Dear Reader,

With the slower pace of summer, our team is taking time to reflect on our work thus far in 2024, to pursue continuing education and to reconnect with nonprofit partners through site visits and conversations. Our meetings have focused on the environment, education, health and wellness, women's rights and the psychology behind effective philanthropy.

Communities in Schools of South Carolina positively impacts

students, teachers and schools. Observing their work first hand was enlightening and fulfilling.

Making Time to Connect | The Value of Nonprofit Site Visits

Regular connection with the nonprofit community is critical to being an effective philanthropist. One of the most immersive ways to be effective is to conduct site visits at nonprofit organizations. These visits provide a firsthand look at how nonprofits operate, the communities they serve, and the tangible outcomes of their programs. 

Site visits can broaden a philanthropist’s perspective and may illuminate how they can help the nonprofit community beyond just writing a check. Visits facilitate rapport and understanding with nonprofit leaders. Going on site can also help a philanthropist understand the impact of their donation. Last but not least, connecting with nonprofit leaders and seeing their work firsthand can deepen empathy and appreciation for community issues. As Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative famously said, “It’s actually in proximity to the poor that we hear things that we won’t otherwise hear, that we’ll see things we won’t otherwise see.”

What We've Been Up To

We held a team retreat in early July. Our agenda included a brainstorming session on how we effectively partner with family and corporate philanthropies to plan and implement their strategies, and also a discussion of continuing education opportunities in the field for our team. We're proud to have added three new team members since January with Johanna Anderson, Porter Durham and Bella Conti joining our ranks. We're feeling energized to finish the year strong in partnership with our clients.

We participated in a learning session facilitated by The National Center for Family Philanthropy focused on a recently published report on Overcoming Psychological Barriers to Giving. The deep dive on the behavioral science behind giving helped to sharpen our thinking on how we can best support our clients.

What's Inspiring Us

Family Wealth Advising

Wealth 3.0: The Future of Family Wealth Advising - by James Grubman, Dennis T. Jaffe and Kristin Keffeler

Written by pioneering leaders in the family wealth advising field, these authors recognize the shift in how families and their advisors are thinking about legacy planning and family engagement in the process. Their tone of optimism moves the conversation away from fear of failure in preserving and growing family assets to that of empowerment across generations. The case study and recommendations are relatable and attainable in implementation.

Trends + Data on Child Well-Being

2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book - The Annie E. Casey Foundation (30 minute read)

The Annie E. Casey Foundation just released its latest data set on child well-being. We always look forward to reviewing the new report, as it serves as an invaluable reference helping our clients understand needs in their respective communities. Additionally, the Foundation's Data Center offers a dynamic view into a variety of issues impacting a child's well-being.

Empowering U.S. Citizens

Generosity: Revitalizing Democracy Together - The Aspen Institute (48 minute listen)

This panel discussion took place at The Aspen Ideas Festival in July. David Brooks of The New York Times, Xavier Jennings of the Mile High Youth Corps YouthBuild, and 2024 Bezos Scholars Kamar Sati and Hanna Corona discuss youth volunteerism, the notion of generosity from a next gen perspective and the fundamentals of building community and connections. The nonprofit community and philanthropy are at the heart of the conversation.

We hope you are enjoying the slower pace of summer and find time for your own learning and reflection on your philanthropy.

Gratefully,

Kaky + The GPA Team