What Gives, No, Who Gives?

The greatest challenge in creating long-term solutions to society’s social and economic injustices is the necessary commitment of financial resources. In short, it’s about money. There, we said it. A simple statement of fact that makes many folks with good intentions wince.

There are a significant number of people with ample means who “get it,” as evidenced by an entire New York Times Magazine devoted to money, published March 9, 2008, and specifically to “Giving it Away.” There is an article titled “What Makes People Give?” that’s about research done to answer this fundamental question, in part using the “matching gift” model to see how such incentives influence charitable activity. Theirs is an academic pursuit worthy of attention, but the fundraising work of this Foundation is not designed to answer an abstract question about human behavior. Our mission is to build relationships with those who have skills — along with financial and other resources — to share, combined with a strong desire to help people create better lives for themselves and their families.