Philanthropy celebrated

    Earlier this month I had the privilege of attending the Annual Celebration of Philanthropy in Loveland, hosted by the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado. Among the 700 attendees were 20 representatives of eastern Colorado — nonprofit leaders, philanthropists and founding members of the Eastern Colorado Community Fund. Here are a few takeaways from the evening that you can implement today.
    Give strategically. Bruce DeBoskey, who writes a regular syndicated column, “On Philanthropy,” that appears in the Denver Post, provided the keynote address and spoke of philanthropy as a tool that adds meaning, joy and purpose to life. It is also, he noted, more sophisticated and complex than ever. Philanthropy should be crafted with intention and toward a specific set of goals, not as an afterthought or just because it feels good. Know why you give and what change you want to see as a result.
    Give with heart. Giving strategically doesn’t mean giving void of emotion. It means channeling your passions (and resources) to make the greatest impact. A great example is the Sutherland Family, honored at the Annual Celebration of Philanthropy. Tom Sutherland was an American professor that was taken captive while teaching in Beirut and held hostage for more than six years. Upon his release, Tom directed a large part of a financial reward he received to nonprofits in Fort Collins — the community that supported him and his family through the hardest times. His generosity came from the heart.

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