How Family and Friends Can Support Your Philanthropic Efforts
How Family and Friends Can Help Support Your Philanthropic Efforts
Working in the non-profit sector is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be filled with a variety of challenges. While having a strong support system at work is crucial, having a circle of family and friends that understand and support your philanthropic journey is equally as important. We encourage you to ask yourself, “who is on this journey with me?” How are they already supporting your philanthropic efforts and how can you find ways to share your journey with them in order to strengthen their connections with you as well as the causes you are passionate about? Here are some of our favorite tips.
Give together.
Research shows that supporting causes that are meaningful to the entire family can actually strengthen family connections. In fact, in a 2018 US-based survey, 81% of respondents who grew up with giving as a family tradition described their immediate family as very close. Not only is philanthropy an excellent way to pass down family beliefs and create a sustained tradition of charitable giving, but it can also be an incredible bonding opportunity as families volunteer together, decide where to give, and even discuss the ways in which they can use a charitable activity to honor a family member.
Make it personal.
The people in your circle want to hear about the causes that inspire you to give. We suggest you tell the story behind your giving. How did you get involved with your favorite organization? Why is it meaningful to you? Who inspired you to begin this philanthropic journey? For a great example of how a personal connection can spark a philanthropic connection, listen to my podcast interview with Laurie Girsky, Principal of G-Squared Advisory, here as she discusses the legacy of giving her grandfather created.
Be honest.
If you are ready to have a conversation with friends or family about financially supporting an organization, don’t be afraid to acknowledge how you’re feeling. Financial conversations can be difficult, but your authenticity and honesty can put everyone at ease. Staying open and honest will help the people you love to see your intentions and believe in your mission. For more on the impact of knowing that you’ll have help when you need it, feel free to listen to my interview with Diana Zhang, the co-founder and CEO of NeighborShare, here.
No matter how you decide to involve your support system in your philanthropic journey, we hope you are able to show your loved ones what philanthropy means to you. If you’d like more tips or strategies, please feel free to reach out! We’d love to help.