Families of wealth often ask for views on two related topics—how to think about philanthropy versus impact investing and how to best implement a socially and/or environmentally impactful investment strategy. While common themes transcend these topics, each is distinct and presents an opportunity by allowing families to engage in a powerful combination of both philanthropy and impact investing.
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In this second paper of a two-part series on philanthropy and sustainable investing, we outline how families may wish to identify opportunities within sustainable and impact investing themes.
Whether the goal is to improve a local community or support a more far-reaching cause, charitable giving is an important goal for many investors. From donating cash to establishing a donor-advised fund or a private foundation, there are a variety of ways to support the causes that matter to you. If deciding between establishing a donor-advised fund or a private foundation, high-level guidelines and a comparison table are provided to help you choose the best vehicle for you.
Charitable giving is an important goal for many investors. Although any form can be beneficial, proper planning of the when, what, and how can help maximize the donor’s philanthropic as well as overall wealth planning goals. In examining some common charitable giving strategies, the advantages and disadvantages are discussed, and examples are presented to illustrate the potential impact.
Enhancing the impact that you and your family can have in supporting causes near to your hearts also requires more than just generosity and good intentions. It takes careful planning and an in-depth understanding of the various vehicles that can be used to facilitate your charitable gifts and the tax laws related to those gifts. Beginning with three key questions to ask yourself, this guide helps you develop your philanthropic strategy that must also be designed as an integrated piece of the family’s comprehensive wealth-management plan.
Good meetings are a critical block of effective, impactful, and not least of all, enjoyable family philanthropy. This guide explores giving families' strategies, tips, and tools used to ensure that their meetings are also gatherings that family members look forward to. Constructive templates are also provided to help you think through the key nuts and bolts of designing and running a great and enjoyable meeting. When done well, meetings are an opportunity to build shared meaning and deeper relationships within and beyond families.
The way individuals are approaching philanthropy has evolved in recent years, with philanthropists taking the very best of the corporate world and adding more rigor and measurement to how they give back to social causes, reprioritizing how and where they invest, and going beyond financial contributions to direct both time and talent to their philanthropic endeavors. Against this backdrop, the emergence of the disruptive philanthropists comes to the forefront in this report to help you maximize your philanthropic impact.
Good intentions do not make for philanthropic success on their own. Blind spots cost philanthropists—and the causes they espouse—dearly. To make the most of their philanthropic dollars, donors practice due diligence. But when concepts of diversity and inclusion are added to basic due diligence, the result can create a philanthropy that is both responsive and efficient. Any philanthropist can benefit from adopting a policy of including diverse voices at all levels of their giving program. This guide aims to show how that can be done.
Teaching the joys, benefits, and responsibilities of philanthropy is often a top-down process. For most families, the starting point in encouraging a philanthropic mindset in children is to identify specific values that matter to them and to live by those values. Most important, continue to set a good example through meaningful actions and active giving plans.
Why do you and your family want to give? While it can be difficult to answer, defining and articulating a clear philanthropic purpose should be your north star. Designed to help take stock of your values and understand the passions and experiences that have shaped your family, this primer is the first in a series of seven about the Family Giving Lifecycle by the National Center for Family Philanthropy. The remaining six series of the primers and related resources are available here and orients donors toward effective outcomes at each stage: