Where to GiveWhere to Give

Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which

make philanthropy necessary.

-Martin Luther King

Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which

make philanthropy necessary.

-Martin Luther King

Choosing Where to GiveChoosing Where to Give

There are More than 1.5 Million nonprofits in the United States alone. How many do you really know about?

A first step on thinking about which groups you want to include in your giving is getting clearer on where you want to allocate your donations

There are More than 1.5 Million nonprofits in the United States alone. How many do you really know about?

A first step on thinking about which groups you want to include in your giving is getting clearer on where you want to allocate your donations

Sources of InformationSources of Information

Finding out which groups address the issues you care most about will take some research Ask friends, family, and colleagues about

which organizations they support The internet provides many sites devoted to the

conscientious donor wanting to research size, effectiveness, and legitimacy of nonprofits

Finding out which groups address the issues you care most about will take some research Ask friends, family, and colleagues about

which organizations they support The internet provides many sites devoted to the

conscientious donor wanting to research size, effectiveness, and legitimacy of nonprofits

Online Giving ResourcesOnline Giving Resources

www.AllCharities.com Provides a comprehensive list of charities to which

individuals can donate, with detailed descriptions of all the charities listed

www.charitynavigator.org Evaluates the financial health of America’s largest

charities www.GrantMatch.com

Grantmakers and seekers can tell each other who, what, when, where, how, and why they exist in the nonprofit world.

www.AllCharities.com Provides a comprehensive list of charities to which

individuals can donate, with detailed descriptions of all the charities listed

www.charitynavigator.org Evaluates the financial health of America’s largest

charities www.GrantMatch.com

Grantmakers and seekers can tell each other who, what, when, where, how, and why they exist in the nonprofit world.

Online Giving ResourcesOnline Giving Resources

www.guidestar.org Free database offers information on the operations and

finances of nonprofit organizations, including 990-IRS forms and the forms of foundations

www.Helping.org Helps people find volunteering and giving

opportunities in their own communities and beyond, to donate time, services, or financial support.

www.JustGive.org Connects people with the charities and causes th ey

care about

www.guidestar.org Free database offers information on the operations and

finances of nonprofit organizations, including 990-IRS forms and the forms of foundations

www.Helping.org Helps people find volunteering and giving

opportunities in their own communities and beyond, to donate time, services, or financial support.

www.JustGive.org Connects people with the charities and causes th ey

care about

Gathering InformationGathering Information

One of the best ways to gather information about a specific group is to get it directly from them

Try these methods of information gathering Go to the groups website Call the group directly for information When available an Annual Report can house much of

the needed information You may also request a groups tax report, “990 Form”,

which will reveal the percentages of the groups budget spent on administration, program, and fundraising

One of the best ways to gather information about a specific group is to get it directly from them

Try these methods of information gathering Go to the groups website Call the group directly for information When available an Annual Report can house much of

the needed information You may also request a groups tax report, “990 Form”,

which will reveal the percentages of the groups budget spent on administration, program, and fundraising

Questions to Remember when Gathering Information

Questions to Remember when Gathering Information

What is the leadership or management style of the organization or its leaders?

Do you admire the staff and leadership? And are they working in alignment with your giving goals and objectives in some important ways: are they a “mission match” for you?

Do the staff and board leaders work well together? Whis is the impact of effectiveness of the

organization, or its results? How well does it collaborate and with whom?

What is the leadership or management style of the organization or its leaders?

Do you admire the staff and leadership? And are they working in alignment with your giving goals and objectives in some important ways: are they a “mission match” for you?

Do the staff and board leaders work well together? Whis is the impact of effectiveness of the

organization, or its results? How well does it collaborate and with whom?

Questions to Remember when Gathering Information

Questions to Remember when Gathering Information

Are diverse constituents involved and helping to guide outcome?

Is the organization financially stable? (How much income does it bring in from fundraising or earned income? Does it have any cash reserves?)

What the its strengths and challenges? What is the organization working on now, and

what does it need?

Are diverse constituents involved and helping to guide outcome?

Is the organization financially stable? (How much income does it bring in from fundraising or earned income? Does it have any cash reserves?)

What the its strengths and challenges? What is the organization working on now, and

what does it need?

Donor DivaDonor Diva

Trust yourself. Through all the number crunching and research, certain organizations and leaders

may resonate for you. This is your giving. Does thinking about giving to an organization evoke a

smile? Does your gut eel right about it? Your brain is processing more than the data in the page. Do internal “due diligence” and trust what does or

does not feel right to you. It will make a big difference to the energy you are willing to

contribute toward an organization.

