Sometimes when I sit down to write the YP Journal, a philanthropy issue is on my mind. But today there was no such burning issue, so in the spirit of hunting for inspiration, I started looking back at old articles and stumbled across one calling my name. It was titled “A Plain Answer Will Do.” My mother, who passed away two years ago, almost to the day I am writing this, is the little old lady in ...[Read More]
Pondering Philanthropy Questions from a “Little Old Lady”
Tips for All-Important Family Conversations
A friend shared that he planned to have a conversation very soon with his wife about some of the finer details of their financial situation. He described it as getting a meeting on their calendar. The need for such an appointment came just weeks after several unexpected and sudden family losses. The reminder to keep family members updated about financial information comes to us at the worst times. ...[Read More]
How One Family Brings Their Faith to Work and Changes the Lives of Children!
Listening to someone talk about family is always full of emotion – funny, sad, uplifting, surprising. Such a conversation is a gift; there is so much to learn. I had just such a conversation with Carrie-Ann Jasper recently. She shared from the heart their family story and how Jasper Ventures became the success it is today. And especially how they changed a decision to make an anonymous and signif ...[Read More]
How Aunts and Uncles Teach the Next Generation About Giving
The day started normally. Two generations of family members gathered around a table for the annual meeting, intent on making giving decisions for the small family foundation. While only six of us, we represented many roles. Sisters, husbands, daughters, a niece and me, the outsider in this family system, had a lot of work in front of us and a deadline only a few hours away. The deadline marked the ...[Read More]