Is “Slacktivism” Slowing Us Down?

By Tara Smith

There has been and continues to be so much going on in our world and we tend to see it all flash by on our screens everyday. Since the global shutdown in 2020, it feels like there has been a different crisis for each day of the week tagged by a surge of social media sharing and hashtags. At the rate that we get information on social media, how effective are our responses? As the Communications Associate here at Phīla and the person behind @philagiving on Instagram, I work to educate the public about causes that align with their values and help interpret shifts in social discourse and dynamics happening on our social media feeds. While social media has been an effective tool in spotlighting different issues, giving a voice to all, building movements, rallying global awareness, and unifying people together in the pursuit for progress, it also has given rise to “slacktivism” and risks leaving action in the dust. 

What is “slacktivism”? It is a kind of activism that we all may find ourselves taking part in from time to time. It is defined as an act where individuals “support a cause by performing simple measures but are not truly engaged or devoted to making a change.” A simple measure in this context could signify a reshare of a post or story, using a temporary filter profile photo to show solidarity with a cause, signing a petition and forgetting about it, or liking a bunch of posts that resonate. While these actions can be helpful for raising awareness and donations to an issue in the immediate, they can also create a habit of reactionary activism and lead to a decline of momentum. 

I hope this topic does not dissuade you from resharing a post you identify with or signing petitions. It is important to share your perspective on important topics and help build awareness for causes you care about. But this is just the first step. We need to do more if we want to be activists. We need to bring ENERGY to the movement. 

I am not alone in thinking we need to do more. I am increasingly seeing the digital community share commentary on the lack of action happening in our society. Recently, in the wake of the tragic mass shooting in Uvalde, TX, I’ve seen posts similar to the one below being circulated around the feed. This is a different message than what we typically see - it’s a social calling out to everyone who uses the platform and engages in online ‘activism.’ This asks us to reflect on our actions and reminds us of the urgency to keep the momentum and not move on just because the media hype simmers down. 

I adapted this graphic and believe it is representative of the general sentiments circulating on social media.

We as social media users are capable of doing so much more than a simple reshare or like. It’s time to break this cycle and embark on a new era of social activism. 

Here are a few ways you can go beyond “slacktivism”: 

1. Learn about the post you are sharing. Read the caption, click the links, find the source, get connected with organizations involved, and learn about what you can do to help. 

2. Build out resources if you are going to share a post. Use your social media presence to add context and resources that you know your followers will respond to. Passively re-sharing posts on your story is reactionary activism and it does not do much in the long run.

3. Be an ally online and offline - speak up in your social circles. 

4. Get educated on the issue. We only see a handful of resources during a media hype, it is important to understand the history, context, and work being done to help contribute to change.

5. If there is a petition, sign it, share it, and don’t forget to follow up. If we want change we have to stay committed. 

6. Volunteer for an organization working on a cause you care about. 

7. Connect with local community groups and mutual aid networks.

8. Get involved in the political process and VOTE. We have the power to vote for leaders and policies that affect the causes and issues we care about. Learn more about congressional, state, and local elections and make your vote count! 

9. Reflect on your activism. What can you do differently?

10. Engage in philanthropy. If there is ever a time to connect with your giving, it is now. 

As we work to collectively amp up our activism in the digital era, I want to leave you with a quote from my colleague, Claudia DeCasas, that I find powerful and applicable to all of us who want to see change. She said, “we all affect the world we live in, whether we intend to or not. Philanthropy, to me, is the willingness to reflect on your own power and choose to make a positive impact with it.” I think this quote goes well beyond philanthropy and it sets the tone for how we can all practice activism moving forward.

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs): A Primer for Donors

By Janell Turner and Nancy Reid

The passing of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) last November signaled a commitment to repairing and reconstructing infrastructure consequential to the economic vitality of our nation after decades of neglect. The $1.2 trillion bill aims to improve public transit, reinforce bridges and tunnels, expand access to clean drinking water, and advance environmental justice. Importantly, a portion of the budget is allocated to help remedy decades-old infrastructure design and transportation policies that hindered economic growth in underserved communities.  

In a recent public statement, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reported on the bill’s transportation budget that directs resources to special programs designed to address the racial inequalities in our nation’s transportation system and infrastructure. But with a budget of only $1 billion, these efforts are unlikely to go very far. What additional investments are needed to establish and strengthen the economic infrastructure required to bring communities of color fully up to par?  And, as Taj James of Full Spectrum Capital Partners asked recently in a conversation about community investing, what forms of capital are our communities of color best able to absorb? And what forms of support can help maximize capital absorption?

While the infrastructure bill aims to amend the bricks and mortar needs of communities, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) offer an array of complementary investments into our communities’ social infrastructure. Certified by the U.S. Treasury, CDFIs are banks, credit unions, loan funds, and equity capital providers that use a combination of government and private sector capital to invest in low-income communities. Recipients of government CDFI funds have successfully leveraged billions in private sector investments to create jobs, build affordable housing, build essential community facilities, provide financial counseling, and invest in neighborhood revitalization initiatives.  

The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 initially gave rise to CDFIs by requiring banks to reinvest in communities that were stripped of access to capital through redlining. Almost half a century later, there are hundreds of CDFIs in the United States, ranging widely in size and operations. They include loan funds, venture funds, regulated depositories, and community development credit unions. In the summer of 2020 in response to Black Lives Matter protests, the treasurers of a handful of large U.S. corporations began to take notice of CDFIs as both an investment vehicle and as a way to invest in communities.

Donors who direct philanthropic capital into communities of color have begun to ask themselves what other tools may be available to support economic development. Increasingly, access to capital – affordable loans to consumers and business owners of color – has come into focus as a critical pathway to wealth creation. CDFIs can offer underwriting, diversification, and support for borrowers alongside tailored resources and innovative programs to foster economic opportunity and revitalize neighborhoods. 

While the opportunity to directly support community wealth building is attractive, donors should consider the following:

• CDFIs can deploy both philanthropic and investment capital.  An increasing number of CDFIs offer investment notes, which aim to return 100% of the funders’ capital with a modest, below-market rate of financial return. Placing loans in underestimated communities requires care and support, which must be funded through grant support. Funders can back either of these activities, or use blended capital approaches to do both. For more information on this investment approach, Capital Impact Partners is the largest minority-led CDFI in the country; their investment note is rated by Standard & Poor’s and investments can be supported with philanthropic capital as well.

• CDFIs vary broadly in their size and risk.  While many CDFIs fared better than banks in the great recession, funders should understand that any loan, or pool of loans, bears risk. While Standard & Poor’s began issuing ratings to some of the larger CDFIs in 2015, a nonprofit ratings agency called Aeris has gathered data on CDFIs since 2004 and issues ratings on over 150 CDFIs around the country to help investors and donors understand their financial exposure and impact.  

• CDFIs can offer targeted impact.  Changemakers focused on a particular geography, issue area, risk profile, or population can direct loans through existing organizations that have, in some cases, been building relationships in communities for many years. Aeris has built a helpful tool called the CDFI Locator. Investors focused on a particular U.N. Sustainable Development Goal can sort by the SDGs also.

• The financial services sector is innovating fast.  Several financial technology (fintech) and investment advisory firms are working to provide their clients with vehicles to access CDFIs. If your advisor hasn’t yet introduced CDFIs as an option for capital that doesn’t require the highest financial return possible, ask them! This type of investing sits at the intersection of return-seeking investment approaches and impact-seeking philanthropy. It may only be a matter of time before it becomes a mainstream option for donors.

• Donors may direct assets from a Donor Advised fund to a CDFI.  Some DAF platforms will allow grantors to direct DAF assets into pooled loan vehicles like CDFIs. Ask your DAF provider what options may be available to you. 

The first step when considering any new philanthropic strategy is to clarify your intentions. What outcomes are most important to you? Do you envision building affordable housing? Creating jobs? Helping small businesses get started? Think about what you’d like to achieve in your philanthropy and then seek out a CDFI that aligns with your giving strategy. If you’re just getting started and would like support in developing a giving strategy, Phīla Engaged Giving is here to help. 

Lastly, while supporting CDFIs can be a compelling complement to your philanthropic framework through grants and program-related investments, talk to your financial advisor before incorporating CDFIs into your personal investment strategy. To learn more about CDFIs check out  CDFI Investing for the Impact Investor published by Community Capital Management and A Foundation Guide to Investing in CDFIs published by Philanthropy Northwest. 

*The statements and ideas presented in this blog post do not constitute financial advice or an endorsement of a particular financial instrument. 

What I Learned About the Power and Community of Zakat

By Lauren Janus

Here at Phīla, one of our most cherished values is continuous learning. Sure, all of us have spent most of our professional lives in the nonprofit sector, and we avidly follow the philanthropic news. But we’re always especially eager to turn that new corner, or uncover that new aspect to giving that we’re less familiar with.

April 1st marks the start of the holy month of Ramadan; a time when Muslims around the world pause to focus on their family and their faith. I wanted to use Ramadan this year as an opportunity to learn more about an aspect of Muslim faith that I’ve been increasingly curious about–the practice of Zakat. Zakat is charitable giving mandated by Islamic law. It must be directed to the poor and needy, and totals–get this–between $200 billion and $1 trillion each year. It’s perhaps the most powerful source of philanthropic giving in the world, and yet in my mind, it’s not discussed nearly enough in our field.

Sufyan Sohel, CAIR-Chicago

To learn more about Zakat, I reached out to Sufyan Sohel, Deputy Director and Counsel at CAIR-Chicago, a nonprofit that advocates for and preserves the civil rights of American Muslims. Sufyan responded right away and very kindly discussed the basics of Zakat giving to me. 

Can you explain how the practice of Zakat fits into the Muslim faith?

Islam has five pillars of faith: faith, prayer, fasting, charity and pilgrimage. Zakat fits under pillar number four, charity. 

How are Muslims instructed to make their Zakat gifts? Are there guidelines?

Yes. Muslims are expected to give 2.5% of their assets in Zakat each year. Most of Zakat giving happens during Ramadan, mostly because that’s when people remember to do it. But giving Zakat during Ramadan is also considered to be an especially holy practice. Here at CAIR-Chicago, about 40% of our annual donations come in during Ramadan. 

