Your Philanthropy

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Your Philanthropy Journal

Sign up for our bimonthly blog – Your Philanthropy Journal. This free e-publication addresses happenings, hot topics and opinions regarding the nonprofit and grant-making world.

Feb 20 2024

Create a Legacy Statement for Future Generations

Tiny stacks of 35-millimeter slides covered the dining room table. One by one I passed them through the slide viewer. The story of my parents’ earliest years together...
Feb 07 2024

Five Tips to be a Smart Donor and Great Fundraiser

My date and I headed to the zoo for a fun afternoon. With curiosity as a guide, I expected to enjoy the animals and maybe answer a few questions about a guy I found...
Jan 24 2024

A Legacy in the Words of One Man

When you hear a suggestion to share your stories with your children and grandchildren, do you hear a voice say, “They’re not interested, don’t have time, and don’t care...
Jan 10 2024

What Makes a Nonprofit Evergreen

Roses are still blooming in my yard. Variegated pittosporum is glowing next to drab lantana stems that have died down for the year. What is slow to go dormant or even...
Dec 12 2023

Why the Holidays Are the Best Time to Model Giving

I’ve shared this story before, but the message remains important to the heart of giving. Take a moment to learn why ladders matter on Christmas morning and all year...
Oct 30 2023

How Hidden Risks Can Make Giving Decisions a Challenge

When I was about three or so years old, my family went for a drive in the Colorado mountains. I think we went for a picnic, but what I remember is jumping out of the...
Oct 17 2023

Five Questions That Will Make Your Giving Meaningful   

Why should you give philanthropically and strive to make a difference? The answer goes beyond different vehicles for giving, choosing the right organizations, and even...
Oct 03 2023

One of Our Greatest Gifts — Our Time!

Dawn Franks has significantly impacted my thinking (and acting) about the ideas of legacy and generosity. When she asked me to consider writing some personal thoughts...
Sep 13 2023

Learning to Honor Lessons From Our Grandparents

Why do we celebrate Grandparents Day? Grandparents are cool. I vote we celebrate all month long! Originally established by presidential decree in 1978, it is intended...
Aug 31 2023

Three Ways to Ask Questions and Make Your Giving Powerful

The school zones are back, so slowing down should be top of my mind as I head for work every morning. After less than a week of blinking lights, something finally...
Feb 20 2024

Create a Legacy Statement for Future Generations

Tiny stacks of 35-millimeter slides covered the dining room table. One by one I passed them through the slide viewer. The story of my parents’ earliest years together...
Feb 07 2024

Five Tips to be a Smart Donor and Great Fundraiser

My date and I headed to the zoo for a fun afternoon. With curiosity as a guide, I expected to enjoy the animals and maybe answer a few questions about a guy I found...
Jan 24 2024

A Legacy in the Words of One Man

When you hear a suggestion to share your stories with your children and grandchildren, do you hear a voice say, “They’re not interested, don’t have time, and don’t care...
Jan 10 2024

What Makes a Nonprofit Evergreen

Roses are still blooming in my yard. Variegated pittosporum is glowing next to drab lantana stems that have died down for the year. What is slow to go dormant or even...
Dec 12 2023

Why the Holidays Are the Best Time to Model Giving

I’ve shared this story before, but the message remains important to the heart of giving. Take a moment to learn why ladders matter on Christmas morning and all year...
Oct 30 2023

How Hidden Risks Can Make Giving Decisions a Challenge

When I was about three or so years old, my family went for a drive in the Colorado mountains. I think we went for a picnic, but what I remember is jumping out of the...
Oct 17 2023

Five Questions That Will Make Your Giving Meaningful   

Why should you give philanthropically and strive to make a difference? The answer goes beyond different vehicles for giving, choosing the right organizations, and even...
Oct 03 2023

One of Our Greatest Gifts — Our Time!

Dawn Franks has significantly impacted my thinking (and acting) about the ideas of legacy and generosity. When she asked me to consider writing some personal thoughts...
Sep 13 2023

Learning to Honor Lessons From Our Grandparents

Why do we celebrate Grandparents Day? Grandparents are cool. I vote we celebrate all month long! Originally established by presidential decree in 1978, it is intended...
Aug 31 2023

Three Ways to Ask Questions and Make Your Giving Powerful

The school zones are back, so slowing down should be top of my mind as I head for work every morning. After less than a week of blinking lights, something finally...

Giving Fingerprints

Sign up to receive Dawn’s FREE e-book, Giving Fingerprints, designed to help you be the unique giver you were meant to be.

“You are as unique as the pattern of whorls and lines of your fingerprint. So is your giving style. Make your mark on the causes closest to your heart, and maximize the impact of your gifts by discovering your distinctive, personal giving brand.

I wrote this short book to give you a view of your giving habits. What does your unique giving pattern say about you? Join me on a journey to explore your Giving Fingerprints.”

— Dawn Franks

Recent Published Works

Online Resources

Your Philanthropy recommends the following online resources. Simply click on the links below to access these web sites.

Grant-making

GrantCraft

GEO – Grantmakers for Effective Organizations

 

Foundations

Exponent Philanthropy

Council on Foundations

Philanthropy Southwest

 

Family Philanthropy

National Center for Family Philanthropy

 

Governance

BoardSource

Request A Speaker

Dawn Franks is available to speak on a wide variety of topics to philanthropic organizations, professional associations and community groups. Topics include:

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Giving Fingerprints

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How Your Philanthropy Impacts the Next Generation

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What Story Does Your Foundation Tell?

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Family Foundations: Starting from Scratch

Let’s start a conversation!