Jun 23, 2021Inviting my family to join in redistributing wealthSome context: This is a letter I drafted to family members on my father’s side. Last year, I received an inheritance from this side of my family, after both my grandparents passed away. The largest share of their estate was given out immediately, but a small part of the money…Philanthropy3 min readPhilanthropy3 min read
Feb 8, 2021Meeting this moment.I’m curious, how much of your giving goes to BBIPOC-led work? (That’s organizations led by Black, brown, indigenous, people of color) Overall in the U.S., less than 10% of philanthropic giving goes to organizations led by and for people of color. My challenge to you: >>Direct at least 50% of…Black History Month3 min readBlack History Month3 min read
Nov 11, 2020Philanthropy sucks.but it doesn’t have to be this way. — It truly is a terrible system. And I work in this dang industry. I help people make their philanthropic plans, deciding where and how much to give. And still, the whole structure of philanthropy sucks. We are working within a broken system of enormous inequality. Most often, philanthropy is a…Philanthropy8 min readPhilanthropy8 min read
Jun 16, 2020What does white privilege look like for me, a nice white lady in the suburbs?Cautionary warning: Stories of police brutality and murder. Written for white folks who may see themselves in me, and the blatant white privilege I’ve benefitted from. I did not include reference links because I don’t want to spread images and videos of violence against BBIPOC. …White Privilege4 min readWhite Privilege4 min read
May 18, 2020Where should I be giving?Sharing my love for social justice foundations — I’m often asked: What is the best organization to give to? And I can’t answer that question for you. Until you know what your guiding values are, and what your goals are, and where you are focusing, it’s impossible to say. But/And/Also…. If you’re wondering where to start giving, start…Philanthropy4 min readPhilanthropy4 min read
May 11, 2020Why I’m accelerating my giving planThe need to move money NOW — How Organizations are faring It’s no surprise that organizations are struggling to make budget with cancelled events, scarce government and foundation funding, and the inability to meet with donors face to face. On top of that, an increased need for social services, technical needs of transitioning their workforce to work-from-home (does everyone have a…Giving3 min readGiving3 min read
May 5, 2020Should I be funding rapid response or system change right now?This is a question I keep getting asked right now. Folks are getting inundated with asks from folks for funding basic needs for individuals, covering bills and food for families who have lost jobs. I am…Giving3 min readGiving3 min read
Apr 28, 2020Calling in my fellow rich folks:You should be moving more money right now. Stimulus checks started going out to folks last week. You might not be getting one if your total household income exceeded $99,000 ($198,000 for couples). If you got a check while still getting paid, or made too much money to be eligible…Stimulus Check2 min readStimulus Check2 min read
Apr 7, 2020What I learned about burnout and how to work from homeA few years back, I hit a wall at my job. I was miserable, in pain, and was unable to hit my benchmarks for the basics of my job. I was also experiencing the physical manifestation of burnout. …Work From Home5 min readWork From Home5 min read
Sep 4, 2019Fundraisers are Fed Up: Philanthropy to blame, not non-profits.My letter to the editor of The Chronicle of Philanthropy To the editor: As someone who spent a decade as a fundraiser and left due to burn out, I deeply resonated with this special report, Why Fundraisers are Fed Up. …Nonprofit3 min readNonprofit3 min read
