Ops Insights #096 - Executive Leaders: Add Equality to the Backline
August 26, 2026 | Read Time: 2 minutes | Written by Jenny Kleintop
Add equality to the backline to see philanthropy efforts grow faster.
3 ways I’ve seen successful (and unsuccessful leaders) do it:
1 ➡ Have the lead of the backline report directly to you, the leader.
Stop having them report to IT or finance or a gift officer.
It only creates unnecessary layers and prevents them from being 360 team-centric.
Reporting to IT = IT centric.
Reporting to finance = finance centric.
Reporting to a gift officer = gift officer centric.
Instead, reporting directly to you allows them to support every team member in your philanthropy office equally and effectively.
2 ➡ Give them a seat at the table.
When the backline is missing from strategy conversations, you hit a ceiling with what’s possible.
The backline brings the data insights, the optimized workflows, and the what’s possible use cases.
And when the backline gets the requests second hand, it causes confusion.
Create clarity. Invite them to the table.
3 ➡ Allow them room to fail.
In an environment where tech, tools, and strategies are constantly evolving, they need the space and grace to fail.
Otherwise, they may not try new tech. May not push the boundaries of the tools.
Will not provide the input to help uplevel strategies.
Get in trouble mentality means play it safe.
It’s okay to try, fail, and learn mentality means leaning into modern tools to succeed at higher levels.
1, 2, 3: Do all 3 for fundraising efforts to grow better and higher.
For the love of fundraising, add equality to the backline.
Take Action
To see add equality to the backline, follow these 3 steps:
1 ➡ Re-read the 3 above and see where you may fall short. Download as a PDF here.
2 ➡ Create a path forward to adjust and update where you need.
3 ➡ Watch as collaboration gets better, team members get better 360 support, and see how your fundraising efforts gets smoother with less friction.
👋 See you next time,
Jenny
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