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Not a blog about Michael Jackson 1

Fundraising | Celina Ribeiro | 26 Jun 2009

The chances of a blog not about the death and/or life of the monarch of mayhem Michael Jackson being read today are slim. I know that. I can deal with it. 

In fact, that's kinda my point.

What today has highlighted is the pace and fury of the global news cycle - which now, it must be conceded, is not limited to the CNNs and BBCs of the world, but encompasses the endless 140-character updates flooding Twitter by the nanosecond.

And with this pace, it's easy for promises to be forgotten, stories lost and unfortunate situations to continue on in their misfortune. 

So it is today (in between traversing the world wide web's constant flow of 'clever' new Jackson death jokes) that I came across the London-based Institute of Philanthropy's paper, Giving in a Recession.

Exciting as the premature death of one of the most famous entertainers of our time? Not quite. Critical to the health of organisations which survive on voluntary income? Rather definitely. 

Back in January, on this very blog, Tania Mason called on the sector's umbrella bodies to launch a 'don't stop giving' campaign.  A week later, NCVO said that they were planning on doing just that. 

Nearly six months on, not much more has been heard. When PF last checked, the organisation said the campaign would come to light in June or July. 

The Giving in a Recession paper gives donors practical advice on how to manage their philanthropy during the economic downturn, and (obviously) encourages them to keep on doing so.

And while the hypochondria around the recession has died down as we get on with the business of dealing with the downturn, and  the hyberbole around the death of old MJ absorbs the collective conscience, now is as important a time as ever for civil society to band together with a single, loud voice and make sure it's not the case that "they don't really care about us".

The sector still needs that campaign. Even if it might be yesterday's news. 

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Directory: National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
Who's Who: Celina Ribeiro