There are many considerations as we think about giving, yet the most important decision is to start. In this section, will find tools on vehicles for giving such as donor advised funds, creating a plan and focus for your giving, research on giving, resources on how to select nonprofits to support, and more.
The menu tabs below cover the initial considerations about how to give: tools, techniques, strategies and best practices. Whether you'll write a few checks a year or create a foundation or donor-advised fund, the resources below will help you get started.
Anyone can make a donation to a nonprofit organization - it's as easy as getting our your checkbook or credit card. However, for a woman who wants to create a fund to guide her charitable gifts, there are other options such as donor advised funds, foundation administration services, and giving circles.
There are many ways to make a gift. Whether you choose to write a check, donate stock (or, even, a car), give online to an individual nonprofit or to a fund that supports multiple nonprofits, or create a fund from which you will make gifts (such as a donor-advised fund or private foundation), is a personal decision. You may ask your financial, tax or legal advisor to guide you on some of the more complex options. Here's a quick summary...
Any nonprofit organization will gladly accept your contribution by check or credit card, and most have an online link for giving. Appreciated stock can be an excellent gift to make, in terms of value to the nonprofit organization and tax deductibility of your capital gain. Most organizations also accept tangible property, whether real estate or some other asset; keep in mind that these can be complicated to manage, and a smaller nonprofit may have to hire outside advisors to assist them in accepting such a gift. Each of these gifts can also be used to fund a donor-advised fund or private foundation: several resources in these areas are listed below. We also list below ways of giving as a group, such as a giving circle.
Learn Philanthropy and The Bridgespan Group's Give Smart are web-based tools to help you identify how you'll give. Strategic Philanthropy has created a comparative giving vehicle chart. The IRS offers Nine Tips for Charitable Taxpayers on the deductibility of donations. The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University offers a list of studies and statistics on trends in charitable giving and donor preferences.
A Symbiotic Relationship: Balancing the Use of Private Foundations with Donor-Advised Funds Can Meet a Philanthropist's Needs, an article by by Philip T. Tobin in Trusts & Estates (2011) compares donor-advised funds and foundations. Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Advice & Giving Survey (2010) found that less than half of financial advisors include charitable giving in their services, despite the their clients' desire for this services. We hope the resources offered by Catalytic Women help address this need.
Several consulting firms (see Getting Started: Consultants tab at top) have gathered stories from donors about why they give. Giveconfidently.com has themes around why people give. Bridgespan Group received significant funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to record donor stories, a project that is scheduled to launch through online videos in early 2013. InKnowVision has monthly webinars focused on how donors use charitable gifts to address complex income and tax issues.
These offer an approach similar to a mini-foundation, but at less cost and complexity. Donor Advised Funds are offered by:
In every state (and, often, by county) regional Community Foundations offer services to donors, including donor advised fund. See lists of Community Foundations in the midwest, northeast, southern and western U.S.
Donor Advised Funds are also offered by financial services firms, such as Schwab, Fidelity, and Vanguard.
Some Donor Advised Funds focus on an innovative approach to philanthropy. Impact Assets offers a fund for social venture philanthropists, and funds causes that include microfinance and new nonprofit models that address social issues such as poverty and affordable housing.
Some large charitable organizations also offer donor advised funds that allow support of other nonprofits (but may require a percentage of the total in support of their own work), such as The Nature Conservancy.
Creating a foundation can involve significant complexity and cost. One way to simplify is to outsource the foundation administration to a firm that specializes in the legal and financial requirements of grantmaking. Several well regarded firms provide foundation administration, including: Pacific Foundation Services, Leventhal Kline Management and Foundation Source.
National membership organizations provide resources and conferences for donors who give through foundations, including: Association of Small Foundations, Council on Foundations and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations.
Regional networks of foundations include Northern California Grantmakers, Southern California Grantmakers, Donors Forum of South Florida. For a complete list, see Regional Resources.
Giving Circles are a group of donors, each of whom commits the same amount to give in a year (for example, $1,000) and then collectively decides on grants that benefit one or several nonprofit organizations. Some giving circles have a geographic focus. For example, Impact 100 Sonoma makes grants in a certain area of Sonoma County. For a complete list, see Regional Resources.
