Sean, Author at Friends In Philanthropy

September 2021

Friends in Philanthropy: September 2021 Issue

“Just ask them how we as funders can be helpful to them,
and you’ll get some really interesting answers.”
– Foundation president Philip Li on a simple mindset shift
that defines “trust-based philanthropy”

Donors have a tough job. On the one hand, they want to ensure they’re maximizing the impact of their giving. On the other, they know attaching too many conditions to their support can actually backfire by forcing nonprofits to jump through hoops to get it.

But as you’ll see in this month’s issue, there’s no shortage of smart people working on this dilemma. Over at the Stanford Social Innovation Review, you’ll hear experts discuss how to balance “strategic giving” and “trust-based philanthropy,” two philosophies that seem almost opposite until you learn how to integrate them.

And elsewhere, you’ll find more tips for boosting your impact, from setting up a donation-matching campaign to tying philanthropy in with your business.

So if there’s one overarching theme this month, it’s that effective support doesn’t just happen—you have to will your way there with your wits and your wisdom.

Why You Should Sponsor a Donation-Matching Challenge (Charity Navigator) – An experienced donor explains how matching challenges have increased the effect of his family’s giving by up to 1200%.

Getting Into Family Philanthropy? You Might Have to “Set a New Table” (Wealth Management) – Before your multi-generational project can succeed, you may need to rethink some ingrained family dynamics. Here are 3 steps you can take.

How A YouTube Star Turned Viral Views Into Hurricane Aid—and Vice Versa (Dexerto) – In the wake of Ida, mega-popular YouTuber MrBeast distributed thousands of free meals to survivors in Louisiana. How does he fund his philanthropy? By filming it, of course.

Philanthropic Tie-Ins Don’t Have to Cost a Fortune (Forbes) – Give time off for volunteering. Train nonprofit staff. Here are 10 ways small businesses can support good causes without jeopardizing their financial health.

A man explaining information on a white board

AUDIO: Understanding Trust-Based Philanthropy and Strategic Giving (Stanford Social Innovation Review) – How should donors view their role? “Trust-based philanthropy” and “strategic giving” offer different answers, but these experts agree combining them gives you the best of both worlds. (20-minute podcast.)

Photos courtesy of Unsplash.

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July 2021

Friends in Philanthropy: July 2021 Issue

“She’s the kind of person that, when she gets
into a project, she gets really into it.”
– Amy Phillips on her mother Lisa, who found an unusual way
to fund her charitable donations

Lisa Phillips has sharp eyes. “I’ve always had this knack for finding things,” she told the Philadelphia news outlet Billy Penn. “I’m also 4-foot-10, so I have a better perspective on seeing things because I’m closer to the ground.”

Lisa means that last sentence literally. She’s known for the hundreds of dollars in lost change she’s collected on her daily dog walks, which she donates to retire medical debt. But it’s also tempting to read her story as a larger metaphor about philanthropy.

Because while grand gestures get all the glory, small acts add up when you make them part of your everyday life. In other words, sometimes the change you’re seeking is right at your feet—as long as you remember to look for it.

Is Trust-Based Philanthropy the Future of Giving? (Twin Cities Business) – Unrestricted grants. Streamlined funding requests. Support beyond the check. The Trust-Based Philanthropy Project is urging donors to give nonprofits more space to succeed.

Entrepreneurs, Is A 501(c)(3) In Your Retirement Future? (Forbes) – There are plenty of ways for a successful business owner to give back. But forming your own charitable entity could be the best way to use the skills you spent a lifetime developing.

The Refugee Olympic Team Is As Resilient As You Think (International Rescue Committee) – Right now in Tokyo, 29 athletes are representing the world’s 82 million displaced people. Each one has a story of survival.

Making Change: One Woman’s Quest to Turn Lost Coins Into Philanthropy (Billy Penn) – Lisa Phillips has always had a knack for spotting money on the ground. Now her daily dog walks are retiring thousands in medical debt.

Study: Regular Bible Readers Experienced More Stress in 2020, But Also More Hope (Christianity Today) – An American Bible Study survey confirmed the Bible offered serious solace to the many people in pain last year. Here’s what church leaders should know about the results.

Photos courtesy of Unsplash.

June 2021

Friends in Philanthropy: June 2021 Issue

“We think of ourselves as first responders.”
– Nonprofit executive director Cathy Moore on why her staff persevered last year

In spring 2020, nonprofits were bracing for catastrophe. A May survey by the Center for Effective Philanthropy showed 80% of organizations expected to tap into cash reserves that year.

But then something happened: people stepped up. Despite fears that an uncertain economy would cause support to plummet, a new Giving USA report shows donations grew more than 5% last year.

Many organizations still struggled. But the feared worst-case scenarios largely didn’t materialize. And because of that, charities like Cathy Moore’s Epiphany Community Health Outreach Services (ECHOS) were able to keep going—and to keep proving that nonprofits are just as vital in a crisis as other frontline responders.

