January 2008

"To give money away is an easy matter and in any man's power. But to decide to whom to give it and how large and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in every's man's power -- nor an easy matter. Hence it is that such excellence is rare, praiseworthy, and notable" - Aristotle

Businessman Gives All Profits Away
Hal makes millions and gives them all away

THE NEW SUN - 82-year-old Hal Taussig is dedicated to living simply and giving the rest to the poor. So where does he get the money to be so helpful? It comes from all the profits generated by his business. Some companies give 10 percent of their profits to charity, or 1% of annual gross, but Hal gives it all, in the form of low-interest loans. read more...

In Microfinance, Clients Must Come First
Microfinance should focus on business-building, not loans

SOCIAL INNOVATION REVIEW - In the debate over whether microfinance works, few microfinance institutions articulate what, exactly, their ultimate goals are and how, exactly, they will achieve them. The authors cut through the confusion by mapping a clear theory of change for microfinance. If the goal of microfinance is to alleviate poverty, they say, then MFIs should focus on helping their clients build successful enterprises, rather than on making more and bigger loans. read more...

Traveling with Wesley
Philip Yancey's reflections on wealth

CHRISTIANITY TODAY - On a recent trip through England, author Philip Yancey reads through the journal of John Wesley. He wrestles with how to cherish this life with its gifts of art, beauty, music, and love, while serving the poor and storing up treasures in Heaven. read more...

The Year Ahead: 2008 Trends in Philanthropy
Forbes editor gives a sneak peak of 2008

FORBES - There are several trends, economic and legislative, that will affect charity and charitable giving in 2008. William Barrett explores four different predictions, from the worsening economy to the Internal Revenue Service, and the impact they will have on giving. read more...

Donors Need More Openness from Charities
Why do we know so little about how our dollars are used?

WALL STREET JOURNAL - It's been said we expect too much of charities. Perhaps the real problem is that we expect too little. Intelligent giving involves more than just showering hard-earned dollars on charities and hoping for the best. Nonprofits need to subject themselves to more rigorous forms of evaluation and make those reports public, so givers can make better giving decisions. read more...

The Little Rockefellers
Family foundations are blooming across the country

SMART MONEY - Observers say they're seeing a boom in small but substantial donations made to local charities. Rather than drip dollars into the oceanic coffers of the United Ways and Red Crosses of the world, donors are opting to be proverbial big fish in a little pond, and the reason is pretty simple: Their money — and their influence — goes a lot further. read more...

Giving for Results
Measuring outcomes to improve grantmaking

PHILANTHROPY MAGAZINE - How does a foundation or an individual donor define success in grantmaking? How can the results of an organization's or donor's grant investments be measured? Bruno Manno explores a results framework for foundations to recognize and measure the impact of grants, and the lessons he has learned along the way. read more...

For Modern Kids, "Philanthropy" is No Grown-Up Word
Young children and teens are more involved in giving

WASHINGTON POST - Young children and teenagers are getting involved in philanthropy more than ever, according to research and nonprofit experts, who credit new technologies with the rise of the trend. As young people increasingly become exposed to and connected with the problems of the world via the Internet and television, parents are finding new ways to instill in their children the value of giving. read more...

It All Goes Back in the Box
by John Ortberg

Is life one big game? Some people seem to think so -- they become Masters of the Board, attempting to amass all the fortunes and game tokens. But is the ultimate point of the game really just to win? Pastor and bestselling author John Ortberg offers a thoughtfully written examination of this game of life. He presents carefully considered tactics for succeeding in life from God's vantage point. Each chapter weaves the rules of gaming with the Christian journey: understanding the object of the game; the setup; how to play; hazards; and winning. Perspective is key; after all, when the game is over, it all goes back in the box. buy at Amazon.com...

Ron Blue is a member of the board of advisors of Excellence in Giving. He is also the president of Kingdom Advisors and the founder of a financial planning firm which grew to managing over $2 billion in assets. In a series of videos we will be featuring over the next several months, Ron unpacks key issues related to wealth, wealth transfer and estate planning:

Q: What are the three most important questions to ask myself about estate planning and wealth transfer?

A: Watch the video...