What does Zakat giving look like? Is it just to established nonprofits?

Actually, no! Zakat gifts must be made to or in support of the poor. But this can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. For example, you can give cash to a local family you know is struggling financially. Or you can give to an organization that serves the poor. I usually give part of my Zakat to the Chicago Food Bank. You just can’t give to your immediate family members. But it makes no difference if you’re giving to Muslims or non-Muslims.

What about giving to your Mosque? Does that count as Zakat?

It depends. You can’t make a general fund donation to your mosque, but you can give to their Zakat fund. These are funds set up specifically for the purpose of Zakat giving and generally support a range of people in need locally as well as globally. Similarly, other nonprofit organizations will set up Zakat specific funds, or can apply to be designated “Zakat Eligible.” 

I want to thank Sufyan for his time and patience in explaining the basics of Zakat to me and our followers. I continued to be fascinated by this tsunami of giving that washes across the world each year thanks to the global Muslim community. 

For all those who observe this holy month in the Muslim tradition, Ramadan Mubarak!

Loving and Letting Go

Image by Emma Fabbri

By Stephanie Ellis-Smith and Janell Turner

Love is in the air! Valentine’s Day approaches and we are preparing to open our wallets for roses, candies, and nights out (masked or maybe delivery). While that’s all fine, we’d like to use the time to talk about a different kind of love. The ancient Greeks had at least eight or nine words for love. The most well known are eros (romantic love), agape (the highest form of love that is unconditional and spiritual) and philos or philia (brotherly love or friendship). 

Philia is the love between equals who share goodwill toward each other, the root of the word philanthropy. Ancient Greeks defined this deep feeling of friendship to include loyalty, the sharing of emotions (both good and bad), and a sense of shared sacrifice. Philia is a virtuous, intimate companionship that in its highest and best form, can describe philanthropy. It’s that aspirational sentiment that informs the name of our boutique advisory and the premise by which we operate. Though our work is only with donors, we are extremely conscious of the roles and balance between the givers and the beneficiaries they wish to serve. But philanthropy is in the midst of a period of profound change. Post 2020, managing that balance is no longer enough. We saw that the basic systems of governance, health, and justice that we assumed would support us and nurture us instead failed us. Givers and philanthropic professionals alike took hard assessments of themselves and decided that to do our part in repairing these systems, a bigger, greater love was needed.

Perhaps instead of philia, it is agape, the selfless, unconditional love for the entire world: neighbors, strangers, everybody is a better expression of our hopes/desires for philanthropy. Existing on the spiritual plane, it is the highest form of love – and the one in shortest supply in today’s society. Empathy fuels agape; it is given freely without any desires, expectations, or judgment. 

We’ve begun to see this kind of self-sacrificing love take root in the world of philanthropy, particularly within the realm of donor-beneficiary relationships. Donors are beginning to seek authentic relationships with beneficiaries where open, honest, and transparent conversations can take place. They are letting go of some of the limiting norms and narratives regarding performance, outcomes, reciprocity, and recognition that have defined traditional philanthropy. They are more focused on and curious about systemic flaws in society rather than their manifestations and are willing to experiment with new ways of giving. Most importantly, they are beginning to acknowledge their inherent power as givers and make room for others at the decision-making table.  

This agape framework defines our hope for philanthropy in the future and where we at Phīla believe philanthropy is headed. In our client conversations, we’re diving deeper into the “why” and “for whom” of their giving with less emphasis on the “how” and “what” as leading strategies. 

Put into practice, this approach to philanthropy may be expressed through the six Trust-based Philanthropy principles aimed at advancing equity, shifting power, and building mutually accountable relationships:

• Offer multi-year, unrestricted funding

• Do your homework first

• Be transparent and responsive with your beneficiaries

• Streamline your required paperwork

• Solicit and accept feedback on your practices

• Offer support beyond the check

We acknowledge that it’s not easy making these shifts, but the times are asking us to reevaluate past practices with the hope that we will forge a new path forward. Will it be a success? No one knows, but we do know that (quoting The Great One, Wayne Gretzsky) “you miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take”. Taking a shot might mean getting out of your comfort zone and plunging into the unknown where the highest expression of love and vulnerability intersect. It might mean taking risks and accepting whatever losses that come with letting go. But what is there really to lose? We challenge you to confront your assumptions about your role as a giver and incorporate the spirit of agape into your philanthropic practice. If you would like to learn more or want support in incorporating these principles in your giving, let’s talk. Happy Valentine’s Day!

This is the Year

by Lauren Janus

In early December of 2021, our full Phīla team enjoyed a rare treat in these pandemic heavy times. All five of us met for an in-person mini-retreat in Seattle. 

We used the meeting to dive deep into the values we as a group bring to Phīla and our work with clients. Importantly, we reaffirmed our commitment to Phīla’s core values of empathy, respect, knowledge, collaboration, and continuous learning. 

Yet we kept coming back to one additional value or core principle in our conversations: we hold our clients and their philanthropic aims in such high esteem that we clearly tell clients when they need to make changes to their giving. We don’t pander, overly congratulate, or stay silent when we see ways our clients could be giving in a way that better serves their stated values. 

Therefore, here’s what we want to tell you, our clients and friends, in 2022: plan on making significant political donations this year. Here’s why.

• For the first time since it was decided in 1973, Roe v. Wade is in clear danger of being overturned. This is a terrifying possibility for women, families, and our society as a whole.

• While awareness of the need for racial justice in America is growing, actions haven’t caught up with the rhetoric and this needs to change starting in 2022. 

• And finally, the recent suburban wildfires (in winter!) in Colorado prove that our planet is on a rapidly warming trajectory with no signs of slowing. 

The most powerful thing we as ordinary citizens can do to avert these dangers and set our country on a truer path toward justice and healing in 2022, is to support political candidates who share our sense of urgency on these issues. This means voting, but it also means giving to and volunteering for political candidates and causes in a big way.

This November, 34 of 100 seats in the Senate will be up for election. Those elected in the fall of 2022 will begin their six-year terms in January of 2023. 

Currently, the Senate is split 50/50 with the slimist possible control in the hands of the Democrats, thanks to Kamala Harris and her tie-breaking vote. The GOP, once a party of problem solvers and leaders willing to compromise for the good of society, is now controlled by extremists who feed on each other’s anger and resentment. The GOP can regain the Senate by netting a single seat in November. In the House, Republicans need to net just five seats to regain the majority. It’s going to be a very close election season.

By making significant political donations, you may feel you’re contributing to the outsized role of money in politics, and we hear you. But the fact is that when it comes to issues as critical as these–climate change, racial justice, gender equity and the preservation of our democracy in general–Congress alone has the power to create the kind of widespread structural change needed. Philanthropy is ill-equipped to solve these problems on its own. We must get the right people in the right seats starting in January 2023. 

As Marianne Williamson said, “You playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightening about shrinking so others won’t feel insecure around you. As you let your own light shine, you indirectly give others permission to do the same.”

From your friends and allies at Phīla, please don’t play small in 2022. Before you put money into a Donor Advised Fund or make a major gift to a non-political organization this year, pause a moment. Think about how much of that gift you could direct to a political candidate or cause in 2022 (and yes, forfeit the tax deductibility). Consider how impactful that gift could be on the full range of issues you support if it went to a 501c4 organization, or to a political candidate who can advocate for the issues that are most important to you.

We join you in your concern for our country and our world in these trying times and hope you’ll join us in putting your money where your passions are in 2022. We’ll be right there with you.

Wishing you peace, health, and community in 2022.

Out With the Old and In With the New

By Stephanie Ellis-Smith

It seems like only a few months ago that I was summing up that infamous year, 2020. Yet here we are again sitting with the realization that we’ve made it through another monumental year. I don’t know about you, but 2021 seemed LONG. The Capitol insurrection on January 6th was this year. A new presidential administration was inaugurated this year. COVID vaccines became available this year even as new variants continued to emerge. Texas fell into a deep freeze and Ida nearly blew the Southeast off its axis, while much of the West went up in flames. We cheered for amazing athletes at the Tokyo Olympics! The multi-talented Zaila Avant-garde won the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Britney was freed, and billionaires launched themselves into space this year as well. 

We also lost many amazing people. There are too many to list, but those public figures who stood out to me are Tommy Lasorda and Elgin Baylor, sports icons from my childhood; statesmen Colin Powell and George Schultz; iconic artistic figures like Cicely Tyson, Chick Corea, James Levine, and Beverly Cleary; activists who gave so much of their lives for justice, like Chief Leonard Crow Dog and William Sterling Carey; and of course, the gone-too-soons: Virgil Abloh and Michael K. Williams.

As I read through all that happened this past year, one thing struck me the most. These are all experiences we’ve shared together: laughter at silly TikTok dances, elation and pride for the global scientific community on their incredible achievements, grief at so much loss (the needless and the inevitable), and just the daily grind of getting through one day at a time while navigating too much uncertainty. 2021 did its best to try to start off on a hopeful note--we were desperate for a fresh start after a terrifying 2020. But instead, we descended into greater division and chaos than we had before. I have to hope for a fresh start again in 2022. Maybe if we all can acknowledge our common humanity despite our profound differences, we’ll have a chance in 2022. 

The holidays are such a busy time, and especially this year given we have some semblance of normalcy. But perhaps we can spend a few moments each day thinking about our deep ties to each other and what it means to belong. Cultivating belonging and community amidst so much division is an uphill battle for sure, but it is one we must continue to fight. We’ll explore this theme more in our January blog but, for now, I will end the final post of 2021 with wise words from Chief Seattle:

“Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.”

Best wishes for a safe and joyful New Year!

The Science Of Compassion

Image by Gerd Altmann

By Stephanie Ellis-Smith

Given that we’re approaching year-end and many folks will be thinking about making their final year-end gifts to charities, I thought it would be a good time to re-up this post from 2019 about compassion. It just lands differently after the events of 2020. We have experienced so much collective trauma these past two years that I felt we ought to be reminded of the fundamentals and the root of philanthropy--love of humanity. Please have a read and let me know what you think. 

