuals - representing most continents - both educational and inspirational. There are many lessons learned that I hope to bring to a wider audience through the work of eJewish Philanthropy. I also look forward to staying in contact with all whom I had the opportunity to exchange ideas, thoughts or just a meal with at the IFC.