Where Will Your Philanthropy Be In 2017? By Margaret May Damen, CFP, CLU, ChFC NABBW’s Philanthropy Expert “The difference between who you are now and who you are five years from now comes down to the people you meet and the books you read.” – Anonymous The year 2017 seems like a long way off for most of us, but in the blink of an eye it will fly by. And judging by the rhetoric of the proverbial soothsayers, 2017 may well be a pivotal year for women and philanthropy. Today, and moving forward for the next 60 months, I encourage you to reflect on how the insights gathered from each... Read More

Trust, Transparency Critical in Philanthropic Quest By Margaret May Damen, CFP, CLU, ChFC NABBW’s Philanthropy Expert Country music diva, Kathy Mattea’s lyrics, “Standin’ knee deep in a river and dyin’ of thirst,” could well apply to the quagmire many people get into when they start their philanthropic quest. According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) there are more than 1.5 million not for-profit organizations in the United States. How does a caring and motivated person whose values are aligned with the causes they wish to impact chose the organizations... Read More

A True Philanthropic Holiday Season By Margaret May Damen, CFP, CLU, ChFC NABBW’s Philanthropy Expert Each year it seems there is more conspicuous consumption and less conspicuous compassion around the holiday season. Is it just human nature or do we all get a bit edgy when we hear Christmas Carols and Holiday tunes blast out of the radio and in the shopping malls before Halloween? It seems merchants are “Decking the Halls” way before Jack Frost starts nipping at our toes. Mark DeMoss, author of The Little Red Book of Wisdom, writes “The standard, \’How much should... Read More

What is your Philanthropic Footprint? By Margaret May Damen, CFP, CLU, ChFC NABBW’s Philanthropy Expert Without going to the extreme of “wearing my heart on my sleeve,” I believe philanthropy shapes the ethics and morals of our society.  America, once a county of the young, is fast graying.  The number of Boomers ready to pass on their core values is increasing at a time when four out of five adults believe the ethics and morals in our country are no longer tracking true north. As a cohort of maturing Baby Boomers we recognize that the world we are passing on to the next generation... Read More