***
Last week I went to a charity luncheon that raises money to house Seattle’s homeless. After client testimonials and The Ask, we were introduced to the keynote speaker, Shankar Vedantam, the host of NPR’s Hidden Brain. Apropos of why we were there, he spoke to us about compassion and how it is accessed and processed (or not) in our brains.

As someone who for over 20 years has relied upon and tapped into the compassion of many in order to do my part in making our society more livable and equitable, I was captivated by his words. I know that when we help others, we experience greater happiness than if we had done something for ourselves. Now science has weighed in and has offered proof that it’s true. 

One well-cited study shows this clearly. Two groups were given varying sums of money. One group was told it must give the money away, whereas the other group was instructed to spend it on themselves. Consistently and across variables, persons in the first group had greater neural activity in key areas of the brain and were seen as happier than their self-indulgent counterparts. And this neural activity was present even in the mere anticipation of giving money away to help others. In other words, we are hardwired to do good. So why don’t we do it all the time?

Vedantam explained that just as there are predictable triggers in our brain for generosity and happiness, there are barriers to them as well. He shared three with us, and I noticed that the first two address an issue that we talk about all the time in philanthropy: the quest for impact. 

The first barrier is distance. It’s much easier to help someone right in front of us than someone who is miles away. Responding to the immediacy of someone’s needs is a knee-jerk response for most of us. However, when someone far away is in crisis, the time it takes to learn of the problem and then to get your relief delivered, causes many of us to lose interest or become more apathetic than we’d like to be. The reason, Vedantam says, is because we don’t get that immediate rush of happiness that comes from having done well by someone. Helping close by is evolutionary. 

The second barrier is scale. For many of us, when confronted with massive problems that we can’t readily solve, we tend to shut down or simply just ignore it--think about homelessness, climate change, etc. You are not alone if the sheer scope and magnitude of the world’s most intractable problems leave you feeling exhausted. It turns out that we are genetically and neurologically predisposed to being overwhelmed in these situations. When we don’t feel we are having, or can have, a positive impact on a negative situation, we are less inclined to help.

The final barrier is what’s called “the bootstrap narrative.” We have all heard it said that if a person is in trouble, they should “pull themselves up by their bootstraps” and fix their own problems. It’s a widely held notion, but research debunks the idea that the first person who should help someone in crisis is that very same person. Vedantam cited a famous study called the Minnesota Starvation Experiment, which showed that a person’s mind becomes entirely captured by the thing they lack (especially if that thing is essential, like food, housing, or even a drug). In fact, they can think of little else. Scientists have learned that scarcity captures the mind and the afflicted are in fact the least able to solve their own problems. They lose the ability to think rationally and instead do the things that may manage the scarcity today, but do nothing to address the root cause of their problems. Watching people make what we can clearly see to be “poor choices'' makes our compassion for their plight go out the window. But our expectations are unreasonable. Bootstrapping while in distress simply doesn’t work.

So what can we do to override or outwit our brain’s wiring so that we can be compassionate all the time? Well, apparently it takes very little—and you don’t have to be a martyr either. We just need to remember that: 

1. Compassion is contagious. When we are working at something with others or if we even see another person toiling away at something good, we tend to be more eager to join in and to help.

2. Break it down. Instead of thinking you must rescue all stray animals in world, find one. When we can more readily see our impact by breaking off a small piece of the problem and we “solve it,” we’re more apt to do it again, and so will others. (See point #1.)

3. Compassion lives everywhere. There are many ways to exhibit compassion, so don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s all about money. Making a call to check in on a grandparent or mentoring a teen, goes a long way toward making a difference in the world. And when we do it, we give something more valuable than money—time.

Being compassionate is a part of what makes us human. As we get strategic with our philanthropy, let us not complicate what it’s all about in the end.

Tough Talk

By Stephanie Ellis-Smith

Having tough conversations are often a necessary part of social change -- both in funding it and in carrying it out. But how do we have a tough discussion that gets our point across without it coming across as a personal affront? I was recently asked to present a webinar for the National Center for Family Philanthropy on how to navigate difficult conversations. I found preparing the material to be a fascinating exercise because it forced me to think in clear and in no uncertain terms how exactly that is done. As a result, I thought I might share a few tactics I’ve learned with you and hope you will find some of them useful. 

But before I get to the tips, I want to linger on the conversations themselves. From where do they arise and what exactly makes a conversation difficult? There are a few key elements that come together to make for gnarly conversations. The first is simply two people having differing perceptions. We each see our reality as right and rational and we have different interpretations of the same event or issue. But our interpretations come from different life experiences that have shaped the lens through which we view others, issues, or conflicts. Those differing views can clash.

We assume others’ intent but we do not know what a person’s intentions are. Only they know that. Unless someone explicitly states their intention, again, we do not know their intentions. We cannot assume. Yet, we do.  

We also come with impassioned feelings. Oftentimes the main reason why conversations go off the rails is because of the intense emotions that are behind the topic-big or small: race, politics, children or even things as mundane as the timing of a family gathering. They can affect our ego, sense of belonging; they make us feel vulnerable at the wrong time and then emotions run high.

Finally, we search for someone to blame. Someone has to be at fault. Blame is about making judgments, but effective conflict management is about learning from mistakes, understanding different perceptions of the same reality, and adjusting one’s behavior for better results in the future.

The past two decades have given us no shortage of opportunities to have difficult conversations. Whether they’ve been at the dinner table with friends or family, in the office with colleagues, or even in the grocery store with a total stranger. The worst are those when you find yourself in a confrontation with someone you actually care about or with someone with whom you’re in a relationship that you would like to preserve. How do you get your point across yet still honor the relationship, be liked, loved, and cared for? Here are a few tactics I use if you find yourself facing a tough conversation. 

Prepare. These are not conversation to go into haphazardly. We need to prepare for them. First by reflecting on what you really want or need from the conversation. Keeping the purpose clear will aid you if things turn sour. You can always recenter yourself in purpose if you lose your way.

Define what success will mean. What it will look like will be different for every situation. Sometimes success will be getting someone to change their mind or do what you want. Other times it may be as simple as awareness of a differing point of view. Manage your expectations by going into the situation with this point clear.

 Don’t avoid it. Remember, it’s conflict management, not conflict avoidance. While it may be tempting, avoiding the issue will not make it go away. In fact, small issues simmering in the background can grow into bigger, more intractable problems if left alone to fester. 

Make it safe to talk. Having a “safe” conversation means the other person feels they can trust you. You can build that trust by acknowledging your mutual purpose—you’re both there because you’re upset and want to leave feeling better. 

Listen. “Seek first to understand and then to be understood.” Good listening in a conflict situation requires an open and honest curiosity about the other person, and a willingness and ability to suspend judgement. Listen because you care, not to prove them wrong.

 Ask open-ended questions by beginning with “Help me understand…” or “Tell me more about…” To make sure you are getting the accurate meaning, you can paraphrase what you heard back to them. And finally, acknowledge feelings. I mentioned earlier that it is a key component to what causes these interactions in the first place, so you don’t have to ignore them!

Separate intent from impact. We all come into situations with our own narrative. Be honest and check what assumptions you’re coming in with. The authors of the book Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most (Viking Press, 1999) said it perfectly: “It is common during a difficult situation to make an attribution about another person’s intentions based on the impact of their actions on us. We feel hurt; therefore we believe they intended to hurt us. We feel slighted; therefore we believe they intended to slight us. Our thinking is so automatic that we aren’t even aware that our conclusion is only an assumption.” 

Use “I” statements. Sentences that start with “I” are less inflammatory and they keep responsibility for what is expressed with the person doing the speaking. 

Attempt a solution. I use the word “attempt” here purposefully. Some difficult conversations, like those about race, may not have an immediate solution. Expect and accept that there may not be closure. It is not likely that you will resolve your personal understanding about discrimination or another person’s life experience that drove them to hold a certain view in a single conversation. Authentic and productive conversations about anything difficult are continuous and always evolving. We don’t always get closure. 

Follow up. If this is a relationship that needs to be nurtured, following up is always a nice gesture. Was there any unfinished business that can be taken care of? Is there an opportunity to reset casually on the phone or over e-mail (a little distance). If it feels right, do it.

 All of these tips require a high EQ and an ability to have self-knowledge. Not only must we know ourselves, we also must tap into the spirit of our partner in dialogue. What moves them, what triggers them, what kind of delivery are they most apt to hear and respond to? (story or data?). It requires energy, thought, and time, but the effort is usually worth it. And, you will find that it does get easier with practice.

What Matters Most?

By Nancy Reid, Impact Strategist

You know it when you see it—a person or group who knows what matters most to them, and who acts accordingly. Some of them are lucky enough to have resources—philanthropic capital, investment capital, social capital, and time—to bring to bear in addressing those issues. The WNBA players on the Atlanta Dream who spoke out for voting rights in Georgia and Patagonia and its decision to withdraw its products from fundraisers for sedition-backing politicians both strike me as examples of people and groups who’ve identified what matters most to them, and acted on it with boldness and clarity.

So I’m always amazed when I have the opportunity to work with people who are taking thoughtful action to advance the issues that matter most to them through philanthropy or politics, but who haven’t applied that same lens to their investing lives. They may have clarity on how they want to use their political or philanthropic giving in order to affect change in the world. They may volunteer on projects that are important to them. And they may even drive an extra 15 minutes to buy from a store that treats its employees well, rather than shop at one that doesn’t. But when it comes to their investing, they avert their gaze.  

We are all susceptible to this. Investing can be technical and obscure. It’s difficult to know where and how you can exert influence; and when we try, we fear we may risk losing all our money! But in a world in which the profit motive drives outcomes, from carbon emissions to hiring policy, those of us who own businesses bear some responsibility for actions taken on our behalf.  

How can we concern ourselves so greatly with each donation, and even stand in the supermarket aisle reading the fine print on food labels, while ignoring the pressures that our investment decisions are exerting on the world around us? For those of us lucky enough to have significant investments, the footprint left by our investing activity is far greater than that left by most of our other decisions.  

