How to Be More Than a Passive Philanthropist

Giving money to an organization to support a cause or simply to show your support is a well-received act of generosity, but it’s important to remember that is not necessarily ‘true’ philanthropy.

As Rabbi Chaim Levine, Founder and Executive Director of the successful philanthropy Brothers for Life, states, “There are three levels of giving that progressively get more difficult and demanding but at the same time more valuable and impactful; giving one’s money; giving one’s time; giving one’s home and heart.”

True philanthropy involves active involvement with an organization to provide assistance in more than monetary ways. By doing so, an individual can maximize his or her talents, skills, and resources while helping favorite cause reach their goals. Here are some of the most impactful ways to be more than a passive philanthropist:

Serve on the organization’s board of directors. If the organization has a board of directors and committees involved with coordinating different projects, consider volunteering your time as a board or committee member. This will allow you to give the gift of time and your business know-how, leadership skills, or other talents to help the organization move forward. If you have served on boards in the business world before, your experience will be priceless to the organization as you bring a much-needed executive perspective to the table.

Actively Promote the organization. Most organizations need marketing assistance and lack a dedicated experienced team to rely upon. Consider ways you could help promote awareness online and offline through your normal communication activities and channels. Brief mentions or more detailed descriptions and discussions can be incredibly valuable at introducing and inspiring community members and organizations who may be interested in supporting the organization. Sometimes just the dissemination of information from a trusted source can have a substantial positive impact.

Be a connector. If you have good networking skills and are active in the community in other ways, serve as a connector between board members, committee members, and volunteers, and your network of connections. Consider what strengths or opportunities either party might be able to offer the other and introduce individuals who you think might share similar passions and values and might be able to work together. Providing access to your social capital — your business and personal connections — can be invaluable to an organization that needs trustworthy and hardworking people on its team.

Organize events. Consider organizing awareness or fundraising activities either with or independently of the organization. Whether large or intimate, you could take the lead in helping to grow the organization you are committed to by overseeing an event. The initial goal doesn’t always need to be about fundraising. Education and awareness are foundational to ultimately successful fundraising. For example, the Greenstein Family Foundation helped Brothers for Life over the years invited many new families to meet the wounded soldiers associated with Brothers For Life who were visiting Seattle. By exposing other families to the soldiers their awareness and affection for the organization grew. There was no fundraising at these events but over time these families became active supporters with their time, their money and ultimately their hearts.

There are many ways for philanthropists to support their favorite organization beyond simply writing a check or looking for recognition based on the dollar amount they have given away. If you really want to make a difference, consider different ways to be actively involved in the organization so your ideas, skills, and talents can help the organization grow and evolve.

This post was originally published on GreensteinFamilyFoundation.org

5 Lessons Brothers for Life Can Teach Us About Successful Early Stage Philanthropies

Only some embryonic philanthropic organizations have been successful at driving change and making a significant impact in the communities they serve while effectively scaling their reach to a broader group within their target market. What sets these organizations apart from the rest? Organizations such as Brothers For Life are designed to operate much like a successful start-up business. They are driven by a talented team of volunteers and board members, a clear mission statement and strategic plan, and passion and dedication to their cause.

Here are five important lessons Brothers for Life can teach us about successful philanthropies:

#1: Clear Mission and Focus

Identifying a clear mission statement and encouraging all team members to stay focused on fulfilling that mission is the foundation of any successful enterprise. Brothers for Life has a clearly defined mission statement, helping recently disabled and injured Israeli combat soldiers recover from their injuries and live productive lives. How this mission is accomplished will vary soldier to soldier, but the overall objective and focus is unwavering. They will not rest until every injured soldier has received proper care.

#2: Engagement on Both Sides

It can be easy for some philanthropic organizations to serve as ‘armchair philanthropists’ when they are adequately funded and may not be completely committed to the cause. Simply sending money to those in need isn’t enough to build a successful organization. It’s important to interact with the communities involved, beneficiaries and donors, and really look into these people’s eyes and learn about their story.

As Rabbi Chaim Levine, Founder and Executive Director of Brothers For Life states, “There are three levels of giving that progressively get more difficult and demanding but at the same time more valuable and impactful: giving one’s money; giving one’s time; giving one’s home and heart.” Brothers for Life builds relationships between the wounded soldiers they serve and the partners that support their efforts. Magic ensues when both parties are engaged and an enduring human connection is built.

