Giving Is A Skill

Almost every Christmas tradition is rooted in some act of generosity. You can see this in the decorated trees, carolers on doorsteps, and in the character of jolly old St. Nicholas. This week, learn the philanthropy origin story of the rosy-cheeked man with the red suit and sleigh. Main History Reference: https://www.stnicholascenter.org/who-is-st-nicholas _________________________________________...

Giving the skill set of philanthropy is not a passive experience. Like all skill sets, philanthropy requires resources and teaching in order to be developed. No matter where you find yourself on the journey of developing this skill set, you can share what you know with your family, friends, and neighbors. This week, learn how to add the simple but impactful skillset of philanthropy to the gifts yo...

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. ________...

Measuring the impact of your giving is a key difference between random acts of kindness and impactful intentional micro-philanthropy. While both have their place in the world, consciously mapping out the good you want to create can drastically expand the reach of your giving. In this final episode of The Philanthropic Method series, discover the power of becoming an active participant in the outco...

The more grateful we are, the greater capacity we have to get outside of ourselves and give. In fact, the very act of “counting our blessings” dispels the scarcity that corporations spend billions of dollars each year marketing to us. When gratitude is in play, this scarcity is replaced by abundance, and giving becomes the natural next step. Even the word Thanksgiving is a visual portrayal of this...

Addressing the needs around us with existing solutions can feel like a cop-out. There is something sexy around the process of creating something new and so that is often our default as we look to impact needs around us. This week, learn why it is often the opposite approach that truly creates impactful solutions. The Characteristics of Impactful Philanthropy : A focus first on achieving social imp...

Impactful philanthropy starts well before a donation is given or a project is created. In fact, the success and sustainability of one’s giving is usually determined by how well the giver can identify and truly understand the need they are attempting to address. This week, learn why The Philanthropic Method is grounded in the complementary relationship between these two principles of giving. ______...

Ordinary giving is typically a whimsical experience. You and I react to a need that we run into while living our lives, and then almost immediately move on to something else. Rarely do we put a lot of long-term intention or thought into these experiences, but what would happen if we simply added a methodical framework to our ordinary giving? Find out this week as we explore what the scientific met...

The skillset of philanthropy isn’t just developed through the act of giving. In fact, some of the most valuable philanthropy lessons come as you allow yourself to receive support and strength from your own community. This paradoxical growth comes in part because of the empathy gained through the receiving process. When viewed through the lens of receiving, giving becomes less about you and more ab...

Each of us unknowingly walks around dropping stones in the lake of world history. The resulting ripple effects cascade across lives and generations, but all we see, if we notice at all, are small stones dropped into a vast often over-crowded lake. Many of us see the world this way because history is viewed in reverse. We see Rosa Parks as the iconic civil rights activist who started the Montgomery...

What legacy will you pass down to future generations? Will it be one of giving and stewardship or a legacy of mismanagement and selfishness? Too often, we only ask such questions when the pages of our lives have mostly been filled. This doesn’t have to be you! If you take a few minutes today to consider what you inherited, such a reflection can create the awareness you need to become an active par...

What legacy will you pass down to future generations? Will it be one of giving and stewardship or a legacy of mismanagement and selfishness? Too often, we only ask such questions when the pages of our lives have mostly been filled. This doesn’t have to be you! If you take a few minutes today to consider what you inherited, such a reflection can create the awareness you need to become an active par...

501(c)(3) nonprofits are required to have a board of directors. Since Basement Philanthropy is not yet an official nonprofit, in this episode I am treating you, the listener, as a member of my board. A board’s role is to hold the leaders of the nonprofit accountable for the impact of the organization. This week, I am making my first accounting of the past, current, and future state of Basement Phi...

We live in a world of “never enoughs.” Models are never thin enough, business leaders are never rich enough, and the car you drive is never cool enough. While this culture promises innovation and growth, it often leaves us empty with storage units full of stuff. This week, find your way out of that rat race with Abby and Landon Barney.    ______________________________________________________ Star...

Believe it or not, your talents are in high demand when it comes to the giving and philanthropy space. Too many of us only see creating good through the lens of fulfilling a predetermined role within a cause or community organization. Your unique skills combined with your money can fill the needs that are all around you. This week, on the final episode of the Money+ series, learn how to leverage y...

Time is the most common resource people give. In fact, in the United States 63 million Americans, or 25% of the population, volunteer. Unfortunately, a lot of this time is spent reactively with little or no clear intention in mind. What additional good could be created if this were to change and what would happen if we added money to the equation? Find out this week, on the second episode of the M...

If we’re not careful, we can make philanthropy all about the money. While absolutely necessary, dollars and cents will not create the good that is needed in your community. For the next three weeks, we are going to explore the impact gains that can occur when money gets added to our voices, time, and talents. The outcome of these combinations is not simply linear, they are exponential. ___________...

Giving in a marriage is significantly different than giving as an individual. If partners are not paying attention, the potential complexities of marriage can get in the way of simple and consistent giving. This week, learn how being on the same page financially makes giving a smooth experience from Brooke and Tanner Thygerson.  ______________________________________________________ Start your Mic...

A strong personal finance system is key to your success as a micro-philanthropist. Too often the joy of giving is trampled by feelings of scarcity and “givers remorse,” simply because we don’t understand how it will impact us financially. A simple budget can cut through these feelings and turn our reactive philanthropy into a thriving proactive experience. This week, learn about the tools I use to...

Becoming a Micro-Philanthropist has less to do with the size of your pocketbook and more to do with your willingness to get started. There are opportunities for you to create meaning, connection, and impact in almost every activity you are involved with day-to-day. Simply take one step outside of yourself and you will recognize more philanthropy than you can handle on your own. This week, hear abo...

It’s easy to kick the can of personal philanthropy down the road of our lives. We’ve all said the words, “I’ll do it next time,” when it comes to buying girl scout cookies, rounding up a tip for charity, or contributing to our local public radio station. This week, discover the joy you’ve been missing out on through the story of another Micro-Philanthropist in our community, Julia Finch.  ________...

Now that you know what LIkeBait Charity is, it’s time to do something about it. The extravagant charity of a few content creators isn’t the gold standard for giving, your money, regardless of the amount, can create a real impact today. You are more than just a “like” and where you put your attention matters. This week, learn two tactics that can help you push against the effects of LIkeBait Charit...

Our brain’s natural reward system is being highjacked by pseudo charity creators in exchange for likes. By manipulating endorphins intended to reward action, these bad actors are utilizing strategies that keep you on the sidelines of giving. This week, find out what “LikeBait” charity is and why it is pulling a Jason Bourne disposal move on your personal giving.  __________________________________...

Your first few intentional micro-philanthropy projects will likely not change the world, but they will change you. These acts of faith, in your personal ability to effect change, begin a series of events that domino into deep impactful philanthropy. This week, see this principle unfold live in the life of another fellow Micro-Philanthropist, Alex Pocock. ___________________________________________...

The journey of philanthropy is a continuum. When viewed up close, your day-to-day giving might not feel very substantial. Take a step back, however, and you will see that the philanthropist you become in the future is largely dependent on where you choose to spend your time, money, and influence today. In this week’s episode, decide the philanthropist you want to become with help from the phases o...