On behalf of all at SOFII

Our close friend Simone Joyaux – a fearless fundraiser and unwavering supporter of SOFII – has died.

Michelle Berriman, Executive Director at the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand, has reacted to this sad news saying, ‘to live on in the hearts we leave behind is not to die.’

Before publishing The Agitator’s response to this tragedy, see here, Roger Craver rang me, so we could discuss and reflect together on why Simone was such a great character, such a splendid example, such a huge loss. We traded memories of Simone using descriptors like fearless, gutsy, outspoken, vibrant, principled, integrity-laden, gritty, relentless, passionate, kind, clever, articulate, strident, tireless, indefatigable, irresistible, unstoppable…the adjectives go on and on, each more than well-earned. Roger added one I liked a lot – Hell-raiser. Simone was all these and more, a one-off, a true hero of the new age of responsible fundraising.

See http://agitator.thedonorvoice.com/simone-joyaux-is-dead

Outspoken? You bet she was! So much that we felt obliged to promise SOFII’s readers that SOFII would never censor Simone. 

Here, for your convenience and delight, is SOFII’s Simone archive. This is a body of work to be proud of. What a cornucopia of treasures to share with the world’s fundraisers!

• Introducing: Simone uncensored SOFII’s guide to good governance that month by month will build to a must-have manual for your nonprofit board.
• Involving your board members in fundraising, part one  Sometimes it’s a struggle to get the board to carry out its fundraising role. Often it’s even harder to get individual members to participate; even if they understand their roles, they don’t want to do ‘that fundraising stuff’.
• Involving your board members in fund development, part two Together you and your board members can ensure fundraising success for the organisation you all love. This new article from Simone Joyaux will show you how to get the best from each of your board members.
• Why have a board? You have to have a board. That’s what the law says. Any other reason? Well, having a board really does add value – more value than just raising or giving money.
• What do you talk about at your board meetings? Wait! Don’t answer that yet. Instead, let’s start at the very beginning: what is the purpose of a board?
• How effective are your board members?  There’s a big difference between the board and its board members. Remember that the board does corporate governance – and that only happens when the board is together at meetings. Corporate governance is a collective act.
• What does your governance committee do? The traditional nominating committee is out of step and old-fashioned, so says Simone Joyaux. She prefers a governance committee. Click here to find the purpose of your governance committee and how to be sure it is working best for your charity.
• Committees … love them, or hate them Finally, Simone Joyaux admits that she likes committees – but only good ones. Here you’ll find out the board committees you need – and those that you definitely don’t.
• My worldwide mission to destroy all executive committees So, you’ve fired your lousy board members, as instructed by Simone Joyaux. But you can’t sit back and relax, now she says you must destroy your board’s executive committee. Click here to find out why it is so important.
• Firing lousy board members Why do it? Who does it? And how can you avoid it.
• Assessing your board’s governance capacity If you need to do individual assessments of each member of your board, but aren’t sure how to go about it Simone Joyaux shows you the route to optimum board performance.
• Enabling your board members and other fundraising volunteers Do you think you already do all you possibly can to help your board members and other volunteers reach their full potential? Or do you think you could maybe do more? Here’s some great advice from Simone Joyaux on how to be an outstanding ‘enabler’.
• Board chairs How to make sure that the chair of your board is neither good, bad,nor indifferent, but absolutely great!
• Involving your board and board members in fund development, part three Your board members reluctance to take part in your fundraising could be down to plain fear. In Simone Uncensored this week you'll find some useful tips on how to show them that it is a great, fulfilling thing to do – nothing to be scared of at all.
• Create a menu of choices for board members More tips from Simone Joyaux on not only how to get your board involved in your fundraising, but to get them to love it.
• Hey Mr Fundraiser: stop asking your board members to trespass Always outspoken, Simone Joyaux doesn’t let us down this week when she tells a reluctant board member: ‘If you’re not willing to do the work, get off our board. Go away’. But she also gives sound advice on how to get the very best from our boards.
• Creating extraordinary experiences for donors SOFII’s expert on board development, Simone Joyaux, takes us on a different journey. Don’t just give your donors what they think they want, she says, give them something outside their wildest dreams, give them something that makes them go ‘WOW!’ 
• Enabling volunteers to do the right stuff Simone Joyaux is determined to help nonprofits get their governance right. In her latest article for SOFII she writes about the importance of enabling your volunteers. 
• Are you asking for gifts personally, face-to-face? Simone Joyaux has a wealth of experience in how to talk to donors and asks a very pertinent question: are you asking for gifts personally, face-to-face?
• Collecting stories from your donors Do you ever ask donors for their stories? Nonprofits have access to a crucial resource and it’s a fundraiser’s role to tap into it. 

These articles are a testimonial and a tribute to a remarkable, supremely talented woman. Simone Joyaux is irreplaceable. She will be sorely missed. Here’s one special, that should give Simone the last word.

This is for YOU: an urgent appeal from Simone Joyaux, fundraising sage and long-term supporter of SOFII.  

‘That’s you. Yes, really it is. Keeping SOFII going, keeping SOFII free. Night and day, 24/7, for always. For fellow fundraisers everywhere, in every country across our planet from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, from Zaire to America. Wherever there’re fundraisers and good work to be done, you’ll be there’. – Simone Joyaux, 2018

Simone believed in SOFII and gave unstintingly to make it better – we will forever be grateful for her kindness and support. 

Today all of our thoughts are with Simone’s life partner, the incomparable Tom Ahern, and their family. Simone will live on in all our hearts for a very long time. 

With unending gratitude, from all at SOFII. We will miss you.

Ken Burnett 3^rd May 2021