Like a philanthropic advisor, I have the privilege of guiding clients to greater clarity on what matters most to them, but in my practice, I help them find ways to reflect and advance those ideas in their investing lives.  I’m not a financial advisor—I don’t sell investment products or recommend specific strategies. Instead, I help people identify the issues and ideas that matter most to them and then use those issues as a framework to evaluate their current financial lives. Are you a feminist whose entire advisory team is male? Do you donate to environmental organizations while your investments include multinational corporations who lobby against climate change legislation? Are you wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt, while your portfolio includes for-profit prisons?

Not everyone feels ready to face the power they hold as investors, and to take responsibility for all that’s being done in their name. In many cases our choices are constrained by family members, trusts, and limited resources. When I work with a new client, in addition to asking about their learning and decision-making style, I also often ask about their appetite for disruption. For those who aren’t ready or able to completely upend their financial life, here are a few steps to consider taking as we begin to take greater responsibility over what we own:

• Before your next meeting with your financial advisor, write down a few questions you’d like to get answered and send them to your advisor in advance. There are no stupid questions. Questions like “Do I own oil pipelines?” or “Do any of my fees go to pay for lobbyists?” can be an easy place to start. If you’re feeling very brave, you can ask more difficult questions like “What’s the gender composition of the boards of the private companies in which I hold investments?” Keep in mind that these may be new questions for your advisors as well, and they may not be able to answer right away.

• If you’re looking for ways to engage your adult children in the topic of investing, ask them what kinds of business behavior they wish they could see in the world. Are they concerned about carbon emissions, forced arbitration for sexual harassment claims, or hiring practices? If so, working with your advisor to research these practices among the companies you’ve invested in may be illuminating.

• If you have a donor advised fund (DAF), ask your representative how the assets in your DAF are invested.  Most DAF platforms have “socially responsible” investment options that you may not know about—and that even your representative may not know about. Switching to a socially responsible investment option probably won’t make a big difference in the real world, but it may send a message to others that you are interested in this topic.  

I’m not here to tell clients what to do or how to invest. I am here to ask gentle questions about what matters most, to dare people to be just a little more brave than they were yesterday, and to share a vision for the impact that thoughtful investors can have on their advisors, their communities, and the global financial system.

We are thrilled to have Nancy join the Phīla Giving team as a collaborator. She can be reached via email at “nancy (at) philagiving.com”. And here are a few resources that you might find useful.

What Nancy’s reading this month:

• The World May Be Better Off Without ESG Investing: "Contrary to what many investors think, most ratings don't have anything to do with actual corporate responsibility as it relates to ESG factors. Instead, what they measure is the degree to which a company’s economic value is at risk due to ESG factors.”

• A stock market test for stakeholder capitalism as public benefit corporations go public: "Early data suggests publicly traded public-benefit corps. trade at a premium to other companies in their peer group.”

Where you can find Nancy teaching later this month:

Activate Your Money: Impact Investing 201

Bringing the Family Business into Philanthropy

by Stephanie Ellis-Smith

I’ve been reading a lot about what has become of all the pledges business and corporations made to racial justice and economic equality after the reckoning of 2020. According to one statistic, of the $50 billion dollars pledged, only $250 million was actually given. Yikes. While that stat is almost entirely about large corporations like JP Morgan Chase, Google, and others, smaller family businesses can take a lesson from it. Today, more than ever, the world is watching not just what you say, but what you do--or don’t do, as the case may be!

So how does a business make good on its desire to give back at a time of great need? This blog post offers a few ideas to help you get started. And of course, we are always happy to have a conversation, if you have specific questions.

First, some data to set the scene. A study published in the Harvard Business Review found that family businesses maintain high levels of corporate social responsibility (CSR) regardless of what the business environment is. Additionally, an impressive 81% of the world’s largest family businesses are engaged in philanthropy, which shows just how important CSR is to family enterprises. 

Why do family businesses focus on philanthropy, corporate responsibility and giving back? Here are three key reasons:

1. To attract talent: millennials, as the largest generation, and Gen Zs moving into the workforce, all want to work at places that contribute to the common good. It’s a great tool for employee engagement and retention.

2. To deepen family legacy: this one is really important. The desire for an owner to pass on the business within the family is a significant driver behind an organization’s philanthropic goals. Ernst and Young’s recent Family Business Philanthropy report indicated that family business owners with strong trans-generational intentions are particularly concerned about the well-being of future generations, and are therefore more motivated to address long-term social and environmental issues by engaging in philanthropy. And further, participating in philanthropy as a family (at home or in business) helps to keep the bonds of family strong over generations. Giving together publicly demonstrates a family’s core values and unites them behind a common cause.

3. To strengthen their voice: organizations with a clearly defined purpose, often exemplified by a philanthropic strategy, typically experience more growth, have higher customer satisfaction, and have a reputation as champions for their community. Philanthropy is increasingly a key component to a strong brand.  Now that you have an idea of what motivates family businesses to do this work, we can talk a bit about how it can be done successfully.

First, start with WHY. As I always say to our clients, no one has to engage in philanthropy. Getting comfortable with doing a deep dive into motivations is key. What exactly are you looking to get out of it? Do you want to financially support some really incredible work that's already happening in your community? Do you want to engage your employees with volunteerism? These kinds of questions are important to ask yourself, because they will determine what type of nonprofit organizations you might work with, who should be involved, and what level of engagement will be necessary. 

You can find lots of advice and advisors who will tell you how to develop a CSR program in a quick and easy fashion that has a big return on investment, but Phīla does not believe in shortcuts. In this day and age, insincerity and slapdash programming are easily detected and you could end up doing more harm than good to your business. Take your time to ask yourself the right questions.

Decide on your goal or vision. When deciding on where you will have impact, it is not enough to simply settle on the vision that your CEO or founder is partial to. Vanity projects will only get you so far. Instead, create a thoughtful and intentional process that brings together family, customers, and employees to determine which issues lie at the intersection of the business’s mission and the unmet needs of your community. Spending time on deciding how the values the business espouses connect with your philanthropy will make it easier to make decisions in the long-run.

The objective of this exercise isn’t to arrive at a goal that sounds impressive. In fact, the simpler it is, the better. The goal is to arrive at a vision for your community that your company is best equipped to play a part in creating. The temptation is to jump right in to picking issues and organizations to support, but in reality, having a program you can be proud of and that has longevity requires learning about your community, listening for understanding from your stakeholders, and building trust. It takes time.

Don’t be afraid to take a stance. At this moment, during the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic, a fragile political environment, and calls for racial justice growing by the day, taking a stand means it’s likely that you won’t make everyone happy. The company must be prepared to decide if it is okay with losing business from certain groups since taking money from those groups would run counter to its philanthropic values and strategy. Being consistent and knowing the issues at hand are as important as ever. A couple of examples of how businesses take a stand on issues important to them are restaurants that make public that they’re discontinuing their use of plastic straws and telling customers why; or retailers who actively reach stock suppliers of color and state why they find it necessary. You get the idea.

Establish mutually beneficial partnerships with nonprofit organizations by doing the legwork to understand your company’s role in the broader ecosystem surrounding that goal. Get to know the community on a deeper level and learn how the issue you care about has had an effect, past and present. Think about what you really want to get out of your relationship with the community. If it's a big employee-driven, social justice initiative that the company really wants to step into -- like what Starbucks or Patagonia did with their environmental focus --  then that affects the kinds of conversations you have with nonprofits. You're not going to be working with a small community-based organization. They don't have the wherewithal to respond, they don't have the data, the metrics that a marketing team is going to need or want to justify it. That's going to be your much larger, maybe national, organizations that can meet you eye-to-eye, head-to-head, and give you the types of things that you really need. Conversely, if you're looking to be embedded in a community, then that's a different kind of conversation with maybe smaller organizations.

Family businesses understand the need to partner with nonprofit experts on the issues they care about, and even more so if they are looking to engage with communities of color. It is important to ensure that these are not token partnerships, but authentic and mutually beneficial for both the business and the local partner. (For a deeper dive into embedding racial equity into corporate social responsibility, check out a webinar I participated in called Turning Statements Into Action.)

Kristin Jarrett, a community and social impact strategist at Booz Allen, advises large and small businesses to meet with nonprofit organizations and ask them about what big problems they are trying to solve and how you can help. She wisely suggests that businesses stepping into the social sector should plan to “do some backwards planning and create ideas around how you could collaborate to really support them (i.e., nonprofits) in their mission.”

Regularly check in on your progress. Philanthropy is an ongoing commitment to achieve a vision of justice or equity in partnership with one’s community. Build accountability into the process from the start. The same diverse group of stakeholders who help set the vision for the program can also set the metrics by which you’ll measure your performance. While there is no legal obligation to meet these metrics, relationships with stakeholders — especially employees and external communities — are regulated by trust. Continued failure to meet stated goals damages this trust and sours the brand. Better to not do it at all if you can’t dedicate real time and energy to this involved yet potentially very rewarding process. 

In its best form, philanthropy in a family business environment is a healthy and mutually beneficial relationship between the business and the communities with whom they interact. The dynamic is also driven by the growing desire of socially-aware consumers and employees to do better for their stakeholders and the world at large.

As you consider embarking upon this work, you will no doubt find joy in connecting your family business with your community in new and meaningful ways. 

Summer Reads to Celebrate the Power of Humanity

Lauren Janus, COO and Philanthropic Advisor at Phīla Giving

A year ago this month, the world felt like an incredibly tense place. 

George Flyod had just been murdered, on camera, at the hands of white police officers in Minnesota. With no vaccine and uneven testing capabilities across the country, COVID rates were raging while medical experts issued daily warnings of the deadly summer ahead. It wasn’t exactly the sort of atmosphere that made you want to stretch out in your lawn chair, pour a cool drink and delve into the latest crime novel. 

Instead, in my “summer reads” blog post last June, I recommended a handful of excellent books that dig deep into the issues of race, poverty and inequality laid bare to us all in the past year. I still strongly recommend all of these books not only because of their subject matter, but also because each of them is highly readable and engaging--not quite beach reads, but close enough to make you think differently and want to pass along a copy to a friend.

