“But I worry about giving up the relationship I have with the groups I support.”
More than a few people express this fear when we are discussing the benefits of a DonorsTrust donor-advised fund. I understand the sentiment. After years of directly supporting certain groups, it feels strange to jump to a more indirect approach.
However, using a donor-advised fund …
read more »
I spent much of my pre-July Fourth celebration in my basement, dealing with a backed-up sewer line. It’s not exactly what I had planned, but, alas, it’s been an ongoing issue for a few years. And, well, y’know “stuff” happens.
There is no metaphor here for philanthropy, per se. Nor for donor intent or issues affecting DonorsTrust’s principles of limited …
read more »
It is a well-established fact that diversity of thought is a good thing.
Well, at least it used to be. If you follow whatever preferred flavor of media, or use any type of social media account, you will witness firsthand how diversity is treated in today’s divisive environment.
Unfortunately, any deviation from the accepted line of thinking risks your being …
read more »
Good news! Giving USA’s annual survey of charitable giving in America reports that overall contributions by Americans in 2017 increased by an inflation-adjusted 3%. Individuals, foundations, and corporations donated more than $400 billion into the non-profit sector, the most ever.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy offers a nice synopsis of the survey’s findings, as well as an interesting perspective (and …
read more »
Donor-advised funds offer many terrific benefits, but, at the end of the day, DAFs exist to facilitate one goal – making contributions to your favorite charitable causes. Understanding the processes involved in making those grants, both the seen and unseen, allows clients to more easily use their fund to advance their philanthropic goals.
On the surface, the process is simple. …
read more »
Last week, I attended the Becket Fund’s annual Canterbury Medal Gala. It honors an individual – in this case, Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik – who defends religious liberty and conscience with distinction.
What struck me, was not merely the dinner’s noble purpose, but the fact that the stereotypical joke about the Rabbi, the Priest, and the Iman walking …
read more »
In 2003, the Castro regime in Cuba threw 75 dissidents into prison and spread the word that those arrested were drug dealers. In truth, they were merely men who dealt in ideas and actions that questioned the ruling values of the socialist government.
Within days, the wives, partners, sisters, and mothers of these men gathered at church. They wore white …
read more »
Last week, DonorsTrust sponsored the Ricochet Podcast Summit held at the American Enterprise Institute’s beautiful building in downtown Washington, DC. The event showcased thirteen podcasts from the Ricochet network.
I had the privilege of introducing Jonah Goldberg and, in the process, saying few words about DonorsTrust. I used the opportunity – and the excellent segue of the themes Jonah …
read more »
DonorsTrust exists to ensure a steady flow of philanthropic capital into the liberty movement as well as to the myriad of organizations bringing private solutions to bear on social problems. Some progressives view is as nefarious, even as they aggressively seek to expand their network of similar institutions. We – and our clients – merely view the DonorsTrust model as …
read more »
The genesis for creating DonorsTrust nearly twenty years ago was the preservation of donor intent.
This was not, however, grounded in blind devotion to the belief that any donor’s intent was to be maintained. Instead, DonorsTrust would safeguard the donor who saw private markets, free exchange, and increased personal responsibility as the keys to progress.
Most importantly, such protection could …
read more »