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The book "The Art of Giving: Where the Soul Meets a Business Plan" by renowned philanthropists Charles Bronfman, co-founder of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, and Jeffrey Solomon, president of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, guides philanthropists on how to get the most out of their giving.
The book looks at three components of giving for a philanthropist: themselves, partner organizations and their gifts. Through introspection, the authors advise, philanthropists should determine how giving will satisfy and fulfill them, then they can identify which organization/organizations are the best match for their gifts.
Recently, FundRaising Success had a chance to catch up with the two authors to get their insight on what best practices the tips they share in the book yield for nonprofit fundraisers.
FundRaising Success: What inspired you to write this book? Why now?
Charles Bronfman and Jeffrey Solomon: We believed we could make a leveraged contribution to the field by writing this book and aiming it especially at donors, who often do not think about the strategic opportunities in their giving. The book was conceived when the Dow was between 13,000 and 14,000, but written once it had plunged below 10,000. As such, we believe it has even more relevance now as donors look to both value and a self nurturing to maintain their giving in tougher times.
FS: Your book focuses on the idea that giving is both selfish and selfless and it's key for philanthropists to understand their motivations in order to be fulfilled in giving. Can you discuss a bit what this premise yields for fundraisers at nonprofit organizations looking to engage and build relationships with philanthropists? Any tips that come out of it?
CB and JS: Paul Schervish of Boston College studies donor motivations and has noted that a major difference in today's donors as against an earlier generation is that contemporary donors are giving to nonprofits that help them achieve their personal mission. For development professionals, this represents both a challenge and a great opportunity. It is not enough to spotlight one's nonprofit brand. One must connect the brand with the potential impact that is possible when a person makes both the connection and the gift. Providing feedback to nourish the donor's soul is critical at this time.
FS: You focus mostly on the donor, but, rather than just sitting and waiting for philanthropists to decide they're the one, what do you suggest organizations do to become part of this philanthropy picture and stay in the game?
The book looks at three components of giving for a philanthropist: themselves, partner organizations and their gifts. Through introspection, the authors advise, philanthropists should determine how giving will satisfy and fulfill them, then they can identify which organization/organizations are the best match for their gifts.
Recently, FundRaising Success had a chance to catch up with the two authors to get their insight on what best practices the tips they share in the book yield for nonprofit fundraisers.
FundRaising Success: What inspired you to write this book? Why now?
Charles Bronfman and Jeffrey Solomon: We believed we could make a leveraged contribution to the field by writing this book and aiming it especially at donors, who often do not think about the strategic opportunities in their giving. The book was conceived when the Dow was between 13,000 and 14,000, but written once it had plunged below 10,000. As such, we believe it has even more relevance now as donors look to both value and a self nurturing to maintain their giving in tougher times.
FS: Your book focuses on the idea that giving is both selfish and selfless and it's key for philanthropists to understand their motivations in order to be fulfilled in giving. Can you discuss a bit what this premise yields for fundraisers at nonprofit organizations looking to engage and build relationships with philanthropists? Any tips that come out of it?
CB and JS: Paul Schervish of Boston College studies donor motivations and has noted that a major difference in today's donors as against an earlier generation is that contemporary donors are giving to nonprofits that help them achieve their personal mission. For development professionals, this represents both a challenge and a great opportunity. It is not enough to spotlight one's nonprofit brand. One must connect the brand with the potential impact that is possible when a person makes both the connection and the gift. Providing feedback to nourish the donor's soul is critical at this time.
FS: You focus mostly on the donor, but, rather than just sitting and waiting for philanthropists to decide they're the one, what do you suggest organizations do to become part of this philanthropy picture and stay in the game?
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