You may be familiar with this philanthropy adage: “When is the best time to plant a tree? Twenty-five years ago. And the next best time to plant a tree? Today.”
For philanthropic donors who want to get started on their giving journey today, it’s useful to determine a preference for when a charitable gift will bear fruit.
Do you prefer to make an impact now; spread the impact over time; or make an impact at some time in the future? (There may be more than one answer here, and there is no wrong answer.)
For some donors, immediate relief is their priority. Using hunger as an example, these donors may choose to help feed people this week by supporting a food pantry that distributes nutritious food to families in need. Gifts can be directed to specific, identified needs or provided as general operating support to the nonprofit to help ensure overall sustainability.
Some donors may look further down the horizon and seek to help nonprofits build capacity in order to serve more clients. Buying a new walk-in freezer would allow the food pantry to purchase and store more bulk goods on-site; supporting the cost of hiring of a professional fundraising consultant could help to ensure the food pantry has a longer-range development plan. Other donors, focused on hunger as a systemic challenge resulting from a fundamental lack of accessibility to healthy foods, may choose to fund educational organizations that are teaching area residents urban farming skills, or advocacy organizations working to influence legislative priorities around nutrition.
As you consider your preferences for impact, a conversation with Moneta’s Chief Philanthropy Officer can help you and your financial advisors to align your priorities and your resources. Now’s the best time.
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