5 Common Obstacles to Generosity (And How to Overcome Them) (National Christian Foundation) – There’s no question: building wealth and giving it away are two different skill sets. Here’s why you might struggle with effective giving even if you’re great with money.

The Benefits of Donating Appreciated Stock (Charity Navigator) – The market soared over the past year. Could donating appreciated stock be a savvy way to reduce your tax bill while doing good?

Do Billionaire Donors Deserve Credit—or Criticism? (The Conversation) – High-profile gifts from the ultra-wealthy are making headlines. But some think mega-philanthropy gives donors too much influence. Here’s what both critics and defenders are saying.

The ‘Giving USA’ Report Proves Donors Stepped Up in 2020 (The Hill) – Despite fears giving would plunge last year, a major new report shows it actually surged. Center for Effective Philanthropy president Phil Buchanan explains why that mattered so much.

Visualizing 70 Years of Refugee Journeys for World Refugee Day (Al Jazeera) – Which countries did refugees flee despite a raging pandemic in 2020? These graphics answer that question and more using decades of U.N. data.

Photos courtesy of Unsplash and Kinship United.

April 2021

Friends in Philanthropy: April 2021 Issue

“I said, ‘How did you select us?’ She said, ‘I can’t tell you that.’”
– Turtle Mountain Community College president Donna Bowman on the mysterious process behind an $8 million gift from MacKenzie Scott

It’s one thing to read about the way major donors are trying to make philanthropy more agile during the pandemic; it’s another to experience it firsthand. Community college president Donna Bowman got a taste of the latter when she learned famed philanthropist MacKenzie Scott wanted to gift her college $8 million—no strings attached. Oh, and look for the money in a couple of weeks.

That kind of freedom, on that scale, with that speed just doesn’t happen in philanthropy. Except now, sometimes, it does. It’s proof that donors and nonprofits should never let conventional thinking stand in the way of finding a better way to tackle a problem. This month’s issue is chock-full of ideas for shaking up your approach to giving, in ways both big and small.

What It’s Like to Get $8 Million From MacKenzie Scott Out of the Blue (Slate) – Community college president Donna Bowman wasn’t sure if the initial email was real. But 3 weeks later the money was in the bank. Here’s how it happened.

8 Steps to Make Your Family Giving More Effective—For You, Too (Denver Post) – Philanthropic strategist Bruce DeBoskey explains how donors benefit from acting like partners with nonprofits, not like rescuers who show up to save the day.

Darren Walker’s Not Afraid to Pick a Philanthropy Fight (60 Minutes) – The Ford Foundation president with the unlikely biography says philanthropy needs to focus less on generosity and more on justice. But not everyone agrees—just ask Philanthropy Roundtable.

Watch This Tribe Celebrate Its 37-Year Quest to Translate the Bible (National Christian Foundation) – Thousands of Rendille Kenyans gathered to mark their new ability to read the word of God in their native language. Here’s a short clip from the exuberant 6-hour worship ceremony.

Young adults pointing to a laptop screen

Kids Not Ready for Their Inheritance? Consider a Private Foundation. (Kiplinger) – How is a private foundation like “an estate plan in action”? It teaches the next generation how to manage wealth.

Photos from Unsplash.

March 2021

Friends in Philanthropy: March 2021 Issue

“I’m never afraid to ask others to lend a hand, because there are so many people in need.”
– Teenage entrepreneur Ashis Dhakal on why he started his non-profit foundation Ashis Collects Clothes

They both had reasons to be bitter. Ashis Dhakal was born into poverty in a Nepalese refugee camp, where his bamboo hut was riddled with bedbugs. And Calvin Tyler struggled so much to cover his tuition at Morgan State University in the ‘60s that he had to drop out to drive for UPS.

And yet both now have the pleasure of being leading lights in their communities—and of helping others who face the same obstacles they once did. Let this month’s issue be a reminder that philanthropists can come from anywhere, as long as they have the will to compel change.

58 Years After Dropping Out for Financial Reasons, He’s Giving $20M to Morgan State (People) – Calvin Tyler worked his way up from driver to Senior VP of Operations at UPS. Now he’s ready to give other students the chance he never had.

Should Foundations Have to Give More During the Pandemic? (Associated Press) – Given the urgency of the moment, some want to raise the 5% annual donation requirement for foundations. But others call the idea shortsighted and counterproductive.

How a Women-Only Village in Kenya Is Pushing For Equal Land Rights (Christian Science Monitor) – Umoja village was founded as a refuge from abuse against women. Now residents are after the deed to their grazing land, and their example is inspiring others.

The Latest on Charity Navigator’s Ratings System Overhaul (Charity Navigator) – The popular charity watchdog wants to know which non-profits act as a “Culture & Community Beacon.” Here’s what that means.

Video: Can This Teen Entrepreneur Conquer a Philanthropy Challenge from Mark Cuban? (Yahoo News) – 575 coats. 7 days. Can Ashis Dhakal mobilize his Salt Lake City community to help their neighbors in need?

Photos from Unsplash