November 2018

The holidays are upon us, and giving is a hallmark of the season, whether it comes in the form of giving thanks, giving gifts or giving to charities. This month’s InFocus gives giving a look from a variety of angles -- be it financial, philanthropic or fundamental. 
REALIZE YOUR YEAR-END GIVING GOALS
While any giving is good giving, there are ways to create an even bigger win-win through a plan that maximizes your charitable dollars in order to benefit you as well as your special causes. To help with your year-end planning, Jada Diedrich , a wealth advisor with the BAM ALLIANCE, looks at various strategies -- from making a qualified charitable distribution to properly timing the drop-off of your non-cash donations -- that may be right for you when it comes to your charitable contributions. 

HIGH IMPACT GIVING GUIDE
Ten years ago, the Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP) at the University of Pennsylvania created the High Impact Giving Guide to help donors make an even more significant difference through their philanthropic generosity. Each year, CHIP identifies specific, timely giving opportunities from three specific areas: health, poverty and education. The High Impact Giving Guide also includes a disaster relief guide, which describes how to help following recent disasters.
 
CHIP is the only university-based center that has the single focus of making a social impact through philanthropy. The aim of the center is to help donors around the world do more good.
GIVE WISELY
When giving to a charity, it’s important that in return you receive assurance that your donation will be used as intended. The Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance can give you that peace of mind by serving as a resource for you to research various charities and allowing you to make informed giving decisions about organizations that seek your support. The BBB WGA evaluates charitable organizations on 20 standards and also offers an array of resources such as offering guidance on giving to those struck by tragedy or disaster. Its Wise Giving Guide examines various topics on charity accountability and helps donors make sound judgments when giving. 
GIFT IDEAS FOR EVERYONE -- EVERYONE
No matter the holiday or occasion, no matter if you’re buying for a very special loved one or a semi-casual acquaintance, Esquire has you covered with the best gift ideas from 2018. Whether you are shopping for family or friends, coffee or music lovers, or those who are adventurous or tech-savvy, this gift-giving site offers numerous trendy and foolproof ideas.