Trust yourself. Through all the number crunching and research, certain organizations and leaders

may resonate for you. This is your giving. Does thinking about giving to an organization evoke a

smile? Does your gut eel right about it? Your brain is processing more than the data in the page. Do internal “due diligence” and trust what does or

does not feel right to you. It will make a big difference to the energy you are willing to

contribute toward an organization.

Level Funding Focus Merits Limitations or Challenges

Level 1:Needs PhilanthropyAddresses immediate and recurring needs

Relief EffortsCare ProgramsCultural activitiesReligious services

Alleviates urgent and critical needsResponds quickly to unforeseen eventsTakes care of vulnerable populationsDraws attention to key social issues

Focuses on symptomsRelief effects are typically short-lived Often amounts to a drop in the oceanRelief efforts are rarely synergized

Level 2:Empowerment PhilanthropyEmpowers individuals to take care of themselves

Education and mentoringJob training and skills Personal growth and spirituality Tool acquisition

Builds people’s assets to help them become more effective in directing their lives and meeting their own needsHas more lasting effects

Receptivity to training varies

Limited way of dealing with root causes

Levels of Philanthropic Intervention

Level Funding Focus Merits Limitations or Challenges

Level 3:

Capacity-Building Philanthropy

Expands groups’ ability to serve the commons

Leadership and management training

Developing systems for IT, fundraising…

Strategic planning

Empowers organizations and communities

Minimizes waste and inefficiencies

Maximizes beneficial impact

Finding org. ready and willing to learn to be more effective

Possible negative side-effects of sustainable funding

Level 4:

Systemic Philanthropy

Develops systemic solutions to collective problems

Research think tanks

Policy or legal reform

Shifting consciousness

Civic engagement

Media reform

Deals with the roots causes of problems

Targets most effective change strategies

Most lasting and comprehensive impact if successful

Hard to identify and implement comprehensive solutions

Current strategies are often polarizing

Takes time to create visible impact

Levels of Philanthropy Intervention

Philanthropic InvestingPhilanthropic Investing

Focus. Higher Levels focus on “upstream” root cause solutions; lower levels focus on symptom reduction

Popularity. Lower levels currently get more donation because they tend to be issues that pull at the heart. Higher levels tend to appeal more to our rational understanding

Time Horizon. Lower levels address pressing needs. Higher levels also address those needs but do so by working through the casual chain.

Focus. Higher Levels focus on “upstream” root cause solutions; lower levels focus on symptom reduction

Popularity. Lower levels currently get more donation because they tend to be issues that pull at the heart. Higher levels tend to appeal more to our rational understanding

Time Horizon. Lower levels address pressing needs. Higher levels also address those needs but do so by working through the casual chain.

Philanthropic InvestingPhilanthropic Investing

Tangibility of Impact. The lower the level, the clearer the impact of your giving can be. Higher level impacts are broader in scope and have longer-lasting effects.

Risk and Return. The higher the level, the more risk you must take about the final impact of your giving.

Tangibility of Impact. The lower the level, the clearer the impact of your giving can be. Higher level impacts are broader in scope and have longer-lasting effects.

Risk and Return. The higher the level, the more risk you must take about the final impact of your giving.

Giving InternationallyGiving Internationally

Charity may begin at home, but it doesn’t end there.

Giving Internationally can be a valuable way to help remedy some serious problems in other countries, particularly poverty; impeded economic development; the negative results of globalization; limited access to schooling; poor health care; and economic, racial, and gender inequalities.

Charity may begin at home, but it doesn’t end there.

Giving Internationally can be a valuable way to help remedy some serious problems in other countries, particularly poverty; impeded economic development; the negative results of globalization; limited access to schooling; poor health care; and economic, racial, and gender inequalities.

U. N. Millennium GoalsU. N. Millennium Goals

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

8. Form a global partnership for development

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

8. Form a global partnership for development

Making DecisionsMaking Decisions

Risk and trust involve recognizing that philanthropy is a collaboration

If your tolerance for risk is love, think about challenging yourself. Since what’s at stake can potentially change lives, the returns can be huge.

The act of giving money, time, or attention engages us with others and creates community

Risk and trust involve recognizing that philanthropy is a collaboration

If your tolerance for risk is love, think about challenging yourself. Since what’s at stake can potentially change lives, the returns can be huge.

The act of giving money, time, or attention engages us with others and creates community

Donor DivaDonor Diva

Consider cutting your holiday consumption costs by half during the next holiday

season, then adding that amount to your giving plan or alternative gift shopping.

Now there’s a true gift.

Consider cutting your holiday consumption costs by half during the next holiday

season, then adding that amount to your giving plan or alternative gift shopping.

Now there’s a true gift.