Buzzwords

I love this - talk about the new buzzwords!

How is your philanthrospeak?

Here is a list from Lucy Bernholz of "10 Favorite Buzzwords of the Decade" in a recent opinion article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy.  Bernholz explains that, "looked at over time, buzzwords provide a useful rear-view roadmap of how we got here." .   

Here are seven of the 10 she selected with my comments below her list and glossary.

10) Donate-now buttons: Making a charitable contribution with just the click of a button

9) Prize philanthropy: Cash prizes offered for solutions to social problems

                Pepsi anyone?

8) Celebvocates: Celebrities who use their best asset - themselves - to promote charitable causes

                Okay, I'm near Hollywood and this is a big business for some "managers." Of course, like anything      else, if it's heartfelt, using celebrity to  raise money or awareness can't be maligned.  LIke all other good things, this may go overboard and present a big backlash.

7) Microvolunteering: "The art of donating time in 20-minute increments"

6) Philanthrocapitalism: Earning gobs of money through business for the purpose of addressing social needs

                I am seeing more of this as social service agencies try to figure out how to address government shortfalls.  Many are talking about charging fees for services for the very first time.

5) B Corporation - A "business with a social purpose"

4) Impact investing - Investing to generate social as well as financial returns

Link to the article to read more and find out the top three "Favorite Buzzwords of the Decade."

From my friends at CNP Chattanooga, here are a few of our their favorite nonprofit buzzwords that didn't make the list:

1) "Silos" - The concept that some nonprofits may exist in tall, windowless "silos," oblivious to other nonprofits who offer similar services, versus "collaborating" (makes a nice visual, if nothing else!).

               My clients who work in silos often don't share department to department resources that they uncover that can benefit the organization as a whole.

  

2) "Double bottom line" -  The simultaneous pursuit of financial and social returns on investment - the ultimate benchmark for a social enterprise or a social sector business

3) "New Normal" - Was there ever really an "Old Normal?" Anyway, we hear this one a lot, as in nonprofits must adapt to the "new normal," i.e. the realities of decreased funding and increased competition for donations.

                I agree - what was the Old Normal?  The economy is always a roller coaster if you take the long view. 

Do you have any favorite buzzwords to add?