#3: Operating Smartly and Prudently

Many early stage philanthropies operate with limited resources in terms of human resources and cash. Given these constraints it is absolutely critical to determine where those resources are best allocated. Prioritization and efficiency must be paramount in the day to day thinking. The individuals involved with managing the organization’s financials need to be acting in the best interest of the organization, set realistic budgets, and work to maximize the budget at every opportunity. Brothers For Life started on a shoe string where its leadership carefully evaluated how every dollar was spent. This attention to detail analyzed how each dollar spent  impacts the organization’s objectives and long term aspirations.

#4: Defining and Measuring Impact

It can be difficult to quantify the impact of an organization’s efforts, so it is up to the leadership team or committee members to define exactly how they will measure the effects of their efforts. This should be done before resources are dedicated. It’s important to keep in mind that it’s not always about numbers. While it is valuable to know how many families you fed after a food drive, for example, there are other ways to measure impact. Genuinely understanding how the recipients are benefiting at a personal level means far more than any statistic.

#5: Build Partners Not Donors

Donations and particularly recurring donations are the lifeblood of most early stage philanthropies. It is important to turn donors into partners by igniting their passion and commitment to the cause. There is no comparison in the short and long term benefits of building partners not one off donors. Partners internalize the organization and feel vested in its success. These feelings lead to both larger and more regular contributions to the organizations cause. Brothers For Life built its organization on this premise. Rather than raising money they concentrated on raising the right kind of partners that have the ability to support and scale the organization. This focus alleviates the enormous dedication that must otherwise be devoted to raising money. When an opportunity presented itself to touch more disabled soldiers its partners responded because they are bought into the mission. Not all organizations can accomplish this structure but they all should endeavor to.

Successful philanthropic organizations are built with a strong structure and foundation, operating much like a successful start-up business. Brothers For Life is just one example of a well-organized philanthropic organization that continues to make a significant impact in the community it serves while concurrently expanding its reach within that community. These key strategies can help any organization thrive and make a real impact in their community.

This post was originally published on GreensteinFamilyFoundation.org

Why You Should Approach Philanthropy Like a Business Exec

It’s easy to donate money to your charity of choice and call it philanthropy. While generous, this passive form of philanthropy is often short-sighted and limited in its potential. Business executives who really want to make a difference in the causes they support will fare better by treating their philanthropic mission as an entrepreneurial venture. Not only are the chances of success enhanced, but the personal rewards are dramatically increased.

Successful philanthropies operate very much like a business enterprise with an organizational structure, core values and mission, and short-term and long-term goals. Business executives with experience running and operating a business can use their skills and knowledge to help these organizations flourish. Consider these five key reasons why you should approach philanthropy like a business executive:

1. Create Scalable Systems

Whether you’re supporting a local food bank or an organization that helps wounded warriors, the organization will be able to grow and expand faster when it has a scalable mindset and the appropriate systems in place. Starting small and testing different initiatives is prudent in the short-term but there should be a constant focus on how the operations can scale once the model is proven. Retaining the option to expand is a common practice for business executives that can save money in the short-term and help the company build upon any successes on a larger scale in the long-term. Consider serving as an advisor to instill the mindset of prudently growing when the opportunities present themselves.

2. Work with the Right People

All good business owners know that success is related to the quality and talent of their team. Encouraging a team mentality, while collaborating and facilitating the appointment of talented board members and employees can help to create a solid foundation for the charitable organization to grow. You will want to work with organizations that invest the time and energy to recruit suitable volunteers and experienced contributors for their cause, as it signals more than a passive commitment. Like any business, the people involved will be what drives success.

3. Demand Organizational Efficiency

Philanthropic organizations should be treated like a business in that the basics of cash flow are critical to accomplishing the mission. Too many organizations are focused on “doing good” without devoting the time to understanding the simple financial mechanics of sustaining oneself. Evaluate the budgets to ascertain sustainability. When these aren’t in place, educate staff to their importance. Unless the organization can sustain itself through steadily attracting more and larger donations, it will not last. Consider how the organization is managing its money so you aren’t donating to a cause that may not end up using the money wisely. Offer financial or accounting advice if you have a financial background so the organization can develop an effective money management system.

