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scat•ter•shot (skāt'ər-shŏt') adj. Covering a wide range in a
random way; indiscriminate: "his habit of scattershot comment on
whatever issue catches his eye.”
Philanthropy pundits are lining up to warn us about the pitfalls
of “scattershot” giving – giving in a haphazard or reactive way to
whatever appeal catches our attention at the moment. They are
beginning to coin terms like “tactical philanthropy”* and speak
about “information-driven philanthropic investing for maximum
‘social return.’ ”** Scattershot giving, they warn us, can undercut
the effectiveness of our giving – we won’t get the “bang for the buck”
out of our charitable dollars – and it can shortchange us in the tax
deduction department, so that we end up giving more and enjoying
the tax benefits less.
- the entire landscape of need around a particular issue
- the range and effectiveness of responses available to address
the need, and any response gaps
- the best mix (as in, the best “social investment portfolio”) of
available and innovative responses so that you get the most
bang for your charitable bucks
Ottinger cites the Prostate Cancer Foundation as a good example of
how to apply portfolio theory to social investing, and so avoid the
pitfalls of a reactive, scattershot approach to giving:
- Founded by Michael Milken, the famous junk bond financier,
the PCF allocates its charitable grants only after careful
research of the entire issue area; ensures that its investments
work together to fill gaps in the field; and pools donor assets for
scale and leverage in the area of prostate cancer.***
As I reflect on Ottinger’s description of “portfolio
philanthropy,” it strikes me that this is what community
foundations do. This is the strength of community foundations.
Community foundations:
- Are experts in the landscape of need in a particular region,
across a range of issues that affect the health and well-being of
communities and their people.
- Are well-aware of both the range and effectiveness of resources
available to meet specific community needs and the resource
gaps. They are also skilled in creating coalitions and
collaborative networks of donors, government agencies, and
nonprofit organizations to fill those gaps.
- Form a pool of committed, community-spirited donors – both
individual and corporate – who leverage their support for
existing and new initiatives in the community by joining with
others who share their passion for community philanthropy.
Community foundations are “portfolio philanthropy”
organizations. They are also experts at how to do philanthropy
in a way that takes full advantage tax benefits, so that once a gift is
made, you have more money left over to spend on your family, your
business, or on other charitable causes you care about. For
example, community foundations know the ins and outs of donating
appreciated securities (e.g., stocks, mutual funds) instead of cash,
which can result in substantially higher tax savings.
Giving in 2008: Making the Move to a Portfolio Approach
In this election year, we're going to hear a lot about the very real
human needs that exist in our country, and what we ought to do
about them. One thing you can do to make a difference is to move
beyond a “scattershot” approach to giving in 2008. I invite you to
call me and learn more about how you or your company can join the
Tri-Valley Community Foundation’s family of donors to make a
strategic, tax-smart, maximum-impact investment in our
community.
--David Rice
925-734-9965
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| From the President's Laptop: The TVCF Perspective |
Moving Beyond “Scattershot” Giving
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| From the President's Laptop: The TVCF Perspective |
LLNL "Our annual employee charitable fund-raising drive, the HOME (Helping Others More Effectively) Campaign, raises more than more than $1 million in employee pledges annually. Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS), our managing contractor, matches up to $1 million in employee pledges, making LLNL one of the largest charitable contributors in the region. " In our most recent HOME Campaign that concluded in December 2007, employees pledged more than $1.4 million. With the LLNS match of $1 million, local charities are receiving $2.4 million from the Laboratory." To learn more about LLNL's community philanthropy and outreach, click here. |
Portfolio Philanthropy:
The “Wise Social Investing” Approach
Randall Ottinger, a successful executive-turned-
philanthropic-adviser, has come up with an
alternative to haphazard, scattershot giving that
he calls “portfolio philanthropy.” As Ottinger
describes it, portfolio philanthropy is a well-
researched, “big picture” approach to charitable
giving that takes into account three things:
The “Wise Social Investing” Approach
Randall Ottinger, a successful executive-turned-
philanthropic-adviser, has come up with an
alternative to haphazard, scattershot giving that
he calls “portfolio philanthropy.” As Ottinger
describes it, portfolio philanthropy is a well-
researched, “big picture” approach to charitable
giving that takes into account three things:
