Blog
Environmental Philanthropy, Pt. 1
Traditionally, when we think of philanthropy it’s in silos, all funneling top-down to a particular cause. The function serves established causes that have infrastructures already in place to (hopefully) rightly allocate the funding to scientists that are researching a...
Strategies for Impacting Education by Giving
You’ve carefully considered getting involved with education-based philanthropy and are ready to take action. So what can you do? These are a handful of my favorite ideas. Donate to Your Local Education Fund. Most school districts or municipalities will have something...
Consider Education-Based Philanthropy
Our public schools used to be a point of pride for our hometowns and cities. Nowadays, the conversation surrounding public education has taken on an increasingly pessimistic tone. A lot of the strategies for success are focused around outside solutions: vouchers,...
Choosing a Crowdfunding Platform
The strategies I talked about previously can be applied to every crowdfunding effort to create a winning campaign. With those tactics in mind, what platforms should you consider for a winning crowdfunding campaign? I have a few favorites. Kickstarter Kickstarter is...
Crowdfunding Your Nonprofit
We live in a time of unprecedented activism and not just politically. The number of causes that motivate people, and the access we have to contribute to what we care about, is on a level that I have only seen recently. This creates unique opportunities for...
Becoming a Voluntary Philanthropist
C.S. Lewis said, “For many of us, the great obstacle to charity lies not in our luxurious living or desire for more money, but in our fear—fear of insecurity.” With that sentiment, Lewis tapped into an instinct that makes us all Involuntary Philanthropists. For better...
Five Reasons I’m Wary of Retirement Calculators
Regardless of where you’re at in your life and career, the first question we all ask about retirement is, “Do I have enough?” That answer will depend on the lifestyle we envision for our retirement and the things we want our money to accomplish. The traditional...
Your Legacy and Alfred Nobel
Beloved cinematic truant Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” As our careers start to wind down, our retirement comes into focus, and we begin to think more lucidly about the time we’ve...
Cramming for Life’s Finals
We move quickly through our lives. In our earliest days, we’re just figuring out how to socialize and move through the world, exploring our interests and talents. Then comes college and careers and falling in love and kids and families. In our youth, we’re building up...
Most Americans Aren’t Prepared to Optimize Their Retirement
A recent report from the American College of Financial Services has me concerned about the ability of many Americans to succeed in retirement. Managing your money and understanding the systems and structures in place that can optimize your savings or potentially...