I described the technical differences between donor-advised funds (DAFs) and private foundations back in June of 2007. Frankly, at the time, I saw no compelling reason seriously to consider creating a DAF.

Following the FoundationWise^SM conference, however, I’m seeing more reasons than I did back then to consider this alternative. Read the rest of this entry »

Last August I wrote a brief outline of what one might want to include in a Gifting Criteria Statement.

As I was picking through a pile of papers on my desk on Saturday, I came across the actual document our family has at the moment. I thought you might find it interesting and, possibly, useful–at least as a discussion-starting model for your family’s statement: Read the rest of this entry »

World magazine’s March 28 issue includes an interview with Roberta Green Ahmanson, a journalist and wife of Howard Ahmanson, Jr., a multimillionaire philanthropist.

At one point, the interviewer asks, “What have you learned about grantmaking?”

Her reply: Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve written before about charity that may make the giver “feel good” but actually does harm.

I’m afraid I’ve been offered an opportunity to participate in just such a “ministry” in the last 24 hours. Read the rest of this entry »

Charitable giving comes in many forms. Cash donations and hands-on volunteerism are only two.

I have mentioned before the Sonlight Rice Bag Project. The repercussions of that project continue to reverberate in my mind and heart.

This morning, I woke up with the idea that I should write to some people with whom our family business competes. Not about our business, per se, but, rather, about opportunities we–both they and we–have to influence our customers for good.

This is a slightly edited version of the letter I sent. Read the rest of this entry »

In “The Surprising Truth About American Generosity,” the editors of Trends magazine provide a more positive perspective than I have been inclined to adopt, warn about government policies that may damage Americans’ charitable urge, and suggest some unusual reasons to give if you’re not giving now: Read the rest of this entry »

Want to stimulate your brain? Observe what others do. You might discover something you would like to do, but never thought of. Or find a way to achieve a goal that seemed beyond reach.

That’s the way I feel about Paul Newman’s last will and testament.

I like that Newman was such a charitable person, so his will includes some good language for bequeathing wealth to charities.

Thanks to the Prudent Planning Blog for the link!

The Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog included the story of a lawsuit settled out-of-court by Princeton University. According to a New York Times story, a $35 million gift given to the university in 1961 “to educate graduate students for careers in government” wound up underwriting most of the “graduate programs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.”

Since the $35 million had grown to more than $900 million by June of this year, Princeton wasn’t too keen on pulling any of this money away from its broader uses.

So what happened? Read the rest of this entry »