A semi-quick chain of thoughts (caveats/nuance dial set to low):
I’ve frequently thought that the variable you mention (e.g., “we have a *funding * overhang” vs. “*talent * underhang”) should be whatever you want the emphasis to be on in the immediate conversation: if your point is “we need more talent/ideas” then make the focus on that, then if it’s relevant you can mention “the limiting factor here is not money.”
However, sometimes your point may be “we are short on lots of different things relative to money (e.g., talent, information, ideas, connections),” in which case it might it’s seemed to me like it may be simpler to just say “funding overhang”—especially if the point/question is “ how can we use funds to reduce shortfalls in other enablers?”
Still, I’ll grant that “overhang” might be misleading or have negative connotations, making it worthwhile to use different language even in situations like (2). But I don’t know! Personally, I never thought the term was that big of a deal.
(Apologies if I’m just missing the point somewhere, I didn’t spend much time worrying about this possibility)
I broadly agree (with 3) that we should not worry about terms but focus on meaning. Re: 1: One’s perspective should not change depending on the conversation. For example, one should not say ‘there is funding overhang’ when they want someone to work on a non-fundraising project and elsewhere specify ‘talent overhang’ when they seek funding. The changing narrative should not be enabled by language, such as ‘the moving bar’ (I do not think that this post aims for such—vice versa, seeking to avoid conveying meaning unwelcoming to high impact funders).
Simultaneously, it can be true that we currently do not have the capacity to deploy existing funding in a way to achieve the impact we’d like to and that this capacity can be gained by changing the funding framework or attracting talent. Or, it can simply mean that now funding should be invested into developing talent. Thus, funding overhang does not mean ‘we do not need (additional) funding’ but ‘we need to change the way it is spent.’
So, re: 2: it actually can make sense to use the ‘stressful’ term ‘funding overhang’ among some audiences, including donors, because the capacity to effectively deploy funding needs to be developed (and people should prioritize thinking about it).
A semi-quick chain of thoughts (caveats/nuance dial set to low):
I’ve frequently thought that the variable you mention (e.g., “we have a *funding * overhang” vs. “*talent * underhang”) should be whatever you want the emphasis to be on in the immediate conversation: if your point is “we need more talent/ideas” then make the focus on that, then if it’s relevant you can mention “the limiting factor here is not money.”
However, sometimes your point may be “we are short on lots of different things relative to money (e.g., talent, information, ideas, connections),” in which case it might it’s seemed to me like it may be simpler to just say “funding overhang”—especially if the point/question is “ how can we use funds to reduce shortfalls in other enablers?”
Still, I’ll grant that “overhang” might be misleading or have negative connotations, making it worthwhile to use different language even in situations like (2). But I don’t know! Personally, I never thought the term was that big of a deal.
(Apologies if I’m just missing the point somewhere, I didn’t spend much time worrying about this possibility)
I broadly agree (with 3) that we should not worry about terms but focus on meaning. Re: 1: One’s perspective should not change depending on the conversation. For example, one should not say ‘there is funding overhang’ when they want someone to work on a non-fundraising project and elsewhere specify ‘talent overhang’ when they seek funding. The changing narrative should not be enabled by language, such as ‘the moving bar’ (I do not think that this post aims for such—vice versa, seeking to avoid conveying meaning unwelcoming to high impact funders).
Simultaneously, it can be true that we currently do not have the capacity to deploy existing funding in a way to achieve the impact we’d like to and that this capacity can be gained by changing the funding framework or attracting talent. Or, it can simply mean that now funding should be invested into developing talent. Thus, funding overhang does not mean ‘we do not need (additional) funding’ but ‘we need to change the way it is spent.’
So, re: 2: it actually can make sense to use the ‘stressful’ term ‘funding overhang’ among some audiences, including donors, because the capacity to effectively deploy funding needs to be developed (and people should prioritize thinking about it).