Thoughts On A Woman’s Purse
Strange are the thoughts that come to mind at fundraising gatherings.
Last night I was blessed with the company of a lot of very smart women (and yes, smart men too) at a fundraising forum in southwest Florida.
As I watched and listened, it occurred to me that the secret weapon that helps women excel at fundraising is, well, the purse.
Let me explain.
A woman’s purse is not the ‘black-hole’ every man thinks it is, especially not when it comes to fundraising. It’s a sort of materialized cosmic link to who and what they are and what they can consistently produce by way of results. Believe me.
The purses at last night’s gathering I’m sure, but didn’t check directly, were packed with all kinds of trash – and wisdom.
Hey, I’m talking ‘mature’, ‘attractive’, ‘smart’, not Gen X, Millennial stuff. Not talking about the young girl’s cosmetic cache … the post-teen’s bag with her first car keys and credit card … nor the new mom’s diaper bag.
What’s present in the fundraising tote I observed is a bag of tricks and know-how we can all draw upon. Not the least of which is getting things done no matter what the odds and, fundamentally ‘male nonsense’ that stands in the way of accomplishment.
Just like my Mom always produced, as if by magic, a banana, a candy bar, or a BandAid on demand, the fundraising women’s Purses of Today seem to carry with them the Patience of Job when it comes to dealing with the idiocy of Boards and Executive Directors … the rash and unresponsive nature of their staffs … and the ever-increasing and unreasonable expectations all of us carry that somehow these women workhorses can – without budget, help or any other resources — always make things better.
The magic of The Purse is that, in fact, like the Magic Kleenex springing from the mysterious depths, what’s inside can wipe an undeserving nonprofit’s nose and make things happen.
As we prepare to mark the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day — just 5 days from now — I think it’s wise to do a little preparation as a run-up to the day by investing a bit of thinking, observation and appreciation in understanding that what our fundraising sisters carry in The Purse is nothing short of a massive resource for all of us.
What’s in the fundraising purse of your fundraising sisters?
Roger
13 responses to “Thoughts On A Woman’s Purse”
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Women are gems in the world of direct response. They are why our business flourishes. They are why direct response still works. Men too are valuable and necessary to success but I have found in past 30 years, women are just a step quicker in understanding and directional thought.
But an International Day for Women? Come on.
Men talking about the greatness of women through the metaphor of their accessories is generally a bad idea. Better to say merely what we know: Women are the driving force in philanthropy. All nonprofits should focus on who they are and what they want and not what they wear.
This post about connecting women’s accessories to their abilities in the work force, and worse, to their mother’s nurturing abilities strikes me as wrong. There are a lot of other metaphores that would have been more appropriate. What if someone posted about what men have in their wallets and how that relates to how competent, or not, they are in their jobs?
I am so pleased to see you honor International Womens Day this way. The point is to recognize all the skills, intelligence, nurturing and accomplishments that are tied up in what women carry around every day in ther head, heart, muscle and purse. If fundraising is about relationship building at its core, then the purse is as apt a toolbox as any. Thank you for this thoughtful piece.
I am so pleased to see you honor International Women’s Day this way. The point is to recognize all the skills, intelligence, nurturing and accomplishments that are tied up in what women carry around every day in ther head, heart, muscle and purse. If fundraising is about relationship building at its core, then the purse is as apt a toolbox as any. Thank you for this thoughtful piece.
I concur with the above sentiments. I think there would have been a more appropriate way to give homage to women for their work in philanthropy. It sounds condescending. Sorry!
As a 51 y.o. “mature woman,” I was happy to see the shout-out for smart, strong female fundraising professionals and the mention of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. I would have preferred a different analogy, however. Ask me what’s in my wallet, my back pack, my briefcase, my tote bag, or even in the back seat of my car as I multi-task each and every day as I have since being a young woman, new mom, mature woman…but please don’t link my problem-solving abilities or creative force to my ability to pull a banana or a band-aid out of my purse. I think I know what you were attempting to say, but I’m feeling this was “too cute by half.”
I agree with Jay. It’s not the purse – it’s the woman who knows instinctively what should go in the purse.
This was an odd post. I agree, it sounds unintentionally condescending. I appreciate the focus on the value of women in philanthropy, but very much feels like a pat on the head. And before you count out the Gen Xers remember that some of us are already over 40 and have been in this line of work 15 years or more 🙂
This post was so bizarre that my first reaction was to say, what the heck is Roger talking about?! So, I read it again and now I get it. My talent as a woman with more than 20 years in fundraising is that I have ready access to tissues and a willingness to wipe a few noses. Phew! I’m so relieved that I don’t have to think anymore.
Wow Agitator, looks like you’re getting everyone agitated!
Well done!
I don’t have a purse.
I do have a backpack though.
Thanks for saying we are resourceful.
I would have liked the compliment couched in less 1950s terms, which makes me wonder, is The Agitator over 60 years old?
What do fundraising men or transgender people get? A useful pocket? I think people want you to change your metaphor. Which, hey, good to know, you can use this for your next direct mail piece.
Then again, this all seems like a bit of a tempest in a teapot compared to the agitators in wisconsin. Are you going to write a piece about them? Union fundraising?
Mazarine
http://wildwomanfundraising.com
What’s in my purse and the purses of my “fundraising sisters” is only worth 77 cents of the dollar in a man’s wallet.
Increasingly, the “Patience of Job” is wearing thin, as does the idea that we should be praised for our skill in wiping noses.
I could not agree with Jay more; this is a dismissive metaphor for true empowerment and really minimizes the work that women fundraisers do, and do well. I’m not a resourceful, creative effective fundraiser because I’m a woman; it’s because I do an excellent job and I work with a great team. I respect what you were trying to do, but it feels a little like a pat on the head when my purse and I helped raise $6 million last year. That said, I’ll definitely continue reading and recommending The Agitator – it’s generally a great resource.