We want to go beyond making a difference to make a bigger better more leveraged difference. Here we develop and profile strategies, and tactics, as well as give examples of people and foundations doing just that.

Ways to make a difference for your cause(s):

• Connect with your cause (feel passionate about it and connect to others who share your interest in the cause).
• Educate yourself and lead from a position of knowledge.  
• Use your knowledge to understand the area/context. Pinpoint the changes that make a difference.
• Think strategically:
  • what is the root cause of the challenge?
  • what is the linchpin that could unravel the snags and make things flow in the right direction?
  • what is the tipping point (see review)?
  • what can be done to leverage efforts for a bigger impact?
• Some strategies to consider: involve a club (especially one that can match donations or mobilize volunteers, use what you are uniquely good at (if it serves the cause) or hire someone who has the skills/talents needed

Give More to Get More: Discovering Donor Advised Funds

Create charitable deductions and collect charitable dollars when it is convenient – or tax advantageous – for the donor to give. Donor Advised Funds operate much like a charitable checking accounts. And by streaming gifts through community foundation via donor advised funds, givers can benefit in many ways. Read more...

Spending Down

Do you remember Julius Rosenwald?

Although his name is not as common on the tongue as Rockefeller or Carnegie, he stands among them as a philanthropic peer. Rosenwald, who grew Sears into America 's largest retail store, was a bit of a revolutionary—he was the first major philanthropist to insist that his foundation spend down after his death. Read more...

High Impact Giving Qualities

We operate from a few core beliefs:

• You have more wealth than you think. Wealth includes the richness of your energy, your time, your talent, and your connections. Don't forget to include your family and your community.
• You get more from your projects when you have clarity. When you define what you want clearly then you know when you succeed. With clarity, you have more control to shape and change, stop, or expand your projects.
• You can do more with your wealth sooner and better.
• Giving is addictive. Lead out loud and bring others in. Get those you love high on giving too.

Read more...

Have an idea or comment for us? Contact us at editor at madmavens dot com.