Blog
Let’s Get On With It
The current politically charged environment offers plenty of opportunity to become increasing concerned about the future. Martin Luther once said, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” I feel that this quote...
A Timely Resource
Recent events have many development professionals scratching their heads with regard to asking for needed funds. With all the media attention being given to the reduced economic activity and diminished wealth, not to mention an unprecedented health crises, it’s no...
A Current Opportunity
The current economic environment, although quite different in many respects, is somewhat reminiscent of the 2008 financial crises. Back then, financial markets responded by adjusting downward in value to reflect the reality of the time. I was meeting with a client of...
Thoughts on Jack Welch
Former GE CEO Jack Welch passed away this week. He once said, “Only satisfied customers can give people job security. Not companies.” I think a parallel can be applied to the philanthropic community. Charities are financially secure when they are supported by their...
A Valuable Influence
Early in my business career, I was fortunate to meet and visit with Sir John Templeton. Born in Pulaski, Tennessee, a graduate of Yale, the founder of the Templeton Growth Fund and the Templeton Prize, both of which have survived his death and continue to flourish, he...
Giving Thanks
Thanksgiving is past and Christmas is not far away. Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday have also passed. It has become a time of year when a lot of organizations are asking me for money. Most of what the merchants are offering are not in my size nor do they...
A Mentality of Abundance
Some people live with a mentality of scarcity and some with a mentality of abundance. Some think of charitable giving as taking a piece of their pie and giving it away so less pie remains for them and their family. But charitable giving is more like inflating a...
Showing Appreciation
When I was chair of our church’s endowment fund, we instituted a successful program of thanking our planned giving donors. In addition to the usual written and telephone thank you, we held an event every year for the legacy society. I referred to it as our “report to...
Intelligent Planned Giving
Michael Rosen, in his forward to the book, Donor-Centered Planned Gift Marketing, refers to planned gifts as the major gifts of the middle class. The point being, that no donor or charity is too small to not be involved in planned giving. Planting a tree under which...
Endowment Growth More Important Than Ever
Recently, articles have appeared that review the results of charitable giving for 2018. The results are in and they are not encouraging. Individual giving as a percentage of household income is not improving, and in many cases shows a small decrease. The biggest...