SEPTEMBER 2021

Dear , Today, I am sharing philosophies and approaches around Crisis Driven Philanthropy, a topic that has been front of mind for so many this summer. The last two months alone have brought humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, wildfires, hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. Philanthropy certainly has a role to play in the recovery journey.

Crisis Driven Philanthropy

We seem to be facing one crisis after another, but history helps us remember that crises have been a part of humanity for centuries. We are resilient and rise to the challenge of recovery. Times of crisis inspire acts of generosity big and small from all walks of life. Neighbors helping neighbors; kids collecting donated clothes to be shipped to victims of wildfires; giving circles emerging to respond to the needs of a specific region; animal lovers sheltering pets from disaster areas...the list goes on and on. According to The Women’s Institute at Lilly School of Philanthropy, about half of American households gave indirectly to issues of the pandemic in its early days (for example: ordering takeout to support local restaurants and their workers, buying from locally owned businesses, or paying a person for services they were not able to render due to lockdowns). Generosity in times of dire need is expressed in many forms by citizens of all ages, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, and it’s not all about giving money to a 501 (c) 3 organization. While there is concern by many in the philanthropic field that the number of households making charitable donations is declining, I argue these varied acts of generosity - that are not easily measurable - are thread into the fabric of American culture. Sevda Kilicalp writes in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, “Making philanthropy more democratic, accessible, and inclusive is necessary . . . to bring back the classic notion of civil society response to local problem solving, which will be more needed than ever for regenerating trust and collective sense of caring in the post-COVID era.”

Balancing a Crisis Response with Strategic Giving Goals

For savvy philanthropists of today, a financial response to a crisis is merited, and yet staying the course in strategic giving goals is critical too. Exponent Philanthropy offers good advice on how to broadly navigate disaster giving. Center for Disaster Philanthropy is another excellent resource on the topic. My biggest takeaways in reflecting on these resources: 1) it’s important to take the long view on a particular crisis and know that it will take many months or even years for a region to fully recover from an event and 2) collaboration with and listening to the "boots on the ground" organizations and funders are essential.

Where Do You Give to Make the Most Impact?

Once you decide you want to respond, where do you give to make the most impact? I hear frequently, “I want to help, where do I give so that my dollars will be used most effectively?” Charity Navigator offers ideas on where to direct donations as each crisis arises. They’ve vetted these organizations and know they’ll deploy the resources quickly and efficiently. This is a good place to start your research. Certainly, also look to the local community foundations and United Way agencies as reliable entities through which to make gifts quickly.

Inspirational Reads and Listens

The following podcasts and article help frame the crisis philanthropy discussion and offer guideposts on how philanthropists can process and navigate our increasingly complex world.

Giving Done Right Podcast Phil Buchanan and Grace Nicolette, from the Center for Effective Philanthropy, interview Cathy Moore, Executive Director of Epiphany Community Health Outreach Services in Houston, TX. They discuss ways in which donors can support front line agencies in times of crisis.

Interview with the Soul of Money Institute's Lynn Twist and Oprah Winfrey Twist and Winfrey discuss how philanthropy can be freeing and enlivening for our souls. My favorite quotation from the interview: “Money is like water. When it flows, it purifies. It cleanses. It makes things grow. It makes things green. When it’s held and hoarded like water, it gets toxic, stagnant. It actually makes you sick. We need to move money so that it comes through our lives in a way that allows us to pass it on so that we do the most good for the most folks.”

How Generosity Changes Your Brain This article offers a glimpse into the science behind how generosity can affect our brains and our mental health. Perhaps, we all probably know this intuitively. The featured studies underscore the direct connection between generous actions and our well being. This is particularly compelling during a time of crisis.

I am encouraged by so many who thoughtfully consider how they can help during trying times. It is a part of our human DNA to want to help. My hope is that these acts of generosity provide a "warm glow" for donors that sustains a habit of giving for a lifetime.

Gratefully, Kaky

KAKY M. GRANT / PRINCIPAL 843-276-3974 Kaky@grantphilanthropy.com www.grantphilanthropy.com

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