While it still feels audacious to even suggest that this summer could be more normal than last, expanding vaccination rates and decreasing COVID deaths do make it feel less scary. I’ve been using this new breathing space to take a step back and focus on the broader beauty in the world, including the power of individuals to move the needle on social justice, family relations and a more just and loving version of humanity. 

If you’re in a similar frame of mind as the weather warms, here are some of my top book recommendations:

 A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: One Refugee's Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival, by Melissa Fleming 

It’s difficult to argue that any refugee’s story is not harrowing. But Doaa Al Zamel’s is truly incredible. Doaa is just a teenager when her fiance convinces her that the two of them should flee Syria for Europe after passing their life savings over to smugglers with a rickety boat. When the boat capsizes, Doaa (who cannot swim) floats for days on an inflatable tube clutching two toddlers, who were thrust into her arms by their drowning parents. Doaa’s story ends well, but its glimpse into the astonishing bravery, love and sheer grit of today’s refugees will stick with you. 

Interpreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri 

I first read Interpreter of Maladies nearly 15 years ago, not long after it was published and won the Pulitzer Prize. While this time around I remembered many of the stories in this short compilation written by the now famous Jhumpa Lahiri, every single one of them struck me anew for their achingly rich storytelling. Lahiri excels at telling stories of relationships--between lovers, family members and neighbors both in the U.S and in India. Not all of her characters behave well toward each other, but each of them needs each other in a very human way. Try stopping at just one of her stories in this short read.

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, by Patrick Radden Keefe

No, I’m not suggesting that the Sackler family represents a beautiful sort of humanity to be celebrated in these challenging times. Quite the contrary. Patrick Radden Keefe’s 2021 expose on the Sacklers is shocking, engrossing and peppered with moments of pure ickiness. The way members of the elder and younger Sackler clan have used their wealth and personalities to manipulate nonprofits, government officials and the American public to further swell the family’s coffers is increasingly horrifying as the generations replace each other. The bright light of this story is Nan Goldin, the 60-something photographer who spear-headed the first protests against the Sackers inside the museums (the Guggenheim, Smithsonian, the Met) which have accepted the family’s donations for decades. 

Keefe explains how Goldin, who herself suffered from an addiction to  OxyContin, organized fellow artists, students and victims of the opioid epidemic to drop empty prescription bottles on the floor of the Guggenheim lobby and stage a subsequent ‘die-in.’ Her efforts worked, finally drawing a bright light to the unfettered greed and morally abhorrent behavior of the Sackler family.

The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart, by Alicia Garza

Alicia Garza’s recent book is a similarly inspiring, authentic story of the power of the individual. Garza is the woman behind the original #BlackLivesMatter hashtag, and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement. In her 2020 book, Garza describes her childhood as one of only a few Black children in a predominantly white, upper-middle class neighborhood, and her entry into the world of community organizing following college. What makes Garza’s arguments so welcome in these divisive times, is her insistence that movements like Black Lives Matter are successful when they are accessible to everyone who, like her, are striving to move our country--and arguably all of humanity--progressively forward. 

Happy reading!

The Mother’s Day Legacy -Making an Impact with Planned Giving

Janell Johnson, Philanthropic Advisor

The origins of Mother’s Day are deeply rooted in philanthropy and grassroots advocacy. In response to appalling infant mortality rates and poor sanitary conditions, in 1858 Ann Reeves Jarvis organized a Mothers’ Day Work Club to mobilize women to take action by purchasing and distributing medical supplies and providing in home education to families in need. Their work later evolved into antiwar activism that led to unity and reconciliation among Confederate and Union soldiers.  

Members of the Mothers’ Day Work Club took bold action, responding to present needs in the community with their time, talents, and treasures leaving a lasting legacy. These values – health, welfare and unity – are still present in today’s modern nonprofit sector where women continue to demonstrate leadership, passion, and conviction. As of late, this leadership is on display for the world to see as stories of transformative women philanthropists fill the media airwaves. While we continue to honor the contributions of these incredible women, it’s important recognize commitments at all levels.  

As noted in this Forbes article on women philanthropists who offer advice to younger women on having an impact, regardless of one’s age or financial status there is room for everyone at the philanthropic table. You don’t have to be a billionaire philanthropist or social activist like Ann Reeves Jarvis to leave a legacy.  

Even if you are unable to give to charity right now, many women are leaving meaningful legacies that extend far beyond their lifetimes through Planned Giving. Planned Giving simply refers to the financial and legal tools used in the gift planning process. Many of us have life insurance policies or retirement plans that offer comfort and security during life and provide for loved ones, but did you know that these tools also make wonderful legacy gifts to charity? Gifts of this kind do not impact your current finances, they’re tax efficient, and are very easy to arrange.   

Here are a few simple gifting approaches and things to consider as you embark upon your gift planning journey:

Retirement Assets

If you are like most people, you probably will not use all of your retirement assets during your lifetime. Around 60%-70% of your retirement assets may be taxed if you leave them to your heirs at your death. Donating unused retirement assets, such as your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), pension or other tax-deferred plan, is an excellent way to support charity. Charities do not pay taxes on these kinds of gifts and benefit from their full value. Neither you, your heirs, nor your estate will pay income taxes on the distribution of the assets. 

Life Insurance

Naming your favorite charity as the beneficiary/partial beneficiary of your life insurance policy is the simplest way to transfer death benefit proceeds from the policy. For policies that have outlasted their original purpose, such as providing for minor children who are now financially independent adults, you might consider gifting the entire policy to charity. If you still owe premiums on the policy, the charity might choose to take over those payments. You may also consider making an annual donations to cover the premium costs in exchange for a lifetime income tax deduction. 

Beneficiary Designation Forms

It is not uncommon for retirement and insurance beneficiary designation forms to change several times throughout life to reflect your current relationships and financial goals. Often these changes can be made online or over the phone at no cost to you. The division of assets and gift values might be considered within the context of a comprehensive estate planning effort, but it’s not necessary. These are changes you can make on your own with the click of a button. Further, these gifts are completely revocable and can be changed at any time. 

Bequests

A bequest is a simple statement in your will that transfers assets to charity. It’s completely revocable and can be changed or modified at any time. Below are some common ways to approach bequest giving:

• Specific Bequest. A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset such as real estate, artwork, or a gift for a specific dollar amount. For example, you may wish to leave your home or $10,000 to charity. Keep in mind that valuations are important in order to ensure that the property being gifted is truly representative of your intention in leaving the property.

• Percentage Bequest. Another kind of specific bequest involves leaving a specific percentage of your overall estate to charity. For example, if you wanted to leave 10% of your estate to charity you might name one charity or divide that percentage among several organizations. This is heartful work and there is no wrong way to do it.

• Residual Bequest. A residual bequest is made from the balance of an estate after the will or trust has given away each of the specific bequests. A common residual bequest involves leaving a percentage of the residue of the estate to charity. 

• Contingent Bequest. A contingent bequest is made to charity only if the purpose of the primary bequest cannot be met. For example, you could leave specific property, such as a vacation home, to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is not alive at the time of your death, the vacation home will go to charity. 

Legacy Society Recognition

Many nonprofits have established member associations called Legacy Societies to recognize people who have given notice of a planned gift. It’s their special way of recognizing your philanthropic leadership and allows them to celebrate with you during your lifetime. There is typically very little process involved in joining a legacy society other than a verbal commitment and minimal documentation of your gift. 

If any of these ideas spurred new thoughts about how you might maximize your giving, reach out to me or your tax advisor/financial planner to join the movement by planning for gifts today that will make a big impact tomorrow. And Happy Mother’s Day!

It's Time to Upend the Status Quo of Charitable Giving

This blog is adapted from the original work created for the Initiative to Accelerate Charitable Giving.

Image courtesy of Unsplash

In addition to my work at Phīla Giving, I co-founded, with Christina Lewis, a nonprofit organization called Give Blck in September of 2020. Give Blck gives voice to 500+ Black-founded nonprofits and addresses racial equity by offering a comprehensive database for donors to find and fund Black nonprofits. It began as a response to individuals seeking a way to support Black-owned business and Black organizations in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in May of 2020. 

Given our involvement in philanthropy as non-profit founders and individual philanthropists, we are acutely aware that funding and investing in Black nonprofit organizations are critical – yet often forgotten – pieces to tackling systemic racism and inequality. We have seen first-hand how structural issues in the philanthropic sector slow money getting to working charities and the out-sized impacts they have on communities of color. The lack of transparency of donor advised funds makes it difficult for organizations to cultivate relationships with donors. Not to mention the fact that despite the hefty payouts during the pandemic, commercial DAFs are still sitting on billions of dollars that are already dedicated to the common weal but are sitting fallow instead. While these difficulties hit all organizations, the hit is disproportionally devastating to Black and BIPOC groups. Just this past February–Black History Month–only four percent of the $450 billion dollars donated to charity went to organizations led by underrepresented minorities. 

Through Give Blck, I have signed on to support The Initiative to Accelerate Charitable Giving’s reforms because they address outdated provisions in the current tax structure and reforming these charitable giving laws is a crucial step towards achieving racial and economic equity in our sector. What can be done? IACG has specific recommendations for reform for private foundations and donor advised funds.

For private foundations, while they are subject to a 5% payout rule to ensure a regular flow of dollars to tax-exempt public charities, savvy trustees can easily work around this requirement. At a time when every dollar counts, Congress should ensure that existing rules are reformed to fulfill their purpose by stipulating that:

• Private foundations cannot meet their payout obligations by paying salaries or travel expenses of foundation family members. 

• Private foundations cannot meet their payout obligations by making distributions to donor-advised funds.

• Donors cannot avoid private foundation status (with its attendant rules) by funding their entities through donor-advised funds.

Congress should also enact incentives and reforms to ensure that private foundations continue to play a pivotal role in the charitable ecosystem by distributing more of their assets to operating charities, such as:

• Reduce to zero the private foundation excise tax for any year in which the private foundation’s payout is 7% or more.

• Eliminate the excise tax for any newly created, time-limited private foundation with a life of 25 years or less. 

