Make it fun! That’s how Bill Gates tells us he gives. If your first thought is “oh, sure, with all that money, of course, he can have fun,” stay tuned. Before we jump into what Bill says, let’s start with what it must have been like to be his parents. Do you suppose that Bill and Mary Gates had any inclination their son Bill would start a company and become mega-wealthy after dropping out of Harva ...[Read More]
How to Give Bill Gates Style
How Looking Back Can Fuel Tomorrow’s Change
January usually begins with resolutions for the future. But before resolutions can be made we need time to reflect on the past. I asked the question: what have we accomplished in the last five years at Your Philanthropy? A little math was in order. Just how much good had seven foundations and several major donors accomplished? Thirty-seven million. Yes, that’s what I said; actually, it’s $37,323,7 ...[Read More]
How to Fill the Empty Seat at the Holiday Table
Is someone missing from your holiday gatherings this year? It seems there is always an empty chair at the table. Someone you just lost or lost many years ago, someone who is across the country or simply at another gathering -whatever the reason, the chair is still empty. The holidays are full of triggers, memories that flood into our minds and can change our mood instantly. Sometimes it’s another ...[Read More]
How a Thankful Heart Inspires Generosity
What comes first? Thankfulness or generosity? A.W. Tozer said, “Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.” Start with a definition of thankfulness from a tenth-grade student who described it in a 2004 essay on WriteWork titled, “The Importance of Being Thankful.” The writer tells us “Thankfulness is being able to ha ...[Read More]
The Surprising Staying Power of the Middle Class Donor
Ten years ago, the country plunged into a recession deep enough to have a grinding impact on America’s charities. When I read those last two words together, I think about my nonprofit friends right here in my community. When the Chronicle of Philanthropy ran an article with the headline: A Response to America’s Favorite Charities 2018: A Lost Decade? Not for America’s Charities that Tap the Afflue ...[Read More]
How to Fund Community Change with Shared Passion
A Tale of Two Cities – oh, I meant Two Coalitions. Besides the name has already been taken and I can’t begin to write as eloquently as Charles Dickens. But I can give it my best shot at being succinct about the importance of paying attention to change work going on in your community. Communities are always in a state of change – good or bad. It’s when people come together with a shared passion for ...[Read More]