by Erin Rowley There are a lot of things to love about Centre County, Pa. Beautiful natural features. Ample opportunities to socialize. An open and accepting attitude among residents. And according to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, qualities like that create a sense of attachment…

by Emily Jones Rushing So how did you find out about community foundations? For many generous people, the answer is: their lawyer, their accountant, their financial adviser, the key professional they trust to help them make a difference with their charitable dollars. Seven years ago, the…

by Chatrane Birbal As lawmakers continue to wrestle with options to reduce the federal deficit, philanthropic leaders are finding themselves defending the status quo. Recently, the Senate Finance Committee received testimony from philanthropic leaders and researchers on incentives for charitable…

by Linda Reed My trip last week to Washington, D.C., was easy and productive thanks to the Council's great government relations team. I wanted to meet with members and staff of Montana's congressional delegation to brief them on our transfer of wealth study and some new information we have about…

by Mary Galeti American families have many traditions that cross religious, social, economic, and cultural boundaries. Taking time in the latter part of the year to give thanks for all we have is one of the most prevalent. Thanksgiving is a time for food, of course, but also for family (no matter…

by Carl Little Last week was a quiet one at the Maine Community Foundation — not! Between debriefing about the annual Inspiring Philanthropy evening and preparing for the upcoming Feed a Family campaign, we barely had time to celebrate Community Foundation Week. The Maine Community Foundation…

by Lisa Philip Four years ago, when I was a philanthropic adviser at a private bank, I spoke to The New York Times for an article on global giving. In my work with wealthy families in the United States and around the world, I was seeing a growing trend of cross-border giving. Part of this was…

By: Dan Hymowitz and Heather Lord   In America, the debate lumbers on about the best way to coordinate the philanthropic sector and the U.S. government. Meanwhile, one post-conflict West African country has jumped right in — the Liberia Philanthropy Secretariat is the fruit of…

by Dan Siegel and Jenny Yancey While the Gates Foundation has raised the bar for global philanthropy, today's youth will revolutionize global giving in the coming decades. Youth under 21, so-called digital natives, were born into the era of globalization in which communication technologies have…

by Matt Robertson In 2008, at the age of 17, I traveled with a group of other teens to Zambia and South Africa on a philanthropy-oriented trip organized by YouthGive. We went to look at how microfinance, a method of lending small amounts of money to people so they can start a livelihood for…

by Victoria Dunning You might already suspect from your Facebook or LinkedIn profiles that the world is getting smaller. It's true. The folks on the far sides of the Earth are practically down the block in terms of human connections. A recent study showed that there are only 4.74 degrees of…

by Sandra Macías del Villar Emergencies are bound to happen. While there have been dramatic improvements in disaster preparedness and increased attention to mitigation, the outcomes of natural or man-made disasters are mostly unpredictable. In recent years we have seen a slew of catastrophes…

by Amanda Hsiung As a relative newcomer to global grantmaking, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to attend the Global Grantmaking Institute this week to strengthen my understanding of the field. Attending the institute has not only provided me with useful background knowledge, however. It's…

by Stephanie De Wolfe At this week's Global Grantmaking Institute, much of our discussion has focused on the role of communities in fostering lasting systemic change. Engaging community actors who work closely with vulnerable populations is a key factor. Focusing on community-based organizations (…

by Jorgen Thomsen The conservation of ecosystems is one of the most compelling environmental challenges of the 21st century. Vital to human well-being, ecosystems and their biodiversity provide food and water; regulate floods, drought, and disease; and support soil formation and pollination. They…

by Carina Wendel and Rebecca Graves A recent New York Times op-ed by Ray Madoff, entitled "Tax Write-Off Now, Charity Later" poses several theoretical challenges to Donor Advised Funds. The article suggests that donors' charitable dollars can sit in "holding pens" for decades. Moreover, it…