Donor-advised funds (DAFs), on the other hand, call for a completely different approach. They have over $120 billion set aside for future charitable gifts. The problem is that current rules fail to provide any incentives or requirements for DAFs to ever distribute their money.

DAFs can and should continue to play an important role in charitable giving, but there need to be rules to ensure that funds donated to DAFs are made available to working charities within a reasonable period of time. Congress should enact reforms that ensure that payout occurs by allowing donors to choose one of two regimes for their DAF donations: 

1. A 15-year DAF Rule under which a donor would get upfront tax benefits (as under current law), but only if DAF funds are distributed (or advisory privileges are released) no later than 15 years from the year of the donation to the DAF. 

2. An Aligned Benefit Rule, an alternative for donors who want more than 15 years to distribute their DAF funds, allows a DAF donor to continue to receive capital gains and estate tax benefits upon donation but would not receive the income tax deduction until the donated funds are distributed to the charitable recipient. This rule would create an incentive for donors to get donations to charities sooner. View details and other proposed reforms on their website.

It is critical that we implement IACG’s reforms now because we are in a unique moment of awareness and openness to examine how business has been done in the past and how it may aid in nurturing inequality at a time when more people than ever around the world are motivated to make the rules work better for everyone.

If these proposals become law, there will be short and long-term benefits that would do much to invigorate and make our sector more equitable. But we don’t need to wait for Congress to act. You can implement some of these changes now and on your own to move your money faster and more equitably.

We must be more deliberate with our philanthropic giving and intentional with regard to who we want to fund. Casual, colorblind donations to organizations, believing that somehow everything will work itself out in the end, will at best be ineffective as it pertains to dealing with pre existing racial disparities. It is far more likely that the absence of deliberate and meaningful reforms in philanthropy will only widen gaps that should be closing. 

My Time at Phīla: Reflections and Learnings

By Olivia Reiten

Olivia when she was a senior at the University of Washington and a new Phīla employee.

I wasn’t quite sure of the role philanthropic advising played in an individual’s everyday life before I worked at Phīla Engaged Giving. I had assumed it was mostly companies, businesses, or multi-generational families that utilized these advising services. My understanding of philanthropy was essentially that people picked what organizations or causes were important to them, with no real plan as to how much, how long, or why they were giving. I knew giving monetarily could create lasting changes, but I never fully understood the privilege an individual possessed to even be in a position to donate money in a significant way. Working in an environment that deals with individuals and families with significant wealth, and their ability to give it away, I had to reevaluate my own understanding of privilege - especially through the lens of philanthropy. My time at Phīla has shown me how incredibly powerful philanthropy can be when people approach giving with heart and honest intentionality. 

March and May 2020 marked two pivotal turning points within the world, and consequently at Phīla. The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and George Floyd’s murder sparked worldwide reaction and an outpouring of cries for fundamental change in support of social and racial justice. Philanthropic funding was put on center stage as a route to fund this change, and philanthropic advisors were working with donors to move money fast. Being at a small, young company allowed me the opportunity to work outside of the typical job description of an executive assistant and to pivot toward work intended to respond to these events. I was able to focus on areas that were necessary - and personally enjoyable - such as research and the creation of two important resources for the wider philanthropic community. Pull Up for Racial Justice and COVID-19 Response were Phīla’s contributions to the field and donors looking for ways to respond to the two biggest social upheavals in a generation. Taking on the responsibility of creating these two pages was a bit daunting, but it allowed me to further educate myself on the topics while also compiling accessible educational resources for others. Creating those pages involved some of my most memorable work I did while at Phīla, and it taught me how many of the world’s systems intersect with philanthropy at one point or another. 

 Now, being at a point of reflection, I have compiled some of the lasting lessons I have learned while working in the world of philanthropic advising and family philanthropy:

Philanthropy can be done in more ways than one.

At its core, philanthropy aims to help people and communities. While this still holds true, philanthropy has evolved in such a way that anyone can give in some capacity. Monetary contributions are only one avenue. It is also just as important to give via volunteering your “time, treasure, or talents”.

NextGen giving has huge potential.

The great wealth transfer will be instrumental in changing the landscape of philanthropy as we know it. Younger donors of my generation are interested in causes that have received less funding historically: climate change, racial justice, women’s rights, and healthcare access. This new generation of individuals coming into serious money has an attitude of “give it all away”, in the hopes of radically undoing our systematically unequal society. It is inspiring to see young individuals “put their money where their mouth is” and attempt to disrupt the status quo of “traditional” philanthropy. 

Where you choose to give really does make a difference.

While financially supporting big, legacy organizations will remain important, providing funding at the grassroots level will become one of the most important funding avenues we can utilize. Individuals working on the ground and directly in the communities that are in need of funding have the best insight and tools to strategically implement social change.

Lastly, the “big” one: 

Philanthropy doesn’t look the same for everyone, but putting some heart and honest intentionality into the process will make your giving go far. 

 This is the overarching theme I have come to learn while working at a philanthropic advising consultancy and what I love about Phīla’s philosophy. It’s one thing to throw money at a cause or organization, but it's another to take the time to do your due diligence on researching the organization(s), planning a giving strategy, and really diving into the why behind your giving. In my opinion, this is what the world of philanthropy can use more of: honesty. Since philanthropy will look different for everyone, what truly matters is putting your heart into it and being honest with yourself around what you’re really doing and what you hope to gain.

The experience, knowledge, and relationships I have gained while working at Phīla are invaluable, and I will carry them with me. I am lucky to have worked with some of the most inspiring, empathetic, and determined women I have ever met. Phīla has shown me not only the power of philanthropy, but the power of working with individuals who want to help others understand the power of their own giving. As a young individual with white privilege, it is my responsibility to recognize it, continue to acknowledge it, and use it to create space for the betterment of our society. Philanthropy can truly be a powerful tool for change, especially if there is heart and intentionality behind it. With this knowledge, I am inspired to take action and be a force for change.

Addressing the Emotional Aspects of Wealth: Five Tips for Families

Talking about wealth is almost always emotional exercise. It can bring on a whole range of feelings, many in conflict with one another: guilt and pride, anger and happiness, connectedness and isolation. Yet one of the most common emotions that wealth (or the lack of it) elicits is fear—fear of being taken advantage of, fear of not being liked, fear of not having enough. The list goes on. And further, the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has blown the cover off of the United States’ stark inequalities. Over 3 million people are out of work, and many more are without reliable access to healthcare. The 2020 COVID metaphor is apt: we are all navigating the same stormy sea, but we’re in different boats. When your boat is large, sturdy and comfortable, it can feel doubly isolating to have so much security when others are struggling for basic needs.

For people with children, these conversations are especially challenging. Just as you are trying to sort out your own feelings, you also must tend to young people who are acutely aware of social inequities and often have excellent questions wondering why they exist. And it’s not just about those who have less. Even for those who have objectively "made it”, all it takes is one look up the social ladder to see that you are still far from the top. In fact, in our climb up the wealth ladder, our gaze is nearly always upward, toward those who have still more, and it fuels desire to join their ranks. But in reality, it’s a losing battle. I once read a Wall Street Journal article that said the difference in assets held by the top .01% versus the top 1% is greater than that between the 1% and the rest. It’s an incredible perspective, yet we rarely turn around and look at those behind us. We tend to focus on what we lack. Children notice these differences too. While we can’t dispatch with these emotions entirely, we can mitigate their influence in our lives by shifting our focus. Here are five ways that might help you navigate these feelings:

1. Struggle is OK. All parents want to see their children succeed and not experience hardships in life. That is normal. However, when a family is the steward of significant wealth, that natural desire takes on much more weight. How do we allow for the natural instincts of parenting while also not becoming “snow plow parents”, i.e., parents who plow every obstacle out of the child’s way to create a clear, unobstructed path to success? Allow your children to try, fail, and learn from failure. 

2. Share family stories that do not involve money. Create a family narrative around who your family is that does not involve what you own. Perhaps it’s your family genesis story, or how it came to be rooted in the city you’re in. We inherit more than money. We inherit a set of mores and values that define our family and ourselves as its members for generations. Share the sayings and anecdotes that make your family unique and bind you to higher ideals.

3. Re-evaluate the purpose of work. If you had the chance to do what you love and not have to worry about being paid for it, would you do it? Most would automatically say ‘yes”, but looking deeper, it may not be so easy to do. We live in a society that says “you are what you do”, and being paid lots of money for your work says what you do is valuable. With wealth, you have the opportunity to rethink the nature of work. While for most, work is a means to an end, but it can also be about purpose, pride, and satisfaction. There’s a prestige to certain professions, but the real challenge is to move beyond social status and focus on what’s right for your child. Be open to their exploration of pursuits that aren’t highly paid. Allow your children to explore work (paid or unpaid) that brings them satisfaction, a sense of purpose, and joy.

4. Acknowledge your privilege. Regardless of how it came to you, there is an undeniable privilege that comes with having money. While money can’t buy happiness, it does buy convenience. Maybe your kids don't need to work during high school. Or they won’t have student loans while their friend is on work-study or is graduating with debt. Recognizing the ease that having wealth affords won’t make your situation similar to your peers, but being more aware of your advantages also recognizes others who have a different experience. No, not everyone will appreciate it, but there is integrity in honesty.

5. Philanthropy benefits the giver as well as the receiver. Philanthropy can be a great tool to help raise children with values and position them to have a healthy relationship to wealth. Giving to others reminds them (and us) of how a strategic yet moral deployment of philanthropic dollars can benefit a family for generations. As Charles Collier stated, “wealth itself is morally neutral, but how it is used is what matters.”

While these tips were written with raising children in mind, they apply to anyone struggling with how to make sense of wealth. And there are certainly more. One of my roles as a philanthropic advisor is to help my clients come to terms with what they have so that they can make good decisions in giving it away. If you find yourself wanting to become more engaged in the public sector in general and philanthropy in particular, but are struggling with how and where to plug in, let’s talk.

