October 29, 2009
Where's the Nonprofit Funny Business?
Does the nonprofit world need a good laugh?
Humor plays an important role in building identity, yet charities and foundations don’t seem to laugh at themselves very often, writes Gabriela Fitz, co-director of IssueLab, an online publisher of nonprofit research.
Do “we take ourselves too seriously (and then blog about it no less)? Or are we simply concerned that other people won’t take us seriously?” she asks on her group’s blog. “Or is it more evidence that we don’t really have a nonprofit group identity? I mean, a joke really only works when it resonates with the common experience of the audience.”
There are, of course, exceptions. Lolnptech.org makes fun of nonprofit technology, and Philanthropiccrap used to provide a much-needed dose of irreverent humor.
And The Chronicle offers a regular cartoon in its editorial section. That said, more humor is always welcomed.
Ms. Fitz calls for a nonprofit version of The Onion, the satirical newspaper, and is seeking headline ideas on her Web site. “Nonprofit Logic Model Proves to be Illogical,” she suggests. “Foundation president drops kids’ allowance, blames inadequate theory of change and proof of impact,” suggests someone else.
What do you think? What satirical nonprofit headlines would you suggest?
Comments
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I loved the headline that Gabriela had in the article, “Beth Kanter starts a newspaper!”
— Allison Fine Oct 29, 03:16 PM #
I love this idea! I hope some good suggestions come in. Unfortunately my own funny bone appreciates but rarely creates…lol
— Joanne Fritz Oct 30, 01:48 PM #
I think we in the nonprofit world should concern ourselves with using humor for creating identity only after the banking, housing, healthcare and real estate development sectors determine they should use humor to create their new identities.
— Sharon Kanter Oct 30, 01:51 PM #
Sharon, I do believe that you’re a party pooper! Those industries are precisely why we need humor now more than ever!
— Jill Robbins Oct 30, 02:08 PM #
What kind of humor are we talking about here? Humor that is funny or humor that strikes an ambivalent chord in us?
— richard silliker Oct 30, 02:24 PM #
Five comments and not one funny suggestion! If this does not illustrate that Gabriela is right, what does?
Suggested headline: “Serious On-line Discussion About Non-Profit Humor.”
— IPZ Oct 30, 03:58 PM #
Humor can be good and it can be offensive. I’ve seen people who don’t get a joke feel excluded.
I attended an annual meeting of a chapter of a national organization about 8 years ago. The comedienne was applauded by some in the audience who thought it was the best program ever, while others who didn’t get some of the topical jokes just sat there.
— annetta Oct 30, 04:00 PM #
It’s so cold out here in Colorado the development officers at our place are sticking their hands in their own pockets! Bada bing…or did that offend someone?
— Kevin Oct 30, 04:09 PM #
I offer the following satirical headlines.
Inner-city 4th graders visiting nation’s capital meet with IRS Commissioner to learn how private foundation 1-2% excise tax really works.
Harvard Medical School successfully negotiates 100% overhead rate with NIH.
Oldest living Yale alumnus, ’09, declines to make class gift, again.
Republicans vote tax cut for homeless teens. Democrats divided.
Local family foundation announces $100 challenge grant.
Ford Foundation, citing endowment decline, scraps contract to clean windows at headquarters building.
Ford Foundation announces $100 million grant for retraining New York’s unemployed window washers.
Small struggling grass-roots poverty agency convenes meeting of over 1000 powerful regional foundation executives for merger workshop.
Super-regional foundation created in landmark mega-merger. “We’ve accomplished this without laying off a single foundation employee.”
Governor signs balanced budget. Cubs win World Series.
Senators Baucus and Grassley co-sponsor bill to require all private foundations to sunset by year end.
— David Davison Oct 30, 05:16 PM #
I think the best nonprofit humor can be found At Phil Cubeta’s www.GiftHub.org
— Jeremy Gregg Oct 30, 10:59 PM #