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How Can I Give During An Emergency_

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Your giving is unique. How do you give? How do you want to give?

German philanthropist Ise Bosch reminds us of the

German philanthropist Ise Bosch reminds us of the power of philanthropy to transform:

If things go quite well, philanthropy not only brings social change, it also allows us to grow personally. Then, philanthropy is transformative in every way.

Read more in Ise's book, Transformative Philanthropy and at giving-with-trust.org

My work as a philanthropic advisor is usually focu

My work as a philanthropic advisor is usually focused on the donor-side of the equation. I research topics on philanthropy and help develop giving strategies.

In starting #MyGivingIs, I realised that fundraisers might also benefit from philanthropic advisory services. You work on the front line with donors and know best what they are seeking from your organisations.

I wonder if there are areas where you wish you had a little more support? Ideas or strategies or research which do not quite fit into your day-to-day work, but that would be a boost to cultivation or relationship development.

I'd love to hear from you - how might philanthropic advisory services help you do your job even better?

It's taken me a few weeks to engage with the new y

It's taken me a few weeks to engage with the new year. 2021 has not brought the stability or return to old that I had anticipated. If anything, it has heightened the realisation that we are in a marathon. We require more endurance.

This week I found myself interested in seemingly disparate topics. I see them as little buds of ideas which might bloom later this year. I thought I would share with you here. I'd love to hear what you are finding interesting as we begin this year.

1. Mackenzie Scotts' giving: I am beyond intrigued at the mechanisms and operations that have lead Mackenzie Scott into being able to donate $4 billion in four months. Reading about a combo of data + unrestricted giving, I am nosey at the process used. The media make it seem as there is a new data-driven process, and I wonder if, rather, it is back to the basics.

2. Philanthropy: From Aristotle to Zuckerberg (Paul Vallely): It's a book that I've noticed since last year, but among a long list of titles I haven't gotten around to read. I listened to a BBC podcast with Paul Vallely yesterday, and I am happy to hear his nuance and his framing of philanthropy. Neither demonizing nor lionizing. It's refreshing.

3. Participatory Grantmaking: It's been a topic of interest for many years. I've been watching as it's gathered steam among the field of grantmakers. I am paying attention to how it's actually implemented. I came across Hannah Paterson and her report & webinars from a Churchill Fellowship, and I'm interested in what she's learned and seen.

4. Dehumanisation: Brene Brown shared thoughts on the insurrection on the US Capitol in a podcast this week. She spoke about shame vs. accountability. She offers there is no unity without accountability. But she cautions against our words which dehumanise one another, to the extent that we no longer recognize another as human.

Together, these topics have given me the first spark of what 2021 might hold for philanthropy. I believe they hold elements of what we will be discussing with our clients, donors, and philanthropists. They will certainly impact how we give in to the next year and beyond.

🤝 Giving Tuesday is a day of global giving. A d

🤝 Giving Tuesday is a day of global giving. A day when everyone everywhere can do something to support the good causes that mean so much to us all.⁣
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This week I'm working on a project to engage kids in philanthropy.⁣
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I'm asking them three questions:⁣
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🎁 1) Why do you give?⁣
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📈 2) How do you decide where to give?⁣
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👩‍👩‍👧 3) If a friend or family member asks you where they should give, what advice would you give them?⁣
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The questions aren't just for kids, but are great reflections for us all on #GivingTuesday. 🤝

🍃 "These ancients carry teachings. They remind

🍃 "These ancients carry teachings. They remind us of the enduring power that arises from mutualism."🍃 #BraidingSweetgrass⁣
#RobinWallKimmerer⁣
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The natural world has much to teach us about mutualism. 🤝⁣
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🎁 Gifts come with responsibilities. They are not mere transactions, but offer opportunity for reciprocity. ⁣
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This weekend we give thanks for the relationships in our life. 👪👨‍👨‍👦‍👦👩‍👩‍👧👨‍👦⁣
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How does mutualism show up in our giving?

🎁 A gift creates an ongoing relationship, says

🎁 A gift creates an ongoing relationship, says #RobinWallKimmerer in the book #BraidingSweetgrass.⁣
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She distinguishes between as gift and a commodity exchange. Saying that when you buy a pair of socks, there is no inherent obligation to those socks. 🧦 You don't need to write a thank you to the store where you bought them.⁣
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But if those socks 🧦 were knitted by your grandmother 👵and given to you, you will feel a connection.⁣
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She cites #LewisHyde, "It is the cardinal difference between gift and commodity exchange that a gift establishes a feeling-bond between two people." 🤝⁣
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I find it a beautiful and compelling sentiment as we consider how we give. 🌱

On the eve of a second COVID19 lockdown in England

On the eve of a second COVID19 lockdown in England & pending results of a US election, I ask: what are we learning?⁣⁣⁣
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When the pandemic began, a flurry of philanthropic advice sought to address the need for emergency giving. Much of this guidance called for much-needed operational support and flexibility of funding. Two very important elements in giving.⁣⁣⁣
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While we are very much still in the middle of a pandemic, it is right to consider 🤔 how to take our giving forward.⁣⁣⁣
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🌎 What else can I learn?⁣⁣⁣
🌎 Are there new needs?⁣⁣⁣
🌎 Can I make my giving be for the long term?⁣⁣⁣
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The re-emergence of mutualism, local giving, and ongoing donations are all elements of how giving has shifted during the pandemic.⁣⁣⁣

How is your giving doing? What have you learned about the new needs? Is your giving burned out or ready to go another round?

🍁🍂 Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the

🍁🍂 Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year. Traditionally it is held on 1 November, but with celebrations beginning on the evening of 31 October. 🍁🍂⁣
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Samhain was seen as a liminal time, when the boundary between this world and the Otherworld could more easily be crossed.🔮⁣
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Many gifts 🎁 are wrapped in thoughts and expressions of a person's or family's legacy. ⁣
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In this liminal time, can we consider our legacy? What about the legacies of those who have passed before us? ⁣
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What can our giving help to leave behind? 🌎

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