Being a Giver: Asking the Tough Questions

In his Publisher’s Letter for Sophisticated Giving 2022, Craig Kaminer pens a thought provoking list of questions to ask when deciding which of the many organizations in our charity register to support…

“If giving to nonprofits is what you enjoy most about this time of year, make sure to give, but don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions:

• Does the nonprofit have the right board that looks like the community, and all give?

• Does it have the right staff meaning are the “the right people in the right seats on the bus”?

• Does it have a program that moves the needle? Does it make an impact, not a just a bunch of numbers of how many books they give out, or meals they serve?

• Is it financially sustainable and healthy? Does it have more money and a bigger budget every year?

• Does it have a culture of learning? Does both the board and the staff really understand and know about the problem the nonprofit has come into existence to do?

• Data data data - is there internal data? Does it have an external evaluator that measures the smart goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and anchored within a Time Frame.

• Does it have partnerships and collaborations with other nonprofits and organizations? As Karen Kalish says often, one nonprofit cannot do “it” alone.

So, I hope you will continue to stay involved and give as much as you can. But I encourage you to help make 2022 a transformative year, to help nonprofits get stronger, partner and/or merge. The more we can use our hearts - and our heads - the more effective our generous community can be.”

Read the full letter and the full issue of Sophisticated Giving here: https://issuu.com/sophisticatedliving/docs/slslcr_2022