Giving and Partnership

Always a source of wisdom, insight, and fantastic probing, GiftHub posts:

Some of my favorite people, including Anne Ellinger and Tracy Gary, are written up in the Chronicle of Philanthropy for raising the question of how much wealthy families should keep for themselves and how much they should be giving back to society. This is the conversation of fundraising, philanthropy, and donor circles. What will facilitate the mega-giving is better partnerships with the advisors who in many cases control the wealth, as a practical matter, unless the donor bestirs herself to lead or partner. That is the gist of what I am trying to do here, and with Tracy at Inspired Legacies: build inspired donor/advisor partnerships for self, family, and society. In that way we can convert ideals plus wealth to positive social change.

Yes, indeed, when faced with information like this:

Americans have doubled their incomes in the past 40 years, but the share of giving has never climbed above 2.4 percent of the money they have left after paying for basics like housing and food, according to Giving USA, the annual yearbook of philanthropy produced by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

We have to recognize our abundance and contribute at higher levels. My admirable friend Darlene Charneco and her partner Brent Timbol, also encourage giving, they suggest at the tithing level of 10% and joining the 10% Club.

No matter what our income levels, we need to ask ourselves, can I give more? The world needs you now.