Opening the Imagination

to the ‘Possible’ of Philanthropy

Dr. Jason Franklin, W.K. Kellogg Community Philanthropy Chair

• What did you help your client achieve?

• How did your engagement change their philanthropic decisions or actions?

• How did they feel about the experience?

• How did you feel about the experience?

When were you at your best as a philanthropic advisor?

Ways to expand the possible

1. Don’t just advise…inspire!

Inspiration strategies

• “No barrier” questions & prompts– If you could wave a magic wand…–What would wild success look like?

• Parameter changes–What if you added a zero?–What if you could only give to one group?

• Story sharing … check out boldergiving.org

Inspiration in many forms

Ariel Nessell$1,000 per day for life

Mike Schaffer & Ric WeilandA field-changing bequest

Barbara MeyerLegacy through community

Ways to expand the possible

1. Don’t just advise…inspire!

2. Reframe the giving approach

Approaches to reimagining

• Contrasting annual vs. planned giving strategies

• Harnessing the power of challenge giving

• Exploring possibilities for pooled or communal gifts

Ways to expand the possible

1. Don’t just advise…inspire!

2. Reframe the giving approach

3. Explore options for giving while

living

Beyond the bequest

• Connecting your issue priorities and timing of your philanthropy

• Maximizing use of planned giving vehicles to donate today

• Exploring spend out strategies

Leverage for big giving

Frank RasmusMaster of the charitable gift annuity

Change is needed now

Carol Newell & John HuntingPhilanthropic heroes for the environment

© New York Times, 2010© BC Business Magazine, 2015

Ways to expand the possible

1. Don’t just advise…inspire!

2. Reframe the giving approach

3. Explore options for giving while

living

4. Encourage risk taking

Taking a big leap

• Structuring the “once in a lifetime” gift

• Understanding the power of big bets

• Connecting legacy and leverage

Taking a risk…with others

Jin ZidellNetworking for water access

Helen LaKelly HuntTrailblazer for women’s giving

Ways to expand the possible

1. Don’t just advise…inspire!

2. Reframe the giving approach

3. Explore options for giving while

living

4. Encourage risk taking

Discussion and Q&A

Want to continue the conversation? Email me at jason_franklin@gvsu.edu.