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
Blog
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
Trust-Based Philanthropy
Ever heard the alternative golden rule, “He (or she) who has the gold makes the rules”? In recent years, a topic of conversation among some nonprofit leaders made its way into the board rooms of several major foundations, as well […] Read More
Charity Ratings
For decades if not longer, generous individuals and organizations have wanted to know which charities were worthy of their hard-earned dollars. Out of that desire to have information to help make charitable decisions grew charity rating services, which publish objective […] Read More