# New Rogare report focuses on dismantling patriarchal structures in fundraising

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/03/08/new-rogare-report-focuses-on-dismantling-patriarchal-structures-in-fundraising/
- Published: 2023-03-08T09:00:00+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Rogare has published a set of recommendations on how to dismantle patriarchal 
structures in fundraising in a new report, with key recommendations including donor
codes of conduct, an awareness campaign to encourage men to call out misogyny, and
for ratings agencies and grantfunders to consider charities’ gender performance.**

The report, _[A Blueprint to dismantle patriarchal structures in the fundraising profession](https://www.rogare.net/gender-issues),
_is the culmination of the second phase of Rogare’s work on gender issues in the
fundraising profession.

As part of this paper, Rogare has devised its own ‘model’ code of conduct that other
organisations can use or adapt. Rogare’s model code has donors to sign up to six
statements, which include that they will treat all fundraising staff as knowledgeable
professionals, never discriminate against or harass them, and not exploit the power
they hold in relationships with fundraisers for personal gain.

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The Blueprint is based on ‘Lean Out’ Feminist principles. ‘Lean In’ Feminism attempts
to help women prosper within current patriarchal structures – such as by providing
training in negotiating a better salary, while Lean Out Feminism challenges that
system.

It shows what the project team at Rogare believes need to happen to change the system
at three levels: sector level, organisational level and individual level.

Heather Hill, head of head of international philanthropy at Chapel & York and chair
of Rogare led this phase of the project. She said:

> “Dismantling the patriarchy is such a massive job that it could seem as if anything
> you do is just a drop in the ocean. It might make ripples, but how do you know
> if those ripples will ever lead to anything. If you want to make change, what’s
> the map that shows you how to do that.
> “The Rogare Blueprint is designed to provide fundraisers – women and men – with
> the confidence, by showing them where they can direct their activism for greatest
> effect.
>  
> “If we want to change how individuals act, we need to change how the organisations
> they work for act, and to do that, we need to make changes to the whole profession
> of fundraising.
>  
> “We firmly believe that transformational structural change starts by changing 
> the way the fundraising profession works at level of sector-wide organisations,
> so we recommend starting there. But the process of change will have to be initiated
> and carried through by individuals, and this could start at any level.
>  
> “We think that if we can change internal structure of the whole sector and the
> organisations that are part of it, this will make it much easier for individuals
> to speak up, be heard and effect further change.”

**Blueprint recommendations include:**

Level 1 – sectoral

 * Sector-wide campaign to raise awareness of misogyny in the workplace and when/
   how to call it out.
 * Template polices (e.g., donor code of conduct, gift refusal).
 * Establish a reporting system to collect details of donor harassment.
 * Develop training modules to help fundraises learn about and deal with structural
   inequity. Include gender issues in the syllabuses of professional qualifications.
 * Grantmakers to include charities’ gender equality performance as a factor in 
   assessing charities’ suitability as a grant recipient. 
 * Ratings agencies to include charities gender equality performance as part of 
   their ratings of charities.

Level 2 – organisational 

 * Implement and publish donor codes of conduct.
 * Establish processes to audit, report and log incidents of donor-perpetrated sexual
   harassment.
 * Protocols for complaints investigation and whistle-blowing.
 * Anonymise job applications.
 * Practise salary transparency by publicising all salaries.
 * Proactively include women in succession planning.
 * Provide safe spaces for fundraisers to discuss this sensitive and personal issue
   between colleagues, peers and with management.

Level 3 – individual

 * Attend relevant training/workshops etc. – especially if you are a man. Lobby 
   for training to be put in place if it is not provided.
 * Confront non-inclusive behaviours.
 * Build and develop structures of support with colleagues and peers to enable open
   discussion and debriefing of current and past incidents.
 * Lobby organisations at Levels 1 and 2 to make relevant structural changes.

The next phase of this project will be to brainstorm ideas about implementing and
texting the Blueprint. Details will be announced by Rogare shortly. Anyone who would
like to join this project team should contact Rogare’s director Ian MacQuillin via
LinkedIn or email at [ia***********@****re.net](https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/03/08/new-rogare-report-focuses-on-dismantling-patriarchal-structures-in-fundraising/ia***********@****re.net).