Grant Philanthropic Advisors | Adaptability & Compassion

AUGUST 2020 UPDATE

Dear Reader,

As we turn the corner into fall, I want to share some reflections on trends I am seeing in philanthropy right now. Over the summer months, I’ve had the opportunity to visit with philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, civic leaders, social impact investors, financial planners, and academics in the field. Two words stand out to me: adaptability and compassion.

Adaptability

Philanthropists are creatively adapting their ways of giving to help their communities. I continue to hear from major donors that they plan to give more this year motivated by the unprecedented need and partly fueled by the rebound of the S&P 500 to near record highs. They’re finding ways to make a bigger impact by leveraging assets, making their giving more public, and offering community challenges. The Ford Foundation is leading the way nationally by taking on debt to give more in this moment and spark more philanthropy from peers.

Events of 2020 are compelling philanthropists to reexamine their philanthropic values. While some values remain constant, other values take a higher priority to drive their giving now. Donors are seeking out new partners and building relationships based on this reprioritization. Specifically, I see philanthropists focusing more of their giving using an equity lens. On a national scale, we saw MacKenzie Scott drive much of her recent giving with this in mind. She is leading the way by investing in the lived experiences of nonprofit leaders.

Nonprofit leaders from big and small organizations and all sectors of the field have rapidly adapted their programs, operations and technology platforms to address increased needs of those they serve and make up for lost revenue. As the effects of the pandemic deepen, leaders continue to tweak their operations to better serve their constituents, keep their doors open, and remain solvent. The pace of change on this front has been awe inspiring.

Compassion

Philanthropists have never been more committed to helping those most in need now. They describe wanting to help vulnerable populations with emergent needs. Donors also describe wanting to help nonprofits survive the pandemic – in many cases, their organizational revenue has decreased, their programs cannot be fully realized now, and some must remain closed until the pandemic ends.

Major donors are proactively reaching out to their nonprofit friends and partners. They want to understand their greatest challenges now and how they can best support them. And philanthropists are also concerned for the wellbeing and mental health of nonprofit leaders as they are leading on the frontlines and making ends meet.

Nonprofit leaders are working tirelessly to meet the increased demands of their communities. Leaders have shared with me that they’re seeing a massive increase in requests for assistance with food, utilities, housing, transportation, medicine, and internet access – unlike anything they’ve seen in their careers. These needs will not taper in the foreseeable future.

Looking Ahead

I find messages of hope, resiliency and grit in these conversations. Additionally, I have drawn inspiration and motivation from the following reads this summer; I hope you do too.

Wall Street Journal’s Why Being Kind Helps You, Too – Especially Now

Coastal Community Foundation CEO Darrin Goss on Living Up to Charleston Strong

Philanthropist and Businessman, Michael Wilson on Why Philanthropic Work Is More Important Than Ever

As we look to the rest of the year, the impacts of the pandemic will continue to ripple and many more will be in need. I take heart in the generosity and leadership I see in our philanthropic ecosystem.

Gratefully,

Kaky

KAKY M. GRANT / PRINCIPAL

843-276-3974

Kaky@grantphilanthropy.com

www.grantphilanthropy.com