Global Impact CEO Scott Jackson was featured in Philanthropy University’s recurring guest blog series. You can read a portion of the blog below, or read the full article as it originally appeared on philanthropyu.org.
Philanthropy University: Please share a bit about yourself, and how you ended up at Global Impact.
Scott: In my background, I’ve been privileged to work in all three sectors (public, private and nonprofit), all focused on international development. I’ve always had a passion for advocacy and promoting the work organizations do on the front lines. For the majority of my career, I have served in leadership roles in the nonprofit sector. When I was asked to join Global Impact, I was excited because the organization serves as a partner to international NGOs in an effort to raise their visibility and fundraising profile. The work centers on building partnerships and resources for the world’s most vulnerable and encouraging the growth of global philanthropy.
Philanthropy University: How does Global Impact aim to reach this mission?
Scott: We fulfill our mission in a number of ways and work with the public, private and nonprofit sectors to do so. First, we provide advisory services to nonprofits to help them figure out how they want to approach donors through campaigns or diversify their fundraising efforts. Second, we serve as host to a number of campaigns and initiatives. This includes marketing coordination, like the work we’ve done for Red Nose Day to engage corporations or with the Combined Federal Campaign in partnership with the federal government. A third area is providing infrastructure, which includes creating the financial and technological platforms necessary to support large fundraising campaigns. Additionally, we provide corporate social responsibility strategy and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) alignment assessments for the private sector.
Philanthropy University: You mentioned some of the organizations which Global Impact works with. Can you share some tangible ways that Global Impact is impacting the philanthropic sector?
Scott: We pride ourselves in working with organizations, such as Philanthropy University, and in supporting their fundraising efforts by doing things like building connections with other organizations, helping set strategy and conducting prospect research—these activities are very rewarding for us because they allow us to help other organizations grow and increase their social impact. Another example of the work we do is the development and launch of Growfund, our no minimum contribution donor-advised fund (DAF), that is available to every nonprofit and individual. We created Growfund because DAFs are one of the fastest growing charitable vehicles in the U.S., and we believe it is important that every person have access to the same tools available to seasoned philanthropists.
Philanthropy University: What makes Global Impact unique in the work you do?
Scott: We were formed 62 years ago to serve as an association for charities focused on international aid and humanitarian work representing them in workplace giving campaigns. We still do this, but the way we think about ourselves and how we fit within the broader landscape is really as a charitable ventures framework. We are supporting the private, nonprofit and public sectors, as well as individual donors. More often than not, these sectors are working together—and we are in a unique position to help facilitate these collaborations. We often house and support the long-term development of their initiatives.
