ThanksGIVING is a Great Time for Checkbook Philanthropy!

Posted by on November 25th, 2009 in General, Partner Education, Philanthropy Comments Disabled
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People tend to be more generous and charitable during the holiday season — especially at ThanksGIVING.  And it’s a great time to whip out the check and do a little Checkbook Philanthropy.

What is checkbook philanthropy? Well it’s exactly what is sounds like — you get a request for a contribution and you write a check. Simple.  You don’t give it to much thought, don’t place restrictions on the gift, and don’t demand outcome measurements.

Checkbook Philanthropy has gotten a bad rap from some professionals in Philanthropy. I think it is unfair.  The beef is that it lacks forethought or strategic vision. People who like to whip out the checkbook do so to support worthy causes that they sometimes have a long, personal relationship with.  Often they expect nothing in return beyond the satisfaction of giving and maybe a thank you note.

Foundation Source, a Connecticut based strategic advisory company to foundations lists six advantages to Checkbook Philanthropy:

  1. It allows donors great flexibility in responding to needs as soon as they are identified;
  2. Donors can be exposed to many great causes and over time gravitate to those organizations they really care about;
  3. It provides unrestricted donations which is absolutely the lifeblood of nonprofit organizations. These donations help them pay the electric bill and keep the phones on.
  4. Checkbook philanthropists tend to support issues that may be out of fashion in the philanthropic circles;
  5. It provides the flexibility to respond immediately because there is no formal guidelines
  6. Finally, checkbook philanthropy provides needed resources to problems so complex that a purely charitable approach is the most logical course of action.

It also helps the nonprofit organizations grow their donor base.

If you like this kind of giving, Foundation Source offers suggestions on how to do it better — give on the first mailing, it saves the nonprofit postage money. And if you don’t plan on giving, ask to be taken off the mailing list — this too saves the organization money.

So this holiday season, give checkbook philanthropy a try. You will feel really good about it.