4. Focus on Creating Solutions

Throwing money at a problem can help to solve a few people’s isolated problems in the short-term but it doesn’t do much for a broader mandate. You’ll need an entrepreneurial spirit to identify the root causes of the targeted problems the philanthropy is addressing in order to come up with effective long-term solutions. These solutions may be novel or adapted from others. It doesn’t matter where the ideas are generated because once they are embraced they belong to the organization. Help identify the most effective solution to address the problems as this will be essential to attract additional funds.

5. Build and Execute a Plan

Every successful business executive appreciates the value in developing a strategic and tactical plan and then relentlessly focusing on it. This process forces thinking about challenges and opportunities and prioritizing limited resources. Most philanthropies, especially newer ones or those strapped for resources, are in desperate need of this critical step. This is an area where business experience can be invaluable to ensuring a charity maximizes its capabilities.

Approaching philanthropy like a business executive can help you make choices that will have the most impact in the community, and possibly beyond. From offering to help create a scalable business model to recognizing talented volunteers, there are several things you can do to help your charity of choice grow and thrive with your support.

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This post was originally published on GreensteinFamilyFoundation.org

Key Things a Donor Should Consider When Choosing a Philanthropic Organization

If you’re looking to get involved with philanthropic giving this year, first and foremost you should take the time to seek out organizations whose values reflect your own. Supporting a cause close to your heart can be extremely rewarding. Your generosity, kindness and commitment to providing ongoing support for a charitable organization can have a lasting impact on current and future generations.

Whether you want to support a cause personally or on behalf of your company, being strategic about selecting an appropriate organization allows you to make a beneficial and lasting contribution. Here are some key things a donor should consider when choosing a philanthropic organization:

Personal Values and Philanthropic Goals

One of the first things to consider when choosing a philanthropic organization and determining what your gift will be is asking whether the organization espouses the values that are most important to you. What values do you cherish that they also promote? Are you in alignment with the organization’s message? Ask yourself if you would be proud to tell your children about this cause, why it’s important to support this cause and raise awareness about their message. Answering these questions can help you decide which organization will receive most or all of your gift in any given year.

Commitment to the Cause

How committed is the organization to driving meaningful and measurable change for their cause? You want to donate to organizations that are committed to their mission and are working hard to make a difference in the world- not only on paper, but also in measurable real world results.

Measuring commitment isn’t always easy but you can look for certain signs and characteristics, such as a well-organized team of board members, ongoing activities in the community, requests for volunteer assistance and websites or marketing materials promoting the cause. You need to seek out organizations that have taken the time to map out a thoughtful and well-defined mission and a plan on how to achieve those goals. Also, it is important to understand the organization’s operating efficiency, specifically what percentage of dollars actually makes it to the services beneficiaries.

Board members, volunteers and contributors to the organization should have a relentless drive to improve and expand the mission where it matters most — to those that will be impacted by their efforts. Ultimately, you want to seek out organizations that have a passionate and caring team behind them, a group of people that care about the organization from the heart and have the skills, dedication and support to fulfill their mission.

Evaluating Need

Determining level of need can be difficult since ‘need’ is not always easy to quantify. We can, however, learn about success stories from various types of donations and see if the organization has set up any type of fund or program for a certain group. Whether it is a student or a wounded soldier, we want to understand first hand the impact our gift has and if it has truly met the intended objectives.

For example, one of the causes the Greenstein Foundation supports is Brothers for Life. We’ve taken the time to meet not only the leaders of the organization, but also many of the wounded Israeli soldiers whose lives have been improved through Brothers for Life. We have examined the business model and long term viability and sustainability. In doing so, we’ve been able to learn firsthand about their mission and really see how they are having an impact on the community. We also evaluate how a continued or expanded gift in the future could allow the organization to drive change on an even larger scale.

Choosing a philanthropic organization to donate to or support as part of your own philanthropic mission can take some time. You will want to seek out organizations that have a well-defined mission and have values that are aligned with your own. Ultimately, you want to make your gift matter, and passively or blindly writing a check will be far less rewarding than seeing firsthand how the organization is making an impact in the community. When choosing an organization to support, remember to look for measurable signs of progress, so you can rest assured that your gift is actively driving change for the greater good of the community.

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This post was originally published on GreensteinFamilyFoundation.org