My Aspire Research Group team member, Elisa Shoenberger, is fascinated by the topic of cryptocurrency and philanthropy. I like to say that she has “gone all Alice in Wonderland” on the subject – falling down rabbit holes and getting curiouser and curiouser. She has written more than 70 pages of a book – Volatile Opportunity: A Guide to Cryptocurrency and Fundraising to publish in August -- and will be presenting on topic at the Apra Prospect Development conference that starts on August 28, 2023, in Indianapolis. Now, it’s wonderful that she shares her passion through writing and speaking, but how relevant is cryptocurrency to prospect research consulting? Is she so bored at work that she fills it with writing and presenting? As it happens, at Aspire we are not consumed with researching donor prospects steeped in cryptocurrency, and we don’t offer nonprofits advice on cryptocurrency donations. What we are doing is always cultivating excellence in our work. At Aspire, three out of our seven core values apply directly to Elisa’s pursuit of cryptocurrency in philanthropy: • Embrace and drive change • Be adventurous, creative, and openminded • Be passionate and determined Allowing team members the time and head space to hone their superpowers levels up everyone on the team. No one ever fully masters research. There are far too many ways to accumulate and give away wealth, and the speed of change driven by information technology is breathtaking. It’s easy to pile on the work assignments and to be proud of leaping over mounds of profiles in a single bound, or persuading staff to adopt a new database process by making them believe it was their idea. But there is a right-sized workload for a healthy mind. And a healthy mind is required for excellence. As the subject matter expert on crypto on our team, Elisa brings all of us up to her level of excellence on the topic – from which we can all move on to greater heights. This happens in a number of ways: • When a team member is struggling on a project, the struggle can be brought to the team chat for input from others and the bridge is made to complete the work. • During our weekly assignments meeting, discussion happens over the previous week’s work and information, experiences, and ideas take center stage. • Our “rabbithole” meetings spotlight individual team members – teaching a new skill, sharing a new tool, practicing a client presentation – or working as a team through a skill building exercise from the Prospect Research Institute. But if we aren’t researching a lot of donors with cryptocurrency, how is that topic helpful? I’m so glad you’re paying such close attention to ask! One of the greatest superpowers a researcher can have is unlimited curiosity. And that curiosity leads to creativity, which leads to innovation. The “kryptonite” to that superpower is overwork, stress, not enough autonomy, or the requirement that everything be “relevant!” I can’t predict whether or not cryptocurrency will become a hot sector to know in the same way alternative investments are, but thanks to Elisa, if it does catch fire, I will recognize and understand it! If you want your team to achieve excellence, you can’t afford NOT to take time for falling down rabbit holes. Shameless plug: If you’re attending Apra PD this year, attend Elisa’s presentation and ask her for a business card: Volatile Opportunity: Cryptocurrency in Fundraising

Going all ‘Alice’ on Crypto – and Excellence

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My Aspire Research Group team member, Elisa Shoenberger, is fascinated by the topic of cryptocurrency and philanthropy. I like to say that she has “gone all Alice in Wonderland” on the subject – falling down rabbit holes and getting curiouser and curiouser.

She has written more than 70 pages of a book – Volatile Opportunity: A Guide to Cryptocurrency and Fundraising to publish in August — and will be presenting on topic at the Apra Prospect Development conference that starts on August 28, 2023, in Indianapolis.

Now, it’s wonderful that she shares her passion through writing and speaking, but how relevant is cryptocurrency to prospect research consulting? Is she so bored at work that she fills it with writing and presenting?

As it happens, at Aspire we are not consumed with researching donor prospects steeped in cryptocurrency, and we don’t offer nonprofits advice on cryptocurrency donations.

What we are doing is always cultivating excellence in our work.

At Aspire, three out of our seven core values apply directly to Elisa’s pursuit of cryptocurrency in philanthropy:

  • Embrace and drive change
  • Be adventurous, creative, and openminded
  • Be passionate and determined

Allowing team members the time and head space to hone their superpowers levels up everyone on the team. No one ever fully masters research. There are far too many ways to accumulate and give away wealth, and the speed of change driven by information technology is breathtaking.

It’s easy to pile on the work assignments and to be proud of leaping over mounds of profiles in a single bound, or persuading staff to adopt a new database process by making them believe it was their idea. But there is a right-sized workload for a healthy mind. And a healthy mind is required for excellence.

As the subject matter expert on crypto on our team, Elisa brings all of us up to her level of excellence on the topic – from which we can all move on to greater heights.

This happens in a number of ways:

  • When a team member is struggling on a project, the struggle can be brought to the team chat for input from others and the bridge is made to complete the work.
  • During our weekly assignments meeting, discussion happens over the previous week’s work and information, experiences, and ideas take center stage.
  • Our “rabbithole” meetings spotlight individual team members – teaching a new skill, sharing a new tool, practicing a client presentation – or working as a team through a skill building exercise from the Prospect Research Institute.

But if we aren’t researching a lot of donors with cryptocurrency, how is that topic helpful? I’m so glad you’re paying such close attention to ask!

One of the greatest superpowers a researcher can have is unlimited curiosity. And that curiosity leads to creativity, which leads to innovation.

The “kryptonite” to that superpower is overwork, stress, not enough autonomy, or the requirement that everything be “relevant!”

I can’t predict whether or not cryptocurrency will become a hot sector to know in the same way alternative investments are, but thanks to Elisa, if it does catch fire, I will recognize and understand it!

If you want your team to achieve excellence, you can’t afford NOT to take time for falling down rabbit holes.

Shameless plug: If you’re attending Apra PD this year, attend Elisa’s presentation and ask her for a business card: Volatile Opportunity: Cryptocurrency in Fundraising