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Why Are Millennials Using Community Foundations To Give?

By SIdney Hargro
July 14, 2015
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In 2010, Mark Zuckerberg joined a group of other U.S. billionaires in a pledge to give away half of their funds Led by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, The Giving Pledge (as it is known) is a call to the world’s wealthiest individuals  and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. After the pledge what was his next move? In 2011, he gave almost $500 million in stock to create a fund at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, currently the nation’s largest community foundation.  In 2013, he followed this up with a gift of 18 million shares of Facebook stock (almost $1 billion).  However, it’s not just Zuckerberg who is opting to work with a community foundation. Last month, GoPro camera company founders, Nicholas and Jill Woodman, gifted $500-million to start a fund at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. No specific details have emerged detailing why the community foundation was chosen as their philanthropic partner. However, the following benefits were possibly among the deciding factors.

  1. Gifting to a fund at the community foundation is not giving “to” the community foundation. Givers get an immediate public charity tax deduction but have the freedom to recommend grants to a confirmed charity of their choice.
  2. Community Foundations understand that local donors have global interests. Whether the “community” a donor wishes to support is local or global their community foundation is available to assist them in making a difference.
  3. Community Foundations are social enterprises. Fee revenue received supports the greater work of the Foundation and fuels a business model designed to be permanently self-sustaining.
  4. Community Foundations are in the business of social impact results (not transactions).  Givers will find that the greatest value of an effective community foundation is a laser-like focus on flexibility and the results of their generosity (not simply the giving transaction).
  5. Community Foundations understand that giving is personal.  The main reason that we may never know Mark Zuckerberg’s motivation is because handling your philanthropy through a community foundation can be as anonymous as you wish for it to be.

(Photo credit: Andrew Feinberg via photopin cc)

4 Ways to Give ‘Til You Drop On #GivingTuesday, December 2

By SIdney Hargro
November 10, 2014
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“Shop ’til you drop!” Although there is no connection between this familiar idiom and the annual holiday shopping ritual, you wouldn’t know it by observing consumer behavior.  Ever since the 1960’s, we’ve designated days to acknowledge and encourage increased shopping during the holiday season. First, it was Black Friday (originating in Philadelphia). Then, the advent of e-commerce paved the way for Cyber Monday.  Soon after this the “buy local” movement and American Express gave us Small Business Saturday.

However, this period is not only known for online and in-store sales. Did you know that from Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Day nearly a quarter of all household charitable giving occurs? In 2012, nonprofits designated #GivingTuesday to attract resources for their cause. #GivingTuesday was started by 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation to promote and celebrate giving rather than consumerism. Over 2,500 nonprofits and partners sparked $10 million in donations during the first year.  Last year, 8,300 nonprofits and partners combined to surpass $27 million in giving. #GivingTuesday is now a global movement of giving.

Whether you can give a little or a lot, you can participate in #GivingTuesday.  Here are a few ways to take a small step toward having great impact on your favorite cause:

  • Create an annual giving tradition by using  VolunteerMatch to identify volunteer opportunities in your area for the whole family.
  • Start an #unselfie campaign. Post an #unselfie (a photo of you stating support for your favorite cause) on social media using the hashtag #GivingTuesday or #GivingTuesdaySJ for South Jersey.  Announce the cause you plan to support then challenge your friends, followers, and connections to declare support for their favorite cause by doing the same. It’s like the Ice Bucket Challenge without getting wet.
  • Visit the Proven and Promising section of the Community Foundation of South Jersey website to find giver-nominated effective programs in South Jersey to support.

Let 2014 be the year you create a new giving tradition during the holiday season. Give ’til you drop then pass it on!

These 4th Graders Are First Taught to Fail, And Then To Change the World

By SIdney Hargro
November 1, 2013
Comments Off on These 4th Graders Are First Taught to Fail, And Then To Change the World

Award-winning educator, John Hunter uses a game to first allow fourth graders to fail, then solve complex problems, and  finally use what they learn to change the world.  The World Peace Game teaches skills and habits such as collaboration, generosity, team work, long-term strategic thinking, and much more.

ABOUT:
Original video, a film trailer, was found on the World Peace Game Foundation website. You can follow John Hunter on  Twitter @worldpeacemovie. For resources on the game and film check out the website and John Hunter’s TEDTalk.