by Dawn Franks | Dec 14, 2016 | Family, Giving, Millennials, Next Generation
A large wooden crate seemed to hold all the decorations needed for the Christmas tree trimming I remember from my childhood. My dad would produce the crate each year, and my mother would supervise the opening and unpacking. The box held all kinds of treasures –...
by Dawn Franks | Oct 3, 2016 | Family, Millennials, Next Generation, Wealth
Storytelling is a skill we learn very early in life. Before we can read and write; we make up stories. We entertain ourselves and others with our stories, and we fill in gaps for what we don’t know. As a child, I regularly used the three blocks from home to school to...
by Dawn Franks | Sep 10, 2016 | Donors, Giving, Millennials, Next Generation, Nonprofits
A thread of embarrassment runs through donor stories. So much so that donors seldom share their giving experiences. For some it’s about too little to give, others too much too late. Other stories hint at long-held family beliefs that it is shameful to talk about...
by Dawn Franks | Jun 14, 2016 | Donors, Family, Millennials, Next Generation, Nonprofits
It happened several times before I left on a trip recently. Visiting with friends the subject of vacation would inevitably come up leading to my answer that I would be going to Orlando on Memorial Day. It was met with smiles and comments like “what fun…., we had a...
by Dawn Franks | Apr 4, 2016 | Family, Giving, Millennials, Next Generation
Most mornings you can find me walking early with my dependable old dog and two curious cats. Yes, the cats do go with us on the walk. It is quite the sight! Watching them interact one day, I realized you can trust the next generation. I’ll explain. I’ve wondered more...
by Dawn Franks | Mar 9, 2016 | Giving, Millennials, Next Generation, Nonprofits, Philanthropy in Action
I read a blog post by Jeff Goins and reflected on his challenge to find my calling. It’s a big challenge for sure, and after thinking about it for a while I drifted toward finding my calling in giving. In essence, my giving calling is the “one big thing” I want to...
