Dame Susan Devoy: Trusts need to focus on building social capital

I had the opportunity of wearing my TECT hat during the week to attend the 2011 Philanthropy Conference.
Philanthropy today is facing major challenges: the global financial crisis, the recent natural disasters here and abroad, and the civil unrest in the Middle East.
They have shown that predictions are a mug's game, but what we can be sure of is that the major cuts to the public purse means that funders will be called upon to fund what governments won't or can't do.
Nelson Mandela's quote, "A good heart and a good head are always a formidable combination", reflects the qualities and challenges that many trusts face today.
At the heart of any trust should be the desire to build the social capital of our communities. While boards and trusts always have their fair share of lawyers and accountants, it is equally or even more important that people who have a real community focus have the opportunity to contribute to the process.
These are difficult times. Long gone are the days of keeping up with the Joneses - now people are just keeping up. Only the lucky few are immune from the fact that our country is virtually bankrupt.
So now is the time to be bold and courageous, to review what we fund and how, and to ensure that the not-for-profit organisations that deliver critical social services to our communities are given reassurance and security and not left out in the cold.
The master/servant attitude needs to be dispelled. Grantees - those who come cap in hand for money - need to realise that they are the jewels in the crown and not the funders. We should be out in the community offering to help and not waiting for them to come cap in hand.
Buzz words are always associated with sectors. When I worked at Sport BOP the direction from Sparc was to build capability and capacity; now, in the philanthropy sector, it's all about collaboration.
So all the funders in the Western Bay of Plenty need to walk the talk - that's not to say they aren't.
The Bay Trust has been instrumental in developing its social lending policy, which has enabled the new Tauranga Squash Club to start construction.
But we can always improve the way we do things. We need to focus on collaboration and not compliance. During one workshop session I wanted to argue that very point with the Lotteries Grants Board and then I remembered that I was attending as a funder and not in my usual role of trying desperately to raise money.
Partnerships and collaboration are an inescapable necessity. These relationships take time, energy, trust, a shared goal and a strong vision and understanding of the needs of our communities.
And it's always easier said than done, but we must try to remind ourselves that as grant makers our money is only as good as the people who put it to work for us.