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1. Checkbook Philanthropy: “The Friendly Ask”
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Many individuals start with checkbook philanthropy at the inception of their philanthropic journey. Think of the times you ordered Girl Scout cookies, wrote a check for a fundraising neighbor or gave to a charity collecting donations outside the supermarket. The birth of a child, an inheritance or even a mail solicitation can trigger a reactive, in-the-moment decision to give.
2. Reciprocal Philanthropy – “You Give to Mine, I’ll Give to Yours”
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Reciprocal philanthropy occurs when philanthropists from within the same social and professional networks support each other’s causes. Examples include asking a colleague to support you in a bike-a-thon fundraiser for cancer research and their reciprocal ask of you to buy a ticket to a ‘gala’ event benefiting the arts. Linked together by the act of collaboration and the shared commitment to a common goal of ‘greater giving’, reciprocal philanthropists can facilitate increased collaboration, resource sharing, and a broader impact on societal issues.
3. “Connect to a Cause” Philanthropy – Life Event Brings Focus
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In the "connect to a cause" stage, philanthropists develop a deep and emotional connection to a specific mission, like an alma mater or a local religious institution. Personal experiences or witnessing significant life events, such as a natural disaster or a loved one's health issues, can become a catalyst for individuals to strive to create a more profound impact.
4. Philanthropy at Work — Connecting with Employees and Community
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Philanthropy at work happens when giving is integrated with one's professional life. Examples include corporate social responsibility programs, workplace giving campaigns and employee volunteerism. A career change, promotion or the acquisition of a business can lead philanthropists to leverage their professional platform for social good.
5. Personal involvement Philanthropy — Volunteer; Serve on a Board; Chair a Committee
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As philanthropists gain a deeper understanding of the issues they care about, they often become actively engaged in the initiatives they support. Within our client base, for example, we have a client who sits on a local hospital board and leads fundraising campaigns, while another partnered with a women’s shelter to build a transition home in memory of his mother. A profound personal awakening or life-altering experience can propel individuals toward personal involvement in philanthropy.
6. Family Engagement Philanthropy - A Transfer Agent for Family Values
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Family engagement philanthropy is centered around the desire to cultivate a culture of giving within one's family. In some families, this could include allocating an amount each adult child could give away plus a joint allocation that the children together have to decide on. Family milestones like marriage, birth or becoming empty nesters can inspire philanthropists to impart their values and sense of social responsibility to their loved ones.
7. Legacy Philanthropy — Making a Difference, Giving Spanning Generations
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At the ultimate stage of a philanthropist's journey, individuals and families focus on creating a meaningful, lasting impact. One example is the local business owner who left his entire nine-figure estate to a charitable trust to benefit a rural community, with a committee of local representatives making decisions about which initiatives to support. Retirement, the sale of a significant asset, inheritance or even a personal health scare can tip someone into legacy philanthropy.