Back on August 6th and 7th, I wrote about some of the things I was learning in Carol Weisman’s slim but inspiring book Raising Charitable Children.

If you have children–or grandchildren–from about four- or five-years old through high school, this book is for you. Weisman offers incredibly helpful, totally practical counsel for parents or grandparents of the entire spectrum. And she is no armchair philosopher; she has “been there and done that.” Moreover, she has obviously thought long and hard about the kinds of practical questions you’d expect most authors to forget.

Some examples: Read the rest of this entry »

I bumped into a cynically humorous post about charitable giving and its effects. It reminded me of a slim but instructional book that concludes with the sage observation: humility is a virtue, pride is a sin, and . . . arrogant philanthropy can wreak havoc.

But let us start with the cynical humor. Read the rest of this entry »

I dealt with Public v. Private Foundations last year. Lately I’ve begun to learn about something called a “supporting organization.”

Yesterday I met with Doug Johnson, president of a relatively new community fund here in the Denver metro area that is called, simply, The Charitable Fund or TCF.

As with other community foundations, TCF offers Donor-Advised Funds (or DAFs) . . . and these supporting organizations (SO’s)–specifically Type I SO’s.

So what is a supporting organization? What, more specifically, is a Type I SO? And why should you care? Read the rest of this entry »

Carol Weisman, author of Raising Charitable Children, offers some truly sage advice for people who are just launching their philanthropic activities or who are trying to help their kids discover their charitable interests.

Weisman suggests that two questions can at least open your mind to possibilities. As yourself, she suggests (or ask your family members): “In the last year, what made you happy?” and, “In the last year, what made you want to cry?”

She tells an amazing story about how this method worked for one family. . . . Read the rest of this entry »

Do North American evangelical Christians really believe in heaven? Not if you look at their behavior, says one speaker. Here’s his evidence.

I’m at the The Seed Company‘s President’s Forum. Great stuff coming out.

One of the speakers spoke provocatively: “Based on their giving patterns, American evangelicals do not believe they are going to heaven.” Read the rest of this entry »

In business you’re told to find a niche and fill it: define clearly what you’re all about, and focus on that one thing. I believe it should be similar when it comes to charity.

I met today with a guy who has given several million dollars to a number of charitable causes over the past 25 years or so. He told me his story. Maybe one day I’ll share it here.

But in the midst of all the other fascinating things he told me, one thing stuck out above all else: he knows his charitable niche. Read the rest of this entry »

What do you get from the following personal letter Sarita and I received Monday from the president of one of the charities we support? I believe it raises some strategic questions major donors ought to be thinking about as they fund their favorite charities. Read the rest of this entry »

Patricia Sellers, editor-at-large for Fortune magazine has written an inspirational and thought-provoking article about Melinda Gates and her perspective on Bill, working with Warren Buffett, and giving away their billions.

Just so you understand what, exactly, we’re talking about, let me note:

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has assets of $37.6 billion, making it the world’s largest. In that total is $3.4 billion that Warren Buffett has already given, and still to come are nine million Berkshire Hathaway B shares, currently worth $41 billion, that he has pledged to contribute in coming years. Assuming that Berkshire (BRKA, Fortune 500) shares continue to rise and that the Gateses continue to bestow their own wealth on their foundation, Melinda and Bill will very likely give away more than $100 billion in their lifetimes. Already the foundation has disbursed $14.4 billion – more than the Rockefeller Foundation has distributed since its creation in 1913 (even adjusted for inflation).

Anything to be learned from someone like Melinda?

Here are a few of my take-aways: Read the rest of this entry »