General Philanthropy

BOOKS

Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World by Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen. Readers are introduced to a variety of ways in which they can make philanthrophic contributions. The author, who believes the future of philanthropy is about more than just writing a check, shows how individuals of any age or income level can leverage technology, collaboration, and innovation to make giving more meaningful and impactful.

Generation Impact: How Next Gen Donors Are Revolutionizing Giving by Sharna Goldseker and Michael Moody. In the terminology of finance and philanthropy, “Next Gen” refers to the next group (generation) of family members that will inherit multi-generational wealth. This book tells the stories of Next Gen philanthropists who have a goal to transform philanthropy for an even greater impact.

Giving Circles

CHAPTER REFERENCES

Philanthropy Together Article. The organization Philanthropy Together has a goal of reaching more than 350,000 people across over 3,000 giving circles that will collectively donate at least $1 billion over the next five years. Some of the women leading this organization wrote a wonderful summary of Giving Circles for Activate Your Money. Space constraints led to an edited version appearing in the book; read the full original article here.

Giving Circle Essentials: A Guide for Jewish Giving Circles. This 57-page guide is a product of Amplifer, a network that fosters philanthropy inspired by Jewish values and wisdom. It explains Giving Circles and outlines how to start one using the methods and approach supported by Amplifier.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Over a dozen Giving Circle networks support hundreds of local circles. The easiest way to join an existing circle or start and get support for a new circle is to connect with one of these networks. Otherwise, you can search the internet for a circle in your local community using “Women’s Giving Circle” and the name of your city or county.

The following four women-focused Giving Circle networks help find women-only or majority women circles.

Impact 100 Council has over 50 chapters and has achieved more than $67 million in giving since its inception in 2001. Download for free all of the information and materials needed to start a circle from their website.

Jewish Women’s Funding Network strives to leverage member power to support gender justice through collaborative grant making, advocacy, shared learning, and expanded visibility.

Philanos supports the creation, development, and expansion of collective giving circles by giving a national voice to the high-impact collective giving movement. The group has more than 75 member organizations around the world, with over 17,500 women involved.

Together Women Rise aims to encourage global gender equality through education, advocacy, and grant making.

Many other Giving Circle networks support hundreds of circles with various affinities. Some examples are listed below.

100 Who Care Alliance supports a range of Giving Circles, including many 100 Women Who Care local chapters.

Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy supports AAPI circles.

Amplifier supports Giving Circles inspired by Jewish values.

Awesome Foundation supports projects they designate as “awesome,” $1,000 at a time.

Center for Arab American Philanthropy and American Muslim Fund supports Muslim Giving Circles.

Community Investment Network supports African American Giving Circles.

Giving Projects Network supports social justice philanthropy.

Latino Giving Circle Network is run through the Latino Community Foundation and supports Latinx Giving Circles.

Donor Advised Funds

CHAPTER REFERENCES

Community Foundations

Community Foundation Locator. This website is offered by the Council of Foundations, a network of grantmaking foundations and corporations.

Impact-Forward DAF Providers

ImpactAssets.  Few other DAFs offer as broad and deep an array of values-aligned investments, making ImpactAssets a trendsetter in values-alignment and personal-involvement opportunities.

Tides Foundation. This foundation targets higher-net-worth philanthropists who can meet its $100,000 DAF minimum.

Triskeles Foundation. Although they were mentioned in Activate Your Money as one of four impact-forward DAF providers, this foundation wound down its business in March 2021 and ceased operations. No explanation was provided.

RSF Social Finance. This DAF offers two values-aligned investments that require at least $5,000 to open.

An Alternative View on DAFs.

In her blog Rich & Resilient Living, Laura Oldanie, explains her views on being part of the F.I.R.E (financially independent, retire early) movement as well as her desire to invest money in alignment with her values. (She is mentioned elsewhere in Activate Your Money and on this website.) In this particular post, Laura explains why she thinks DAFs are often not socially responsible and why she does not have one., though she also offers suggestions for ways to increase DAF’s impact and points readers to DAF providers, such as ImpactAssets, that help use donations more creatively.