Day 1: Hemisphere Hop

The journey to Sydney from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a long one but, within an hour of stepping off the plane, I’m sitting at a café overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. My jet lag is staved off by gorgeous views, a bright, warm sun, and excitement about the week ahead.

Later that afternoon, I join my colleague, Kelley Marchbanks, who is going on her second week in Australia. We quickly get to work setting up our Airbnb/Sydney Headquarters and catching up on the sessions she’s already facilitated with partners in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne.

Travel Tip: Stop at the first café you see and order a flat white. I don’t know their secret, but coffee in Australia just tastes better.

Day 2: Vistas and Viewpoints

With only one day in our schedule for sightseeing, Kelley and I don’t waste a second. We meet our tour bus at 6:30 a.m. and take off for an incredible day exploring the Blue Mountains and Australia’s unique wildlife. I was struck by the guide’s ownership of the complexities of a country born of colonization and the reverence held for its Indigenous Peoples and cultures. It was one of many moments where I knew I had much to learn from my Australian friends.

Travel Tip: Spring for the koala encounter. I’ve never been closer to a more magical being.

Day 3: Donor Strategy Deep-Dive

It was back to business Monday morning with longtime client, University of Sydney. During our February tour, their entire development team completed The Art and Science of Donor Development workshop. Now, it was time to level-up their donor-centric strategies with Navigation Points for Lasting Donor Commitment. Kelley and I were so impressed by the team’s collaborative exploration of curated donor strategies and thoughtful, empathetic questions. We had a particularly robust conversation around how a donor’s attitude toward their wealth impacts not only their overall philanthropic capacity, but also the kinds of engagement and stewardship strategies they might find most meaningful.

After the morning session, we joined the USYD development leadership team for lunch and a discussion about current trends in Australian philanthropy. Not unlike universities in the US, USYD is preparing for the massive intergenerational wealth transfer and recognizes that highly personalized, principal gifts present the greatest opportunity but also require a strategic and intentional allocation of resources.

After lunch, we headed to the Mercure Hotel to join co-host Nigel Harris and healthcare philanthropy leaders from across Sydney for an evening networking discussion, Managing Up and Across at Your Healthcare Organisation. There wasn’t an empty seat in the room and the group was curious, collaborative, and committed to elevating the culture for philanthropy within their organizations. It will be exciting to follow up with some of them on our next trip to see how their strategies have evolved.

Day 4: Coaching to Close

We were back at USYD to continue our curated donor strategies, bringing in considerations for family/influencer dynamics, personality profile, and Life Stage. Once complete, the team had the chance to present their plans to colleagues from across the department for real-time feedback and coaching, with members of the leadership team and AR strategic partner, Nigel Harris, providing additional guidance.

Darling Harbour was the destination for dinner, and we were joined by our friend and partner, Lindsay Robinson, Chief Development Officer and Chief Executive Officer of University of New South Wales Foundation Limited. To no surprise, Lindsay and her team are on the forefront of donor trends, diversifying engagement strategies for younger, globally-minded philanthropists.

Travel tip: Always stop for gelato on the walk home.

 Day 5: Coffee Talk

(And by coffee, I mean flat whites…I lost count at three.) Kelley and I spent the day connecting with several clients to learn more about current challenges and strategize for future collaborations. Policy shifts for international students, spiraling living costs, and bureaucratic roadblocks seemed to present some of the biggest challenges, but what struck me most in our conversations were the incredible advancements our clients have made in the decade(+) we’ve been fortunate enough to partner with them. They are meeting the challenges head-on with robust training, recruitment and culture-building strategies.

Travel tip: Tim Tams are always a crowd-pleaser, but today we learned about another amazing, albeit lesser-known, biscuit…Arnott’s Mint Slices. Don’t go home without them.

Day 6: Major Gifts With Heart

Our last working day in Sydney did not disappoint. Kelley and I joined leaders from NGOs of all shapes and sizes for a networking lunch and presentation. Hosted by the generous team at the Heart Research Institute and Lawerence Jackson, Managing Director of Catalyst Management, the room was packed with talent, insight, and a shared calling to uplift communities and causes through more meaningful major gift strategies.

There still seems to be a pervasive modesty surrounding Australian philanthropy that requires a softer approach at times. Some reserve the term “philanthropy” for the ultra-wealthy or more high-profile financial contributions. These views can overshadow the significant contributions made through community-based giving and, especially, those who give generously of their time and skills. There seemed to be a collective agreement in the room that a broader view of philanthropy is critical for ensuring that everyone feels empowered to contribute in ways that are meaningful to them and to move the needle on the complex challenges of today.

Day 7: Hemisphere Hop Home

 The flight home—although technically shorter—always proves more challenging, but my colleague Kelley is a champion at keeping my spirits up when travel gets long. Thirty or so hours later, we are home with our families, exhausted but deeply grateful for the incredible generosity of our Australian friends, the unmatched beauty of their country, and their commitment to making philanthropy by and for all…and already missing the flat whites.