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.

May 16 2023

Make Your Best Gift One of Giving to Family and Friends     

I'm serious – the very best gift you will ever give to family and friends is to spend time on your legacy story. Right now, you're telling yourself that no one cares...
May 03 2023

Buy The Gift of Giving Today to Leave a Legacy You Want Others to See

With spring unfolding, right now is the perfect time to share something new. Today, The Gift of Giving is available to my friends, followers, and readers. I wrote The...
Apr 04 2023

Ten Ways to Ensure the Giving Legacy You Hope For

The birthday card danced across the parking lot. Decorated with a handful of balloons on the front, it seemed perfectly appropriate that a gust of wind grabbed my sack...
Mar 20 2023

How Your Future Legacy Can Be Greater Than the Legacy Remembered

Quickly scanning my email, I saw The Round Table. Authored by my friend Fred Smith, it’s a blog I read on Thursday mornings when I have time to reflect. The title, To...
Mar 07 2023

One Tip to Be a Happy Board Member at a Healthy Organization

Before I donate to an organization in my community, I like to check out who is on the board of directors. My confidence level grows when I see a name I recognize. After...
Feb 21 2023

Let’s Make it Rain the First Quarter of 2023

You’ve heard it before. It’s February. It’s Texas. “If you don’t like the weather, wait ten minutes.”  I thought that phrase was strictly about Texas weather but...
Feb 07 2023

Show Your Favorite Nonprofit a Lot of Love this Valentine’s Day

February arrived with Punxsutawney Phil predicting more winter and store shelves drawing us to candy displays and Valentine's Day cards. Perhaps the most popular...
Jan 23 2023

Why Answering Questions in Public Makes You a Better Donor

While waiting for my next flight, I was scanning through email, focused on the laptop screen in front of me. Ignoring the voices and sounds, I was oblivious to...
Jan 09 2023

Four Easy Tips to Better Understand Nonprofit Statistics

The drive to Dallas allowed enough time to prepare for the meeting with a nonprofit organization in transition. While their mission remained the same, how they...
Dec 13 2022

Nine Steps on the Giving Ladder You Can Share with Your Children

Peeping through a keyhole on Christmas morning, I could see the packages and toys Santa had brought. All under the age of ten, all four of us grandchildren took turns...
May 16 2023

Make Your Best Gift One of Giving to Family and Friends     

I'm serious – the very best gift you will ever give to family and friends is to spend time on your legacy story. Right now, you're telling yourself that no one cares...
May 03 2023

Buy The Gift of Giving Today to Leave a Legacy You Want Others to See

With spring unfolding, right now is the perfect time to share something new. Today, The Gift of Giving is available to my friends, followers, and readers. I wrote The...
Apr 04 2023

Ten Ways to Ensure the Giving Legacy You Hope For

The birthday card danced across the parking lot. Decorated with a handful of balloons on the front, it seemed perfectly appropriate that a gust of wind grabbed my sack...
Mar 20 2023

How Your Future Legacy Can Be Greater Than the Legacy Remembered

Quickly scanning my email, I saw The Round Table. Authored by my friend Fred Smith, it’s a blog I read on Thursday mornings when I have time to reflect. The title, To...
Mar 07 2023

One Tip to Be a Happy Board Member at a Healthy Organization

Before I donate to an organization in my community, I like to check out who is on the board of directors. My confidence level grows when I see a name I recognize. After...
Feb 21 2023

Let’s Make it Rain the First Quarter of 2023

You’ve heard it before. It’s February. It’s Texas. “If you don’t like the weather, wait ten minutes.”  I thought that phrase was strictly about Texas weather but...
Feb 07 2023

Show Your Favorite Nonprofit a Lot of Love this Valentine’s Day

February arrived with Punxsutawney Phil predicting more winter and store shelves drawing us to candy displays and Valentine's Day cards. Perhaps the most popular...
Jan 23 2023

Why Answering Questions in Public Makes You a Better Donor

While waiting for my next flight, I was scanning through email, focused on the laptop screen in front of me. Ignoring the voices and sounds, I was oblivious to...
Jan 09 2023

Four Easy Tips to Better Understand Nonprofit Statistics

The drive to Dallas allowed enough time to prepare for the meeting with a nonprofit organization in transition. While their mission remained the same, how they...
Dec 13 2022

Nine Steps on the Giving Ladder You Can Share with Your Children

Peeping through a keyhole on Christmas morning, I could see the packages and toys Santa had brought. All under the age of ten, all four of us grandchildren took turns...

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

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!