II. Philanthropy Begins with a Gift
A gift is the manifestation of philanthropy, whether in the form of cash, stock, property, good advice, or volunteered time. For some, time and advice is easier to give than money; for others, the reverse is true. Giving wisely has become more complex: giving now vs. giving later, “investing” charitably, establishing an endowment, understanding tax implications, finding time in busy schedules. Ultimately, though, the act of giving is the necessary step that begins the dialogue between the donor and the needs of a community
An Interview with The Development Staff
What is a philanthropist?
Susan Barry: Someone who reaches beyond himself. Who has a vision that includes concerns for others in the community, and society itself.
Carol Golden: I don’t like to get too caught up in the semantics about the difference between charity and philanthropy, but to me a philanthropist is thoughtful; there is some deliberation about the way that person gives.
Is wealth a predictor of philanthropy?
Meredith Swan: I don’t think giving is connected to wealth. It has more to do with emotional well-being and generosity.
SB: I talked with a donor who came in with his daughter. Giving and thinking beyond themselves was part of the family history. As the family succeeded financially, they were able to be generous with their money. When they weren’t successful, they volunteered their time.
What are people trying to accomplish with philanthropy?
CG: Very often people come to us with a very specific idea of what they want to do philanthropically. They talk about a particular organization that is a part of their lives, whether a human services agency, a soup kitchen, their church, or a library, something they have been very involved with in their lives, possibly as a volunteer, maybe a recipient of services, a hospital for example. In almost every case there’s a personal experience that at least begins the conversation.
What is your role?
CG: I hope we provide a way of probing, pushing people to think beyond that one set of experiences, that one set of motivations, and help them discover within themselves those things which they feel most passionate about, those ways they would most like to be remembered.
MS: It can be very exciting to work with folks who have a less formed vision of what they want to do. I serve as a bridge; I like having discussions with donors about what interests them, what excites them, what upsets them about the world, what makes them happy about the world, what they’d like improved. They may come back and have a more extended conversation with a program officer or the vice president for program who can make a connection for them. The donor may not act on that connection, may decide to wait. But asking the question and listening to what the donor has to say can be a very fulfilling process.
CG: I had a wonderful experience this week with a woman who has no children. She came in thinking she had some very specific things she wanted to do, and we’re going to do those things. But when we talked about the size of her estate, she realized she might well have more than she wanted to leave two organizations.
She was able to begin to articulate those things she really cares about, and because I had the advantage of having some knowledge of things going on in the nonprofit sector, she was able to focus the other half of her giving on land conservation and programs that connect adult mentors and young kids who don’t have the advantage of being part of two-parent families. I think that she is very exhilarated that this might be the way she’s going to leave her mark.
She was also excited to know that, if during her lifetime, she becomes interested in other things, that she can come back to the Foundation and change her concerns or organizations. This can be a dynamic process, a relationship we can have over the next twenty years. It doesn’t stop on the day we first have the conversation.
Sounds like you’re counselors.
SB: For some people I talk to, it seems like this is the first time they’ve had this type of conversation with anyone. And perhaps next they share it with family members and their professional advisors.
CG: We’re fortunate enough to have access to tremendous resources because the Foundation is an institution that is touching so many aspects of life in our community.
SB: We learn an awful lot from our donors as well. That’s one reason I came to work at the foundation: the opportunity to give and get back. It puts some richness back in my day, no pun intended.
CG: I think it is the most satisfying work I’ve ever experienced in my 25 years of professional life. It’s so much about getting in touch with people’s values. We do help people to answer many of those technical questions, but the richness is in the joy and tranquillity we see in people when they begin to put some of these plans in place. They think, “I hope I don’t go soon, but when I go, some meaning will be left that is bigger than me, bigger than my family, bigger than my professional accomplishments.” And we get to be there to help make that happen. And sometimes I go home at the end of the day, and just say, “Wow.” I think we all feel so lucky to be doing this work.
The Foundation has assets of nearly $400 million. Does it need more?
CG: I do care about how much money comes to the Foundation, about how the assets grow because we see the needs far exceeding our capacity to support really worthwhile programs and projects. Our ultimate goal is to continue and build the philanthropic capital for the people of Rhode Island.
We try to be as knowledgeable as we can about the discretionary grants process. We watch the program staff deliberate, “How are we going to whittle down $4 million worth of requests for children and families to the $1.2 million we have to give away; who are we going to say ‘no’ to?” So I have a passion for attracting new partners to the Foundation.
Do you prefer unrestricted dollars to restricted?
MS: We usually have to prove the Foundation’s grantmaking worth and earn the donor’s trust. Part of my job is making the donor aware of our unrestricted grantmaking and programs. Perhaps eventually they will recognize the successes we’ve had and they’ll want to become part of that. It’s not something you can expect donors to leap in and say, ‘Yes.’
SB: When they get to know the Foundation and get to know the staff. As the trust develops, donors are more likely to think about it.
CG: I can think of one example of a couple who came in very clear about what direction their charitable funds will eventually do upon their deaths. Over a period of maybe five years, on their own, they came to me and said, “We’re so excited about the work the Foundation is doing, about how you’re focusing your grantmaking into important areas. We realize that when we’re gone, we’re gone. How will we know what the best way and the needs of the times will be?” They’ve since changed their wills to leave their estate to us in a completely unrestricted fashion. They came to that by watching what we do.
