Dealing with donor-staff conflicts in times of upheaval. How can you navigate these challenges effectively?

As a rule, I always find that I need to protect my staff against some donors who may be aggressive, but at the same time if you have done a good job, a donor and building relationship overtime. then you’ll know the expectations of your donor as well as what the staff expectations are—you have to communicate effectively so really the buck stops with the person who is head of advancement to navigate the situation; or if there is conflict resolution to be had then it should be at a higher level with the CEO —so that the donor feels they are listened to and heard, but also also the staff member is protected because sometimes things happen happen.

Make your staff understand importance of the Philanthropic work they are commissioning and forget their narrow differences within for the larger good their input is going to impact upon

When every thought, word and deed is centred on “Why do you do what you do?”, it provides a certain level of clarity in decision making at all levels as to whether the decision will lead us closer or further away from the goal — the beneficiaries. When our intentions are impure and stained with selfish interests, self promotions and self glorifications, our paths will waiver. Be steadfast and all that you do as a benefactor or staff. Therefore, I stress again, philanthropy can never be a career. Philanthropy is a service from the heart from which springs out the aroma of True Charity, way beyond lip-service.

It can be difficult to resolve donor-staff disputes during turbulent times, but I believe Communication is the key here. Establish transparent communication channels where both donors and staff feel heard and valued. Regularly scheduled meetings and feedback sessions also can help in addressing issues before they escalate. In addition, implementation of a structured feedback mechanism to gather insights from both can also help. Last but not the least, It's important to understand the purpose of what they are doing. Sometimes, the office-space where they are meeting also leaves an impact on the already conflicting minds, then implementing a few simple Vastu principles to increase the inflow of positive energy might help.

Days of recollections to reflect on intentions and motivations go a long way to continual focus on the altruistic vision is critical. Let not mindless chatter and social liaison crowd out the True Purpose of philanthropy, and in philanthropy. When we are constantly and consistently aligned, we can navigate all trials and tribulations, missteps and misunderstandings. Forgive mistakes and forge ahead with the altruistic vision through genuine dialogues and brainstorming. No problem is too big to solve when we are clear and steadfast in the vision and mission.

We invested in training and workshops, providing the right tools and delegating authority to empower the team. We implemented weekly alignment meetings and 360-degree feedback, along with creating clear procedure guides. We established a mentoring program and fostered a culture of trust and learning. These actions increased the team's confidence and autonomy, improving communication and transparency with donors. As a result, the team feels more responsible and valued, leading to more efficient management and stronger relationships with donors, reducing tensions and increasing credibility.