A New Year’s Resolution: Create a 20/20 Charitable Vision in 2020

Statistics show that nearly one-third of charitable giving by Americans happens in December with 12 percent of all gifts being made in the final three days of the year!

              This should come as no surprise!  Afterall, tis’ the season to be simultaneously charitable and Scrooge-like … giving more to your favorite nonprofit so you can give less to Uncle Sam! 

              Collectively, this year-end charitable binge brings good tidings to our nation’s 1.5 million nonprofits, yet it does not always result in the most strategic grantmaking.

              If most of your non-religious charitable gifts were mailed in December this year, answer the following question:  How much time did you spend vetting the organizations to which you wrote checks?  A couple of hours?  A quick Yelp review?  Did you spend any time checking out your preferred nonprofits?

              For example, did you check to see if the organization is financially sound?  Has there been a change in leadership in the past 12 months and, if so, for what reason?  Did you check to see what measures the nonprofit uses to measure outcomes?

              Most importantly, were all of your charitable gifts part of a strategic giving plan … or were they a spontaneous act of generosity?

              Sharing wealth is good (and welcome) in whatever form it is delivered!  But with a little advice from a charitable advisor, charitable giving can be more purposeful and effective.  Hoplin Jackson is a boutique charitable advising company that helps high net worth families and charitable foundations make the most of their grantmaking.

              We help define and/or clarify your charitable vision and then identify and vet nonprofits capable of converting your vision into transformative social outcomes.

              Hoplin Jackson helps those desiring to give away their wealth to be as thoughtful, strategic, and business-like as those who create it.  This is the secret to joyful giving.

              December is a great time to make charitable gifts.  But, for 2020, consider a New Year’s Resolution to make your family’s grantmaking vision more clear!