Other Giving Circles focus on reaching certain kinds of donors. Using a related example, Impact 100 Sonoma is also a womens-only Giving Circle. Kiva is an microfinance organization that allows you to create a portfolio of microloans to individual entrepreneurs around the world and invite your friends to join you.
Some donor networks challenge each donor to give a certain percentage of wealth, rather than a set dollar amount. These include the One Percent Foundation and the Giving Pledge.
Crowdfunding is a tool to gather small donations from individuals and leverage them into significant social impact. See the resources on our Collaborations: Crowdsourcing tab for a complete list.
eScrip allows you to shop online and link purchases with certain credit cards to return a percent spent to schools and youth organizations across the country. KarmaWell is on online retail platform that allows you to designate a portion of purchases to the nonprofit of your choice.
Many nationwide networks exist where a donor can learn from others through online resources, conferences and workshops. Most of the resources below offer programs that are open to all donors.
Catalytic Women is one network of women donors that offers learning forums. In 2011-12, we offered a series of salon-style discussions with experts on various topics: Hear Hope Neighbor on High Impact Gifts and see her presentation from November 2011 in San Francisco; hear Dennis Jaffe on How a Family Passes Values About Wealth and Stewardship Across Generations and see his presentation from January 2012; hear Elizabeth Share on Focused Philanthropy: Clear with Yes, Kind with No and see her presentation from February 2012; see Yvonne Hunt's presentation on Amplifying a Woman's Financial Capital with her Intellectual Capital from March 2012 in Menlo Park. In April, Kirby Rosplock spoke on Women's Wealth in the Global Economy.
Women Donors Network and Women's Funding Network help women identify and fund organizations supporting women and girls. The National Center for Family Philanthropy addresses intergenerational philanthropy. Grantmakers Without Borders and Network of Network Funders focus on collaboration and catalytizing social change. The Threshold Foundation is a membership group of high net worth individuals who are interested in learning about wealth and progressive philanthropy. The Philanthropy Workshop West offers a yearlong cohort program and alumnae network that educates donors at various stages of their giving careers about philanthropy.
Other issue-focused learning and giving forums are listed in the Catalytic Women library under Getting Started: Issues and Nonprofits.
Giving Circles offer forums for like-minded groups, such as women, or regional groups to support organizations that meet their focus area. See the list of giving circles under Regional Resources: Giving Circles.
Several membership organizations focus on grantmaking effectiveness and professional development for grantmakers, whether foundation staff or individual donors. These include: Association of Small Foundations, Council on Foundations and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, and Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy.
Some learning forums focus on philanthropic, financial and legal advisors, yet offer opportunities for donors to learn about issues related to giving. These include the Purposeful Planning Institute and various networks of philanthropic advisors in Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Orange County (CA) and Seattle.
Learn from the extensive research that has been done by universities on philanthropy and impact, such as Boston College, Brown University, City University of New York, Indiana University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California. See additional information under Research on Philanthropy and Nonprofits.
The Institute for Philanthropy, Monitor Institute, and The Future of Philanthropy work in partnership with funders and others to identify trends and best practices. Look to The Urban Institute for trends, research and issues.
Current and past issues of the Stanford Social Innovation Review, published by the Stanford Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society, and More than Money, published by Bolder Giving, are useful resources on philanthropy and social change.
Many organizations offer trainings on various topics of philanthropy. The Philanthropy Workshop West offers a yearlong cohort program and alumnae network that educates donors at various stages of their giving careers about philanthropy. For a complete list see Conferences/Workshops on Philanthropy.
The best gifts will be the ones you care about most. Thinking about a Plan for your giving allows you to identify your focus area and the nonprofits within it. It also allows you to be clear on when to give, but also when not to give. Saying "no" to a worth nonprofit is difficult, for women especially. Yet we need to say no to some organizations (and friends who may ask on their behalf) so we can say "Yes!" to more organizations changing the world in the ways that are most important to each of us.
Below are resources to help you shape your Giving Plan, and find and support the nonprofit organizations that address the issues that are your passion.