Additional recommended reading on this topic:

We Need to Talk, by Jennifer Risher

Uneasy Street: Anxieties of Affluence, by Rachel Sherman

Classified: How to Stop Hiding Your Privilege and Use it for Social Change, Karen Pittelman

The Gift of Radical Empathy

By Aparna Rae

As a DEI consultant in 2020, I had a front row seat watching leaders experience transformation and drive race equity in their organization. Most for the first time. Maybe that was you? Moved by the seismic shifts brought on by the pandemic, the murders of George Floyd and other African Americans, and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Perhaps the divisive nature of the 2020 election forced you to take a pause and reflect: What should I say? Do I share my own perspectives? What are other organizations and individuals doing? What do I do? How can I support my staff, colleagues and community? No matter who you are or your life’s circumstances, 2020 forced us all to face the gross systemic inequities in our society.  

As we begin a new year, we have the opportunity to put our awareness into action. Awareness that we continue to be in a global pandemic that’s far from over, that divisive discourse in US politics prevailed through the holidays, that more households plunge deeper into poverty as tens of millions remain under/unemployed. Alongside this, an awareness of our privilege - the ability to work from home, safely travel (if needed), income and wealth that create stability, and most importantly, being able to drive change in our homes, at work, and in our communities. 

Radical empathy, as a practice, offers each one of us an opportunity to take action - at no fiscal cost. “Radical” in this instance doesn’t mean extreme, it’s intended to be the opposite of “conventional” or “status-quo”. Why? Because conventional wisdom is just not enough. Our siloed, oven segregated lives all but limit exposure to people whose lives and identities are different than ours and therefore our ability to step into someone else’s shoes is also limited. Don’t believe me? US cities continue to be deeply segregated, 3 out of 4 white people don’t have any non-white friends (Washington Post), and despite evidence of diverse team making better decisions (HBR), within philanthropy, 92 percent of foundation presidents and 83 percent of full-time staff members are white (Bridgespan). 

How do we push past personal biases and systemic barriers to take action? I’m proposing three ways to practice radical empathy today. Your empathy-muscle grows stronger the more you use it, the more you use it at work, the greater the impact of your giving.

1. Allow yourself to be vulnerable. It’s time to take off your armor. Dr. Brene Brown’s decades long research tells us that vulnerability is the ability to show people you’re not perfect, you make mistakes, and you don’t have all the answers. In other words, it’s showing people that you’re human. Leaders who are vulnerable open the door to innovation, inclusion and growth. 

2. Know the difference between impact and intention. Our privilege can often shield us from understanding the impact of our actions. When it comes to greater equity, belonging and justice, our intention is always to do better but the impact may not always be positive.  A focus on impact brings greater accountability to our actions. 

3. Open yourself to the experiences of others. Our race, gender, socio-economics, geography, all impact our experience in the world - one that may not be shared by others. In one of her many talks, Carla Harris, Vice Chairman of Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley, recounts an experience of being mistaken as a steward while unboarding her private jet. As a black woman at the very peak of her industry, she still faces microaggressions. Even when it diverges from your experiences, believe those whose identity differs from your own - black, indigenous and people of color, women, individuals with visible or invisible disabilities, the LGBTQIA community and other groups experiencing oppression.

The moment that we gain empathy, of a universal kind, then something a little magical happens...Ah, you see — with empathy, we no longer see life as a battle. And therefore, our fellows, peers, colleagues are no longer merely our adversaries, enemies, opponents. What are they? They are just us, wearing a different face.

— Umair Haque 

The practice of radical empathy is a daily habit, an essential life skill — and an invitation to live life in alignment with your greatest values.  

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Aparna is the Founder and Principal at Moving Beyond - a boutique data -driven and impact focused DEI practice. 

2020: The Year in Review

“Not many of them, it’s true”
by Gregory Orr

Not many of them, it’s true,
But certain poems
In an uncertain world—
The ones we cling to:

They bring us back
Always to the beloved
Whom we thought we’d lost.

As surely as if the words
Led her by the hand,
Brought him before us.

Certain poems
In an uncertain world.

---

We made to the end of 2020! What a year it has been. I hope you and your family made it through this most tumultuous year safe, healthy, and reasonably happy given the circumstances. We have covered a lot of territory in this blog and newsletter this year. My goal has always been to help you be more knowledgeable about the philanthropic sector in general and more confident in your own giving in particular. We've certainly had much to be inspired by in 2020. In looking back at past issues, I noticed a few themes.  

We shared a lot of examples of foundations that are reevaluating their purpose and longevity. While the trend was on the rise among younger, less traditional trustees, the desperate and sudden needs sparked by COVID-19's emergence in March brought many families and boards back to the table to reevaluate purpose versus payout. With so many people out of work, sick, and with little safety net, COVID-19 was a great revealer of the vast economic inequalities in our country. We all may have been adrift in a stormy sea, but some of us had much sturdier boats. Money flowed quickly but unevenly throughout the country. My thoughts on this were published in an article I wrote for Giving Compass.

The other major incident of the year that sparked tremendous action as well as reflection was the murder of George Floyd in May. Again, while racial justice has been a focus of many progressive funders for some time, the flagrant miscarriage of justice at the hands of the police brought the issue to the fore for nearly everyone. Philanthropy and the social sector answered with all their might: they doubled down on funding Black communities, organized protests, created new funds for racial equity and the like. We at Phīla put together the immensely popular resource Pull Up for Racial Justice, which now lives permanently on our website, as well as a summer reading list of books that shed light on the moment we were experiencing as a nation.

And among the myriad of other issues we brought to you, we talked quite a lot about wealth and well-being. It's impossible to have any meaningful or honest discussion about philanthropy without excavating one's feelings about money. Whether one takes the power-sharing, reparations stance of Resource Generation, or holds the belief in passing wealth down responsibly to heirs, thinking about what money means to you and your family is the foundation of good philanthropy. Being a values-based firm means we take our time with these issues to get at the root of why a person wants to engage in philanthropy in the first place. These can be difficult questions to tackle, but we took them on squarely when we talked about impact investing, reparations, and inheritance.

2020 shined a bright, focused light on so much that is wrong with our society, but it also lit a way forward. We were reminded of what we hold dear but often took for granted, our health and safety, our democracy, and the importance of our real-life social networks—personal and professional. We also learned a great deal about ourselves and what kind of world we want to live in. 

 I know all of this is true for me. Like you, I have experienced a year that I will never forget. 2021 is sure to be challenging in many ways as well, but I am forever grateful that I have work and a community that continue to be a bright light on even the darkest of days. Thank you for your engagement and interest this year. Here’s to a new start! 

Beyond 2020: The Future of Civic Funding

Tomorrow is Election Day and I do hope that if you have not already voted, you have a plan. Here is a link to voting information in every state in case you need it. In more ways than one, this presidential election will be one for the record books. More money has been thrown at this election ($14 billion!) than any that came before. Billions of dollars have been given not only to candidates, but also to issues that affect our democracy, like redistricting,  voter enfranchisement, and registration. The spending zeal was even more urgent given the twin crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial protest. This is clearly the most consequential election season of our lifetimes. But now that  Election Day has finally arrived, what’s next for the political donors who are newly committed to funding the causes that promote a fair and just society?

 To achieve lasting impact in one’s philanthropy, we stress the importance of “working upstream” or funding systems change (the root cause of disagreeable/unhealthy outcomes) rather than direct relief—the band aid that staunches the bleeding of an acute problem. And yet, while there is no doubt that attacking society’s biggest problems at their source is an excellent and necessary strategy, this year, the funding of democracy-related issues has been very similar to the approach taken for natural disasters. Having been blind-sided by an unanticipated cataclysmic problem, an “all hands on deck” mentality is initially required to get it under control. Funds flow quickly and often haphazardly, but it is to be expected due to the gravity of the situation. And then finally, when the worst is over, we begin to assess the damage and see what will need  to be rebuilt. 

 That is how money moved this year. On top of the fervor for the opportunity to elect new leaders, people from all socioeconomic backgrounds leaped into action to relieve as much acute pain as possible from COVID-19, the civil unrest after police shootings, and the weakening of democratic norms. While the problems are far from solved, we have arrived at the point where we can assess how we move forward and deal with the fallout from these disasters in the long term. 

Here are a few ideas for donors who are still in the fight and plan on keeping the lessons of 2020 front and center in their philanthropy:

• You heard it before, but it bears repeating again: plan to give unrestricted and multi-year gifts. If you’re an individual donor, this means you make a plan to fund an organization at the same amount for at least 3 years. You should also communicate your plan to the organization so that they can budget and make wise financial decisions based on anticipated income. Practically, if you fund from a donor advised fund, you can book gifts as “recurring.” Set it and forget it.

• If you went all-in on candidates, referendums, and voter registration efforts, you can keep that momentum going the next four years regardless of who wins. If we learned nothing else these past couple of years, it’s that we get the government we deserve and it requires our sustained engagement to keep it healthy. You can shift from funding campaigns and the like towards supporting causes, such as an independent media that provides fair, fact-based, and impartial news to keep the electorate informed; or movement-building organizations that keep communities connected, educated, and aware of their civil rights. And don’t forget that there will be Congressional and local elections in 2022, which will be here before you know it. Now is the time to support new leaders and get educated on the local issues that will directly affect your day-to-day life. Maybe you’d consider running for office yourself.

• And in just eight months, COVID-19 has killed more people than the flu did during the last five flu seasons combined. The fallout from COVID-19 will have generational ramifications. The biggest issues that were again put in stark relief were the lack of accessible healthcare and affordable housing and systemic racism. Donors can sustain their COVID relief efforts by advocating for fair housing policies, humane labor practices, and health equity. Many givers contributed to these areas for the first time by funding local relief efforts for schools, restaurant workers, mutual aid groups, and more. While we desperately needed a Band-Aid approach in March, these are systemic issues that will be with us at a heightened level of intensity for the foreseeable future and require our dedication and vigilance to eradicate.

• And finally, COVID was just one national comeuppance we faced this year. The number of high-profile police killings marked a profound turning point for many. Money poured to Black organizations, businesses, and even individuals. It was almost as if a spontaneous mini-reparations movement sprung up from the ashes of our burned cities. The Black community has been under-resourced for generations, and it was heartening to see so many people finally seeing what had been ignored for so long. But how can this attention be sustained? There are a few ways. Donors can commit to dedicating a percentage of their annual giving budget to Black community organizations, they can support Black leaders by sharing their networks and offering mentorship, and lastly, donors can be conscious of where they spend their dollars by supporting Black-owned businesses.

