In a November 2022 interview, Amazon founder and multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos said philanthropy is hard. What do we do when new things are hard? If we’re smart, we ask for help. Read More
Blog
Impact Planning with Your IRA
In most cases, all the money in these accounts is tax-deferred. Notice, though, that I did not say tax-free. At some point, income tax will be paid on every dollar — except for any portion that goes to charity. Read More
What We Keep
There was a lot of paper that went right into the shredder. I must admit, though — seeing my career through thirty-plus years of articles, presentations, notes from colleagues, and even old performance appraisals was a bit emotional. What to keep? What is most practical in this chapter of my professional life? What holds significance? It was a time for reflection on a topic we might all consider in this new year. Read More
Practical Tips for Year-End Contributions
December 31st is December 31st, right? If you are like many Americans, you make the bulk of your charitable contributions in December. It’s the season of giving, as well as the season of multiple charitable solicitations showing up among the holiday […] Read More
How is Effective Altruism Different Than Plain Old Generosity?
In The Seven Faces of Philanthropy (Jossey-Bass, Inc. Publishers, 1994), authors Russ Alan Prince and Karen Maru File define seven types or “faces” of donor, based upon their primary motivations for giving. One of those faces is the Altruist. Read More
Giving Circles
The combination of pooled resources, community involvement, and shared decision-making can be a powerful agent for positive change. When I was a little girl in Athens, West Virginia, my mother was part of a weekly tradition on our street known […] Read More