Giving Is A Skill

What if you could stretch The 12 Days of Christmas across the entire year, and instead of giving just once a year, you established a tradition of year-round giving? It is possible, but only if we think of the Christmas season as a headstart to our giving instead of the year’s finale. This week, discover an approach to Christmas that can truly make charity of the season last all year long. ________...

Today is #GivingTuesday! So if you’re sick of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, now is the perfect time to focus on be looking outside ourselves and giving. This week, we’re shining the spotlight on the movement of GivingTuesday, a global movement that inspires people to give back to their communities. We’ll explore the history of the organization, its impact, and how we can ride the momentum of this...

Just in time for Thanksgiving comes part 2 of our mini-series on family giving. In this week’s episode, we’ll discuss the benefits of consciously implementing a consistent giving culture within our families and discuss how you can get started if you’re family feels a little weak in this area.  Referenced Fidelity Study: https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/family-...

Giving within our families can be challenging. Expectations, complex history, and cultural norms often make serving those we love seem impossible. With so much at stake, the thought of opening the giving can of worms might seem daunting. This week, discover why giving in the home can be the perfect starting point for one's giving journey. ______________________________________________________...

What would Halloween look like if it had a little more purpose? Find out what we discovered with the help of two members of the GrassRoots community, Caroline Hilton and Lindsey Sampson.   ______________________________________________________ Check out the new 5 minute video introduction to giving and philanthropy: https://vimeo.com/824985963 ______________________________________________________...

We don't think about it very often, but everything we do requires skill. Actions as simple as drinking from a glass or quickly sending a text have been learned through years of study, observation, and practice. Giving is no different. While the desire to give is inherently human, the skill is not. This week, learn how to build a giving skill set. ______________________________________________...

A few months ago I got the chance to tell my story to Darrel Hammon, a reporter from the Provo Daily Harold. The space he created for me was transformative and brought out key insights that I had never considered before we sat down to talk. This week, hear the story of this podcast and GrassRoots Giving as Darrel takes the interview seat in my basement.   Link to Darrel’s Article: https://www.hera...

There are some really hard things going on in the world right now. It can be so easy to turn the page and not think about them, but this is a mistake. It’s a mistake first of all because the people who are suffering deserve at the very least our acknowledgement of their hardship, and second of all it’s a mistake because wrestling with complexity is a key skill to becoming an impactful giver. This...

It wouldn’t be a surprise if we told you what it was in the description! Tune in for an exciting update to Basement Philanthropy! The Altruistic Brain: * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/basement-philanthropy/id1622894869?i=1000609438044 * Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/00o4Si2J9EqRsa5ScmSauE?si=ccbe1d9d695341b7 _____________________________________________________...

We don't often discuss it, but there is a duality to giving. On one hand, it can be a wonderful and fulfilling experience, while on the other, it can be the cause of a medically diagnosed condition known as Compassion Fatigue. In this episode, discover what Compassion Fatigue is and learn how to remedy and prevent it from affecting your personal giving. Don’t be an Ostrich: * Apple Podcasts:...

It’s easy to see how money investments can become exponential, but what about giving? Although different, giving and investing operate according to similar principles especially when it comes to exponential gain or impact. This week, learn why consistency is key to exponential results in both monetary investing and personal giving.  ______________________________________________________ Check out...

When we think of the relationship between the ideas of giving and healing, the obvious connection most come to is that giving is an effective way to provide help and healing to the recipient who is in need. But giving back and focusing on others can be a powerful way to heal ourselves as well. This week, find out how giving can empower us in the healing we all need at some point.  ________________...

Individualism seems to be everywhere. It’s in the movies we watch, the news we read, and the music we listen to. But just because it is everywhere, doesn’t mean it is useful. This week, find out why, ironically, getting outside yourself is the surest way to be individually successful in life and giving. Radio West Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radiowest/id262033197?i=1000626485184...

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the inequities in this world. Between almost continuous reports of natural disasters, the ever-present echoes of war, and political upheaval abroad, and at home, one can feel like the only way to deal with all the noise is to simply find the nearest sandhill and shove their head in it. This week, learn how to gradually level up your giving skills so you can be...

Today is a day of outsourcing. We outsource everything: our cooking, driving, shopping, and yes our philanthropy. Although outsourcing your giving is more time effective, it robs you of experience.  Experience that makes you happier, healthier, and an overall better human. This week, learn how to start diversifying your philanthropy with giving that is up close and personal.  _____________________...

Kindness isn’t always about doing something big or grand. It’s also about small, everyday acts that can make a big difference in someone’s life. It’s contagious; one kind act can inspire more kindness from—and toward—yourself, as well as encourage kindness in others. This week, I’ll report on my experience participating in the 7-day kindness study and share my results. The Kindness Study:  https:/...

Kindness can build trust and rapport, it can create a sense of belonging and community, and it can inspire others to be kind, bringing its effects full circle. But despite the benefits, the “cliché” of kindness makes it often overlooked as a powerful tool for giving. When we are kind to others, we not only make them feel good, but we also open up the door to deeper connection and more meaningful g...

In every giving situation we encounter, there is a gap that needs to be crossed. This gap can be physical, contextual, or demographic in nature, but it is always present. In order to create real impact, we need to find a way to bridge this gap. This week, learn how to join those we want to help where they are instead of attempting to help from a distance. Amber’s Video: https://gofund.me/dd8b72b3 ...

Invitations are pretty underrated when it comes to increasing our personal impact. Too often we turn first to creating a complex plan, when all it really takes is a text message, phone call, or personal invite. This week, discover how you can be a part of creating exponential good in the world through the simple power of invitations. Sleep In Heavenly Peace GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b1d6b5fa ___...

We all feel motivated to give or donate to improve our communities in one way or another. However, many opportunities are missed by lack of giving experience. In this inspiring talk, philanthropy enthusiast Grant Collins outlines the concept of giving as a skill set, and discusses how a change of mindset about giving can change your life, and the lives of those around you, ultimately making the wo...

First steps are often the hardest. They’re shaky, awkward, and most of the time the experience ends with some kind of fall. Giving is no different, but similar to walking once we get the hang of it an entire new world is opened. This week, I am joined at the desk by Amber Larson, the producer of this podcast and a giver who is just starting to take her first steps. ________________________________...

After seeing how many curbs were faded and chipped, our community came together to make our local elementary schools safer by painting some curbs red along some busy roads. With some tape, paint, and 60+ volunteers, we painted 2 schools in 2 hours. This week, watch how we did it by following the link below: Giving Project Video Recap: https://vimeo.com/844100611?share=copy

The United States has one of the highest rates of charitable giving and we have the founding fathers to thank for that. The founding documents of our country helped pave the way for giving that we enjoy as a nation today. This week, celebrate the founding of our country with a little giving. ______________________________________________________ Check out the new 5 minute video introduction to giv...

Like it or not, much of our lives is like The Truman Show. Living in a false reality, we tend to view our own lives in ways that are simply not accurate, and it would be bad enough if this just affected our lives. Unfortunately, the impact radius of this thinking encompasses those surrounding us, especially those in need. This week, learn how to see giving in a more accurate and realistic way. ___...

If there was a supervillain of giving, it would be ego. It seems to always be there, lurking in the shadows of our altruistic efforts, making potentially selfless acts all about us. While it is unlikely that we will be able to get rid of ego, there are ways that we can begin to chip away at its impact. This week, learn how to use giving as the antidote to our ego-addicted society.  Ego is the Enem...