While I never am comfortable predicting the future, I can say with full confidence that philanthropy after 2020 will never be the same. Our collective experiences this year have sparked a cultural shift that will see so many more of us tune in to and become aware of the importance of civic engagement for a healthy democracy. I hope you can find your place in a new and healthier ecosystem and make a difference for the long haul.

A Philanthropic Response to Threats Against Democracy

By Lauren Janus

With a more divided electorate than any time in recent memory, an incumbent president who’s refused to commit to the most basic of democratic norms—a peaceful transition of power—and the proof and pain of racial injustice from coast to coast, you’d be forgiven for thinking these are dark days for democracy in America.  We at Phīla have certainly thought so. But we also know that as Americans, we have a fundamental responsibility to stand up for our democratic institutions and way of life—now and after November.

 The good news is that there are some fantastic people and organizations already working tirelessly on these issues. Giving Compass, a valuable resource for news of the giving world, has compiled a substantial directory of organizations working on defending the media, registering people to vote and strengthening democracy.

 Below is our own brief round-up of selected organizations committed to these crucial issues. Some of the below are partisan, some are non-partisan, some are 501c3 organizations, and some are organizations to which donations are not tax deductible. All stand with us in this struggle to ensure democracy and our rights as citizens are protected, regardless of who is in office. 

 Please consider giving or volunteering today.

Region or BIPOC-Specific Organizing Groups

 We know that the best people to help specific communities exercise their right to vote are organizations within those communities. Fortunately, grassroots organizations across the country are mobilizing voters and making noise in 2020. Here are a few stand-out groups.

1.     Texas Organizing Project. TOP, as the Texas Organizing Project calls itself, was formed in 2009. The group organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris and Bexar counties in Texas, with the goal of transforming the state into one where people of color have the power and representation they deserve. The 100,000- member group leads direct-action organizing, grassroots lobbying and electoral organizing, while providing leadership development to interested Black and Latino residents. 

2.     Voces de la Frontera Action. Called “The Most Valuable Grassroots Organization in the US” by The Nation magazine in 2012, Voces de la Frontera and its Action Fund use their relational voter program to build a network of low wage and immigrant workers.

3.     EquisLabs. Founded by two veterans of Latino political research and organizing, Equis Labs calls itself a research and experimentation hub working to build Latinx power. The small 501c4 organization supports leaders and organizations that are working to increase Latinx civic participation by focusing on data, digital and leadership development.

4.     Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC). BLOC is a Milwaukee-based organization focused on using community-based organizing and face-to-face conversations to lift up Black citizens and build stronger communities throughout Wisconsin. BLOC has been working to register Black Wisconsin residents, and provides information on safe voting for everyone. 

5.     Nuestro PAC. A partisan Super PAC, Nuestro PAC was formed to continue a model of Latino outreach they say was instrumental in delivering early victories to Senator Bernie Sanders. The super PAC is focused on mobilizing and turning out Latinos in key states in the 2020 election. So far, Nuestro PAC has invested in targeted outreach to Latinos in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

6.     Movement Voter Project (MVP). MVP is a bit like a mutual fund for donors. The nonprofit uncovers small grassroots groups that are making waves and combines them into giving opportunities like the Black-led Organizing Fund or the Defend the Election Fund.

Get Out the Vote Groups

Few acts are as fundamentally patriotic as casting your vote for our country’s leaders. This fall, a large number of organizations are focused on Get Out the Vote, or GOTV, efforts. Here are a few that do this from a 100% non-partisan position. 

7.     Vote Save America. Vote Save America is singularly focused on getting Americans to vote. Their slick website has easy-to-access resources on registering to vote, signing up to be a poll worker and donating to organizations that support free and fair elections.

8.     When We All Vote. When We All Vote is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization working to increase voter participation in every election. They have a star-studded list of co-chairs, including Michelle Obama and Tom Hanks. But they also have a downloadable app, called OutVote, which allows volunteers to text eligible voters, reminding them when and where to vote, and urging them to make a plan for getting their ballot cast. 

Voting and Civil Liberty Defense Groups

Of course elections aren’t the only times our civil liberties matter. There are well-established, proven organizations working on these issues from a number of angles all of the time. 

9.     The Brennan Center for Justice. Staffed by lawyers, researchers and advocacy experts, the Brennan Center for Justice is an independent, nonpartisan law and policy organization based in Washington DC, and at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School. Their work is focused on fair elections, ending mass incarceration and preserving American liberties.  

10.  Democracy Docket. Democracy Docket was founded by political lawyer Marc Elias, who served as general counsel for the Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign and John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign. Marc and his team at Democracy Docket work to fight voter suppression laws in court. Marc’s written a lot lately on how Americans can protect their right to vote and democracy in general. 

11.  ACLU. The ACLU works to protect a wide range of civil liberties, including prisoners’ rights, immigration and voting rights. Their team of values-driven lawyers have brought hundreds of cases, including some before the Supreme Court.

12.  The Southern Poverty Law Center. Founded in 1971, the Southern Poverty Law Center works with communities in the American South to counter white supremacy and advance the human rights of all people. Their list of national hate groups is a highly respected tool of those working to expose and counter these dangerous groups.   

 Postcard writing/phone and text banking opportunities

If you’re itching to roll up your sleeves and urge fellow voters to the polls, there are several groups that allow you to do just that. 

13. Vote Forward. With Vote Forward, you can sign up to “adopt” likely voters from the Vote Forward database, download a letter template and add your own message to nudge them to the polls. So far volunteers have already written letters to over 10 million likely voters.  

14.  Blue Wave Postcard Movement. This organization allows you to sign up to send personalized postcards to likely voters in key battle ground states. The postcards come complete with websites, phone numbers and QR codes to help people get answers on where and how to vote in their state. 

 15. Postcards to Swing States. Volunteers with Postcards to Swing States have already signed up to send 15 million postcards to voters in 15 key states. But you can still donate to help pay the cost of postage, which Postcards to Swing States asks their postcard writers to cover themselves.

 16. Clean Energy for Biden. Clean Energy for Biden is a network of clean economy business leaders and advocates working to elect Joe Biden as President, as well as advance policies, technologies and investments to address climate change in general. They are hosting a range of virtual volunteer opportunities, including regular phone banking, which can be done from wherever you happen to be at the moment.

However you stand up for democracy this November, be sure to tell your friends, your network and your community and invite them to join you. VOTE. It’s the only way we can look forward to a more peaceful, just and generous 2021.

An Impact Investing Learning Circle for Women

Photo by SolStock/iStock / Getty Images

Are you a woman who wants to align your investments with your values? Do you want to learn more about impact investing and take action? Do you enjoy spending time with like-minded peers? If so, join us in an investing learning group for women who want to align their investments with their values, deepen their understanding of impact investing, and have fun with other smart and curious women just like you.

Women’s leadership drives commerce, politics, activism, and culture. But when it comes to our finances—taking full ownership of our investment choices, bringing our values to the fore of financial decision-making—we still have a way to go. Men continue to make the majority of household investment decisions, and although women are largely interested in impact investing, only a small percentage are actually doing it. But here’s the good news: impact investing is fast becoming a mainstream investment strategy, and women control increasing amounts of wealth. I believe that these two forces have the power to change capital markets for the better, but that can only happen if we all take action—if we harness our investable assets in service of a better world. If you like how this sounds, read on!

For some time now I have been following a national movement called Invest for Better. Given this particular moment in society, it seems like the right time to become more intentional about how we’re using (or not) our investments as another driver of social change. I decided to partner with Janell Johnson, another philanthropy professional, to convene an Invest for Better Circle for women who have investable assets and are ready to activate them for social/environmental change. 

Clients and others have consistently been asking me about how they can align and invest ALL of their assets around their values—not just funds earmarked for philanthropy. While I am not an investment person by any means (and this group will not do any investing or give financial advice), I am a convener and I know how to bring the right folks together to create an enriching learning environment. I’m hoping this one would hit the right spot at the right time for many.

The aim is to learn from experts and peers about what it means to effectively integrate our portfolio with our personal goals and societal needs. This all came about because both Janell and I are curious about how to coordinate investments with our philanthropy and philosophy. And we realize we aren’t the only ones.

Here is how we envision the group will work. Janell will be the group leader, and with the support of Invest for Better, there will be a structured curriculum, story-telling and information sharing about finances and investing. The meetings will be virtual, and we will also have an online space for us to share resources, ideas, and experiences. Experts in the impact world will be invited as guest presenters, but there will be no commercial pitches or investment advice.  

Our group of no more than 10 women will meet monthly either from September-March, or October-April, depending on availability. Each month will feature a presentation by an expert in the field related to the topic of the month and a group discussion. Here’s a preliminary calendar for the curriculum:

September Topic: What exactly is impact investing? Discussion: clarifying your goals and values.

October Topic: Investing in public markets (ESG and shareholder activism). Discussion: understanding and assessing your current holdings. 

November Topic: Community development institutions and cash. Discussion: identifying obstacles to action.

January Topic: Private equity and angel investing. Discussion: understanding your appetite for risk.

February Topic: Real assets. Discussion: determining how can you measure impact.

March Topic: Developing an investment philosophy or Investment Policy Statement. Discussion: defining your additional planning needs.

Membership is by invitation only. The price will be $300-$500 for all 6 sessions to cover facilitation and speaker fees (exact amount will be determined based on number of participants). Once again, there will be no group investing of funds or investment advice given other than general information about the field. These sessions are solely for women to learn, connect, and become more financially empowered in a supportive environment—TOGETHER.

The goal is to make it easier for you to get started on your impact investing journey.  What good can your dollars do while still providing the security you need? What concrete steps can you take to overcome gender barriers around money and truly control your finances? How can you align your investments and your values in service of a better world? Let’s find out the answers to these questions and more this fall! Please contact Janell if you would like to join, invite others, or have further questions. I hope you’ll join us!