Catalytic Women gathered in February 2012 for a discussion with Elizabeth Share on Focused Philanthropy: Clear with Yes, Kind with No. Download the podcast and presentation.
Several books walk a donor through the complex issues of how and where to give. Whether you are a new donor or a woman who wishes to refine and clarify her giving, these are excellent resources for any woman who is thinking about enhancing the focus and impact of her giving. These books offer practical guidance on how to begin: Giving 2.0 by Laura Arrillaga-Andreesen (2011); Inspired Philanthropy: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Giving Plan and Leaving a Legacy by Tracy Gary (2008).
Inspired Philanthropy offers a workbook approach, as does the Bolder Giving Workbook: Discovering Your Full Giving Potential.
For a more in-depth assessment of philanthropic impact, Money Well Spent: A Strategic Plan for Smart Philanthropy by Paul Brest and Hal Harvey (2008) delves into the challenges of issues, impact and timeframes for change on major societal issues, using some large foundations as case studies.
Many online resources provide an overview of issue areas where a woman can educate herself about challenges for nonprofits and opportunities to give. Charity Watch, Greater Good, the Foundation Center's "Gain Knowledge" and Independent Charities of America offer education and opportunities to give, provide information on issues and trends, and make suggestions on best organizations. The Foundation Center's Issue Lab provides free access to 11,000 reports, case studies, and other documents on more than 40 causes that nonprofits tackle on pressing social, economic, and environmental problems and potential solutions.
Catalytic Women, Give Well, Idea Encore and Inside GOOD offer online forums to share information on issues and organizations. Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers provides a directory of regional associations to easily locate philanthropy centers in your area.
Some online sites offer issue-specific blogs and resources, such as Wildlife Direct.
Online learning and giving communities exist that provide education and also facilitate online gifts at any level. Care 2 Make a Difference, E-Give, Global Giving, and Just Give enable gifts to a broad array of nonprofits. Just Giving, Network for Good and Razoo allow you to support an organization and also to create a giving community by inviting friends to support the a nonprofit you admire.
Some Online Giving Forums focus on a specific issue or region. Donors Choose helps you fund a specific education need by supporting a specific school or classroom. Give India and Help Argentina identify a range of services and needs in one country. Give 2 Asia focuses on a broader region; Eastern Bank's Community Room focuses on a smaller region in New England. Bring Light and Good Samaritan Guide enable gifts to a range of organizations within a spiritual framework. Virtual Foundation identifies global grassroots projects. Impact GiveBack and Universal Giving lists giving and volunteering opportunities with organizations across the world.
The National Center for Charitable Statistics offers research on nonprofits and giving trends. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has funded and gathered extensive information on effective philanthropy, including The Nonprofit Marketplace: Bridging the Information Gap in Philanthropy and related online resources.
Publications that provide news, information and discussion about philanthropy include: The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Foundation News and Commentary, The Nonprofit Times, Philanthropy Journal, Philanthropy News Digest, and the Stanford Social Innovation Review. The USC Center for Philanthropy and Public Policy provides useful background on each of these publications.
Websites offer extensive listings of nonprofit organizations, often with qualitative and quantitative information on each. Better Business Bureau, Charity Navigator and Great Nonprofits allow you to find data on individual nonprofits, or lists of nonprofits based on issue area or various lists they compile. Philanthropedia offers recommendations from issue experts on most effective nonprofits. Guidestar allows you to look up information on individual nonprofits by name of organization. Idealist provides volunteer opportunities and a chance to collaborate with like-minded funders. Some websites, such as The Nonprofits, list a variety of causes and provide links to organizations working in those issue areas. Give Smart, part of The Bridgespan Group, offers a donor decision tool which helps to streamline the nonprofit research selection process for individuals.
Many firms are available to help you with your giving. Some manage your assets, such as the donor advised fund vendors listed under Getting Started: How to Give. Others range from local to nationwide, boutique to large. Below is a list of philanthropic consultants.
We also encourage you to check the members of Advisors in Philanthropy, a unique networking organization that brings together financial advisors, philanthropic experts and fundraisers to share best practices in philanthropy and client-centered discussions about wealth.
