Simona Biancu: Bridging the gap between fundraising researchers & practitioners

Fundraisers often need evidence to support their work, but the right research isn’t always easy to find. To bridge this gap between fundraising researchers and practitioners and make existing and future research more accessible, ERNOP is developing ERNOP Research Notes. The first step? To set up a group of volunteer Expert Practitioners across Europe to help put them together. The initiative is supported by EFA, among other sector organisations. Here, EFA board member Simona Biancu explains the project and how to take part.

How many times, perhaps working on a fundraising campaign or preparing a training session or a conference, have we needed supporting scientific evidence?

And how many times, perhaps by chance, did we discover that such evidence existed, we just hadn’t known about it? We have probably also thought from time to time that a permanent bridge of exchange between fundraising researchers and fundraising practitioners would help to strengthen their respective fields of action, making life easier for both.

In this era characterised by many changes and challenges, such a link seems more necessary than ever.

We are therefore pleased to announce that EFA is partnering with ERNOP to develop a brand-new initiative, “ERNOP Research Notes”, aimed at building a bridge between academia and practitioners as a crucial way to advance philanthropy and civil sector globally.

It is a project we profoundly believe will help to develop more effective ways of cooperation between these two sides of the same coin.

It also provides an opportunity for fundraising practitioners across Europe to get involved – help us to build this bridge by volunteering your time, and further your own learning through the access you will receive to these academic sources of knowledge.

Read our Q&A for further details about the project and how to get on board!

Project: ERNOP Research Notes

Aim: To set up a group of volunteer Expert Practitioners across Europe.

What is it?

The European Research Network On Philanthropy (ERNOP) – an academic network of philanthropy researchers in Europe – wants to develop ERNOP Research Notes.

These will be easy to read two-pagers providing summaries of academic articles published by ERNOP members in the past and to be published articles of the future. The notes will be published on the ERNOP website on a dedicated webpage.

Within the coming months ERNOP, with the endorsement of the European Fundraising Association (EFA), Philanthropy Europe Association (Philea), the Centre for European Volunteering (CEV) and the European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA), will launch a call for practitioner experts that will be listed in a ‘philanthropy practitioner expert’ database.

Why is it needed?

Most academic research is underutilised yet there is a need from practitioners to learn from academics.

How does it work?

Practitioner experts will translate academic work on philanthropy into research notes, in close collaboration with the authors of the original work.

By signing up to the database, we will match your interest and expertise with relevant academic publications. After we have made a match, we will approach you and if you are available to create the research note. After approval by the author, ERNOP will publish the research note on its webpages.

What’s in it for me?

• Free access to readable and relevant summaries of academic publications on philanthropy
• Opportunity to showcase your expertise and grow your knowledge
• Develop or freshen up your knowledge on fundraising and related knowledge by getting direct access to relevant academic work
• Position yourself and your organisation as expert on the management of philanthropic organisations or impact measurement
• Contribute to making academic work accessible and more relevant for the philanthropy community and improving the effectiveness of philanthropy
• Your name and organisation listed on the ERNOP Research Note and access to all other research notes – a unique way to showcase your expertise and to expand your knowledge on philanthropy on the one hand and to connect with academic experts on the topic on the other!

How do I find out more?

Sign up here! You can also stay tuned through the EFA newsletter, sign up for the ERNOP newsletter and follow ERNOP through LinkedIn.

About Simona Biancu

Simona Biancu, ASSIF

Fundraising and strategic philanthropy consultant and trainer, Simona is founder and CEO of ENGAGEDin, vice-president of the Italian Association of Fundraisers (ASSIF) and a board member of both EFA and the European Lung Foundation. With a post-graduate Masters in Fundraising from Università di Bologna, she has more than 10 years’ experience of fundraising strategy, board development, major gifts, individual and corporate fundraising, strategic philanthropy with trusts and foundations, and legacies. She is a regular speaker and trainer, presenting at conferences in Italy and internationally. She has co-authored Board in prima fila (2020), which focuses on Board development, and the blog Welcome on Board.

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