The imperative to design
Posted on October 23rd, 2013
The best gift I ever received was from a donor who so plainly "did not love" any of our usual gifts on the shelf, I thought it would never happen ... until she decided that we would build one together. Trust me, for a new gift officer, that imperative to design was a whack on the side of the head, but it would define my future.
Together, we crafted what turned out to be a dream gift for young scientists. The ones so driven by curiosity (and so "not ready for prime time") that their singular passion meant that it would be a real struggle to get funding for their research through traditional sources; but this donor was anything but traditional.
In the end, this insightful and unstoppable donor created a fund so perfect for Weizmann that not only she could give to it (and did), but also many other donors have re-created for themselves many times since -- using current and future gifts, and every kind of gift in between.
It was the fund for donors who love science that is so new it doesn't yet have a name: Discovery Fund.
Zen and the art of gift design.
Posted on July 25th, 2013
You wouldn't think so, but we live a life of danger, fundraisers.
It's a risky business. Philanthropy as an act of making something. A creative act. Design. Art. Science. Poetry.
Same process…. Discovery the disorderly act, the call to action.
Then, the rational planning and finally an act of choice of a form.
Building a structure.
Building a structure.
Done and ship.
Well, it can be.
When you learned annual giving, major giving or planned giving did you ever think it was just about asking? Did you ever imagine it would be about making something?
Well, it can be.
In fact, think of your gift designs as a consumable, for just the person you have designed the gift for.
Your design is also a gift, but will it be accepted?
That's why every interaction with a donor is a risk.
You never know if an idea will emerge or not.
But it usually does.
Message in a Bottle: Three Keys to Effective Philanthropy
Posted on July 19th, 2013
Whether you are a philanthropist or a fundraiser, this message in a bottle resonates and helps translate charitable inclination into action through personalized philanthropy.
Three Keys to Effective Philanthropy
I like to think about the Three Keys as if it were a forgotten fragment – a message in a bottle – written by a philanthropist long ago. It was sent (floated) by the author in the hope it would be found by the People Who Want to Make a Plan, but too often have come up against the crush of reality. Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans (John Lennon). Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face (Mike Tyson). Whether you are a philanthropist or a fundraiser, the message resonates for people seeking to understand and act on their charitable impulse. This message in a bottle seems relevant all year long, not just at this season of giving.
1. Give with a warm hand – My friend said it was better to give with a warm hand than a cold one. She meant it, and did it. Maybe you’ve heard the phrase from Warren Buffett, "Giving While Living." Giving with a warm hand is the Big Idea behind that. It also shapes the Giving Pledge, which has encouraged so many philanthropists to designate at least half of their estates for helping others. So, if you feel charitable, it’s up to you to decide what you want to happen with your gift. Go ahead and make your statement. You do not have to defer or leave this important life-defining decision to someone else.
2. Give with a warm heart – Besides giving while living, you can give as you live, with passion and a warm heart. Share that. To something meaningful to you. Start now. Aim high. Scale-up and go long. Make a habit of giving. You can achieve much more by combining current with future gifts for something important to you. Most charities will allow you to target or restrict your gift. The really enlightened ones encourage it. You can start with something do-able now and yet grow the impact of your support with each additional gift.
3. Give with a cool head – Give smart. Not just from your heart. Employ powerful tools and smart advisors who can show you how. It’s possible and even OK to benefit your loved ones and yourself from your giving. Bequests, foundations, charitable trusts, gift annuities, charitable insurance and retirement plans. Especially bequests. Find out about virtual endowments and how to build equity in your endowment. This way, you can create a lasting legacy, but it can begin now.
They say this is how philanthropy used to be done. This is how it will be done in the future.
Steven L. Meyers, Ph.D.
MyPersonalizedPhilanthropy
Personalized Philanthropy. For both fundraisers and philanthropists. When we say we want to get it right, what do we mean? “The right gift, for the right purpose, for the right donor.” It's about innovative donor-focused, individually-tailored giving strategies -- new gift applications that combine current and future gifts, so that donors can create a lasting legacy where recognition and impact begin now. To make miracles happen at charitable organizations close to their hearts. ~Steven L. Meyers, Ph.D., Founder, Personalized Philanthropy