Some firms offer experienced, small staffs who specialize in specific audiences of donors or challenges of giving. Catalytic Women works only with women philanthropists. Family Circle Advisors focuses on intergenerational and "next gen" issues. Some firms engage donors in a highly personal way: New Philanthropy Advisors and Philanthropy Indaba and create special trips for donors to have hands-on experiences of the social needs in other cultures and then create custom giving opportunities.
Inspired Legacies, PLC Philanthropy Services, Ridgeway Philanthropy, Strategic Philanthropy and Wise Giving work with a small number of clients on a wide variety of philanthropic priorities.
Some firms offer extensive staff resources, often located in offices around the country, to assist with your philanthropy. These include Arabella Advisors, Bridgespan Group, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, The Philanthropic Initiative (which merged with the Boston Foundation in 2012) and the Threshhold Group.
Many authors have valuable experience to share on the topic of philanthropy. Below are some studies, blogs and books on various aspects of effective giving.
The Foundation Center's Issue Lab provides free access to 11,000 reports, case studies, and other documents on more than 40 causes that nonprofits tackle on pressing social, economic, and environmental problems and potential solutions.
The 2010 Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy: Issues Driving Charitable Activities among Affluent Households, by the Center of Philanthropy at Indiana University and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Money for Good (2010 and 2011) studies by Hope Consulting provide insights into key decisions about giving. The National Center for Family Philanthropy and the Threshold Group released a National Study of Family Philanthropy Through the Family Office (2012).
Many books can guide you in your giving. Some focus on where to start, like Inspired Philanthropy: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Giving Plan and Leaving a Legacy by Tracy Gary (2008), The Guide to Intelligent Giving by Joanna Krotz (2009), and Giving 2.0 by Laura Arrillaga-Andreesen (2011). Inspired Philanthropy also offers a workbook approach, as does the Discovering Your Full Giving Potential, a workbook by Bolder Giving. Give a Little: How Your Small Donations Can Transform Our World by Wendy Smith (2009) is a wonderful book about small gifts that can make a big impact.
Others focus on strategic impact, including Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits, by Leslie Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant (2008) Give $mart: Philanthropy that Gets Results by Tom Tierney and Joel Fleishman (2012), Money Well Spent: A Strategic Plan for Smart Philanthropy by Paul Brest and Hal Harvey (2008), and Strategic Giving: The Art and Science of Philanthropy by Peter Frumkin (2006).
A few address money and meaning, such as The Soul of Money, by Lynne Twist, and What Your Money Means by Frank J. Hanna. For information on wealth across geographies and giving trends, Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth about Compassionate Conservatism by Arthur C. Brooks (2007) offers some surprising facts.
Publications that provide news, information and discussion about philanthropy include: The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Foundation News and Commentary, The Nonprofit Times, Philanthropy Journal, Philanthropy News Digest, and the Stanford Social Innovation Review. The USC Center for Philanthropy and Public Policy provides useful background on each of these publications.
To stay current on issues, challenges and best practices, there's nothing like an online forum. Many experts blog about philanthropy, giving and the nonprofit sector, including Catalytic Women, the Center for Effective Philanthropy, the Center for High Impact Philanthropy, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Giving 2.0, Gift Hub, Give Smart, Inspired Dialogue: Catalyzing Change, Philanthropy 2173: The Future of Good, The Philanthropic Initiative and Wise Giving.
Resource Generation has a blog focused on issues facing young people in philanthropy. Seedlings: The Blog of John A. Warnick focuses on sharing values and legacies within families and across communities. The Give a Little blog shares tips on small gifts with big impact, and good ways to involve (and benefit) children.
Several excellent sources of news about philanthropy allow you to subscribe to regular (often weekly) updates on top stories in giving and the nonprofit world. These include the Chronicle of Philanthropy and Future Leaders in Philanthropy.
Some blogs focus on issues facing the broader nonprofit sector. Beth's Blog addresses how nonprofits are using social media to create change. Nonprofit Online News covers nonprofit management and grantmaking. White Courtesy Telephone offers news, opinions and commentary from inside the nonprofit "third" sector.
