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December 2009 To all our clients,
friends and partners, Excellence in Giving
FORBES - Stephan Schmidheiny is one of the world's least known and most foresighted philanthropists. The Swiss billionaire, 61, built a forestry company into a global dominant force, and then turned his smarts and his wealth to help the poor in Latin America by boosting their entrepreneurial efforts. read more...
SOCIAL INNOVATION REVIEW - In the last 10 years, the whole architecture of philanthropy has changed in ways that make it very difficult for ground-breaking organizations to survive. Why is there an obsession with logical frames and business plans? Afterall, organizations like the World Bank have applied business practices to social problems and failed. Donors must consider the right risks, and the right organizations, sometimes out of the frame of mind of business and in the frame of mind of social impact. read more...
KARDIA PLANNING - A fascinating fact is that over 80% of all gifts received by non-profits are cash, yet only 7% of affluent's net worth consists of cash. That should be no surprise to anyone. Most wealthy people are wealthy not because they invested in money market accounts and CDs. They are wealthy because they invested in real estate, businesses and other non-liquid assets. The fact of the matter is that of all the things you have to give, cash offers the least “bang for the giving buck”. read more...
FORBES - We're clearly in an economic mess, and it's reflected by the fact that for the first time since Forbes began tracking the largest non-profits in 1999, they collectively lost money. Despite the economy, donors boosted giving to The 200 by $7 billion. For any given category of nonprofit, it's clear that donors have many, many choices. One good place to start is by trying to determine which nonprofit will give you the biggest bang for your contributed buck. read more...
NEW YORK TIMES - Orphanages have sprung up across Africa with donations from Western churches and charities. The families who care for orphans, however, have gotten no help at all. Researchers now say a far better way to assist bereft children is with simple allocations of cash — $4 to $20 a month in an experimental program under way in Malawi — given directly to the destitute extended families who take them in. read more...
SOCIAL INNOVATION REVIEW - Sex trafficking is the most highly profitable—and exploitative—component of contemporary slavery. In this talk, author and former investment banker Siddharth Kara exposes the mechanisms behind this little-understood industry. Amidst disturbing anecdotes taken from his study of hundreds of slaves and their "owners" in eight countries, Kara offers a business and economic analysis of the sex slave industry and critiques attempts to date to abolish sex trafficking. He proposes measures that could eradicate this form of livelihood by undermining its profitability. download...
WASHINGTON POST - These are young people who have inherited big money, and they are spending their post-college years living modestly and working to address the needs of the poor, hungry and politically disadvantaged. But the privilege they grew up with and the money coming their way nag at them in ways few people not in their position can fathom. These young people represent a huge amount of money, and some feel not only inspired but also challenged by the choices they face. read more...
ASSOCIATED PRESS - American charities have weathered a significant drop in giving this year, and while they're hoping for a holiday miracle, a survey shows they will see a decrease in year-end generosity. In light of the economic downturn, only 38 percent of Americans say they are more likely to give a charitable gift as a holiday present, compared to 49 percent last year. Some of the biggest U.S. charities say they are budgeting for a disappointing Christmas. read more...
WALL ST. JOURNAL - It's not all doom and gloom in the charitable sector. Those at the forefront of the industry say many of the wealthy continue to give, but are often looking for a more hands-on approach, demanding greater transparency and a return on their money. Outright giving is being replaced by social investing, and philanthropy is becoming more efficient and entrepreneurial as a consequence. read more...
HALFTIME - Dick Gygi loves marketing, product development, and brand management. But Gygi also has a passion for developing people and building strong teams. After his company was sold to American Greetings, Gygi simply had too much energy to retire. So he started the Thrift Smart alliance, which has raised millions for the needy and donated proceeds to four charities, providing jobs and services to thousands of low-income families with great plans for future expansion. read more...
Through the
ages, the world’s cultures and great
religions have in profound, though different,
ways sought to answer the big question: How
should we live? Part of the answer has to do with
how we ought to treat others. Ample evidence
suggests that giving selflessly to others lies at
the heart of what it means to be a thoughtful and
moral human being. In Being Generous,
author Theodore Roosevelt Malloch leads an
exploration of this important concept of generous
giving. From the author's exploration of various
spiritual traditions, to sharing time and talent,
to inspirational personality profiles, the book
concludes with a practical action plan that lays
out concrete steps that can guide readers toward
lives of greater giving. buy at Amazon.com... |
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The Bill Gates of
Switzerland
Being
Generous719.329.1515 - info@excellenceingiving.com - www.excellenceingiving.com
