Involving younger generations in giving
Our donors often express interest in involving their children and grandchildren in their philanthropy. We hear a desire to "instill a passion to help others" or develop "a habit of giving." Many of...
View ArticlePutting philanthropy in the budget
While it's true that one of the many benefits of charitable giving--the feeling you get from knowing that you made a difference--falls into the realm of the intangible, I'm a firm believer that...
View Article"But I'm not a billionaire:" High-input versus high-impact philanthropy
"Philanthropist" can be a scary title. It evokes names like Gates, Rockefeller, and Pew, all families and individuals with seemingly infinite assets to give. But for most, we are not the Gates and Pews...
View ArticleGive without purpose
When giving at year-end, the time constraints, solicitations from your favorite charities, and looming tax considerations can feel overwhelming, leaving many donors rushing to make donations late in...
View ArticleCreating your charitable investing roadmap
In any area of life or business, deciding to change habits or practices is only half of the battle. Then comes another difficult undertaking: Implementation.
View ArticleThink like a business, give like a philanthropist
For many, philanthropy is an emotional activity. We are often drawn to give through a combination of events in our life, values passed down through generations, and heartfelt solicitations that connect...
View ArticleDifferent goals, different giving strategies: Balancing time and risk
In philanthropy, no two donors have the same charitable goals. Each person is driven by different emotions and philosophies, making charitable objectives unique to each individual. These personal...
View ArticleDifferent goals, different giving strategies: Solving your philanthropic puzzle
Discovering who you are as a philanthropist is like assembling a puzzle: You may know what the end result should look like, but finding the right pieces takes time and effort.
View ArticleTaking charge of the philanthropy talk
Over the past few years, it has been reported that many high net worth individuals are unsatisfied with the philanthropic conversations they have with their financial advisors. The reasons noted most...
View ArticleThe journey to my charitable passions
In philanthropy, determining your charitable passions is an important step to creating a philanthropic mission statement and focusing your giving for greater impact. However, finding the causes you...
View ArticleWorking together: Private foundations & donor-advised funds
When comparing your private foundation to donor-advised funds, many ask the same question: Do I maintain my foundation or open a philanthropic account? For those with a private foundation, considering...
View Article20 years of impact
Just recently, Vanguard Charitable quietly met a remarkable milestone: $6.5 billion in grants to charitable organizations since inception. Reflecting on this achievement, I confess I find it daunting...
View ArticleBalancing donors’ objectives in a low-return investment environment
I recently had the honor of making a presentation to the Vanguard Charitable board of trustees on Vanguard’s economic and markets outlook. It was part of an investment overview that Vanguard, as the...
View ArticleThe charitable giving junction of short-term needs and long-term impact
Amazon founder and philanthropist Jeff Bezos recently turned to Twitter to solicit ideas for his philanthropy, a novel outreach for a relatively quiet donor. We at Vanguard Charitable were excited by...
View ArticleTime to look at your charitable asset mix?
In my previous blog, I discussed how you can protect and grow your charitable assets in this low-return investment environment and noted that you have two basic options: saving more and selecting the...
View ArticleA charity's infrastructure can be as important as its mission: Overhead is OK
I recently attended a conference focused on enhancing the infrastructure of philanthropy. The attendees came from a variety of backgrounds, from academics doing first-of-its-kind research on...
View ArticleIntergenerational giving: How our charitable practices influence our...
It’s summer—a time of long, sun-washed days, family vacations, and, at Vanguard Charitable, an annual tradition we call Community Days. These volunteer outings are one of the most gratifying ways we...
View ArticleWhy $500?
One thing that sets Vanguard Charitable apart from other donor-advised funds is our $500 grant minimum. Donors occasionally inquire about this policy, asking if they can give in smaller increments. We...
View ArticleSave to Give: Planning for your ‘philanthropy retirement’
Vanguard Charitable is celebrating its 20th year of operation. For me, as the chief financial officer, part of what this means is that we now have 20 years’ worth of market data to consider. We can...
View ArticleSave to give: Stretching your charitable dollars
In my last blog, the first in the three-part series, I discussed the advantages of using a donor-advised fund and the save to give mindset to maximize your ‘philanthropy retirement.’ I used real data...
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