I don't know about you, but I am excited to turn the page into summer. I am looking forward to reconnecting with family and friends in person after a long hiatus and attending parties, community events, and concerts again.
I have heard from many of you that you plan to see family this summer that you haven't seen in over a year. Excitement, exhilaration, anticipation, and reflection are words I hear describing these reunions. What stories will be shared from the last year? How will we seal this moment in the collective memories of our families? These reunions are an opportunity for story telling and memorializing not just the pandemic year, but also personal and family milestones.
21/64's book The Grandparent Legacy Project sets the stage for fruitful discussions within families; the book inspires conversations around legacy, specifically philanthropic legacy. It features 15 stories of real people centered on themes of motivational values, education, hard work, and legacy. The book includes a guide for interviews between grandparents and grandchildren to memorialize and capture these themes. Use these reunions to capture family stories and legacies!
Learning Opportunity for Philanthropic Families
The Southeastern Council of Foundations is kicking off its webinar series for Family Foundations on Thursday, May 27th. The series goes through the end of the year. Topics include trends in family philanthropy, intergenerational giving, and psychology of family dynamics. I will be leading discussions on Pandemic Funding Case Studies and Trust Based Philanthropy. All philanthropic families are invited to participate; it is not limited to family foundations. It is a great opportunity to learn together.
Curious Reads About Giving
Did you know that 78% of high poverty counties in the US are rural and yet a very small portion (7%) of philanthropic dollars flow to rural areas?Giving Compass recently published this piece "Rural Nonprofits Face Immense Burdens - Including A Dearth of Philanthropic Funding". It addresses the challenges and opportunities of philanthropy in rural communities.
Indiana University's Women's Philanthropy Institute published its recent research on how women and households give. Did you know that 61.5% of couples decide together how to give? This is a decline from 73.4% in 2005. When one partner decides, it is more likely to be a woman.Read more in the WomenGive 2021 report.
Summer Reading
I thought I would share a couple of books on my reading list for the summer. I would love to hear what you are reading too!
I wish you safe travels this summer. Enjoy time reconnecting with your family, friends, and community. I hope these reunions inspire conversations about your community's needs and your philanthropy!
