Gift Hub

On Fundraisers (In the Spirit of Kafka's Parables)

Working with "people of means" and fundraisers too, I sometimes think that God or the Fates took the solutions and the problems and shook them all up together, so that the Solution to Problem A is talking the Fundraiser for Problem G, and so on.  Maybe the Holy Spirit is telling us: "Listen for what is best in other people, whether or not you or your organization gains from it. As all do that, all will prosper." Of course no one listens. And so the Solutions play Golf instead.

Giving Advice for the Wealthy

Where Most Needed has an excellent piece, with well chosen links, on philanthropic advisory services for the wealthy. The tone of caution is justified. The emerging profession attracts the best and the worst elements of upscale advisory services. The best are looking to combine good citizenship and personal passion with their profession. The worst see giving as the last great tax dodge and see values based planning as a good way to emerge in wealthy circles as a charismatic soul-catcher. (Rasputin today would call himself the Tsar's Family Values Based Planning Consultant.) The best, like TPI and Inspired Legacies, are so public spirited that they do not rack up tons in billings or gifts for themselves. There may be models combining both "a good living for the advisor," good advice for donors, and a driving commitment to public good, but those models are just now emerging. IFF Advisors seems to be doing quite well. At Harvard Charles Collier is leading the way towards philanthropic consulting in the context of family values and family dynamics. I just received from him an invitation to a seminar he is giving at $3,500 per attendee. Yikes!

My business model, that of walking around naked giving unsolicited, free moral advice to America's wealthiest families is doing ok too, in that I have not yet been jailed.

WB Announces 2007 Funding for Gifhtub

"Give me a penny and I will sing you a song, but give me the penny first." - Swift.

Citing our continued contribution to her double bottom line, Candidia Cruikshanks, CEO of Wealth Bondage, has generously agreed to fund Gifthub for another year. And I get to use the Executive washroom. Thank you, Mistress. As an expression of my gratitude and that of our readers, I have commissioned  a poem from Frederick Turner in your honor: "Homage to Mistress Cruikshanks: an Allegory of the Free Market System, by One of Millions Pleased to be Her Thrall." He will sing it during our annual Charity Ball to the tune of an Old Woman Clothed in Grey. Tips as always are appreciated.

Playing Possum

In this rambling post, apparently on extinction, and strategies for survival, Mr. Ray Davis must have me confused with someone else:

A scavenger of garbage, a hisser, a sulker, urbanized but un-urbanable.

I, Sir, am a respectable Counselor to The Ultra's (Ultra High Net Worth Individuals), possessors of Dynastic Wealth, strutters of Family Values, Investors for Political, Social, and Personal Return, the managers of not one but two bottom-lines per dollar invested, and treaders down of inferior species. There will be no patronage for you, Mr. Davis.  That is the bottom-line, twice over.  Now beat it; you are queering my action. As you say, once caught poor Possum will be carved to the heart. But in the meantime, I am teaching Milady the Fox Trot. 

Liberalism as a Fighting Creed, or The Folly of Taking a Stand

As a former professor of English, I am perhaps as well able to interpret the latest oration by the Happy Tutor as is Dr. Chadwallah, the Hidden Meaning Czar over at Wealth Bondage. I take it that the Tutor is calling upon all Americans, rich or poor, to reinstitute the principles of constitutional democracy, even at whatever risk to themselves in our ownership society at war with terror. Here at Gifthub, we take a more even-handed and more focused approach. We note with interest the doings of those on both sides, those who would subvert democracy and those who support it, so long as they are rich and philanthropy is their tool of choice. We assume that if it can filed under "Philanthropy," it our subject. For us to side with one political camp over another would be divisive, let alone bad for business, and potentially injurious to our personal well-being, when tempers run so high, and so much is done in secret, without any check or balance, by those in power. Best to rise above the fray, I always say. You can always find a way to ingratiate yourself with those with the upper hand, regardless of their ideology.  There is plenty of work in this giving business for those who can get things done for wealthy people as long as you don't make waves. I would rather be a Courtier on a velvet cushion, than a Genius on a sack of garbage. How about you?

Who Moved My Cheese?

I try hard to get ahead in a world that is increasingly cold and mean-spirited. Someone is always moving my cheese. I found this lesson from Candidia Cruikshanks for cheese eating liberals helpful. It is always good to know what those in charge are thinking. I wonder if Candidia will let me help her give away some of her cheese? I could use some for myself too. I will do my best to earn her trust. I am a trusted advisor. I am a professional. Her donor intentions are ok with me.  Who am I too judge? I am starving. Wish I had some cheese.

Ads and Acknowledgements

I have added ads to see how they work. The revenue will offset the cost of the site. Any net revenue will go to charity. I have also acknowledged my debt to Candidia Cruikshanks and the good people at Wealth Bondage for their tireless efforts on behalf of a better world according to money. Links to the most recent 10 posts are now displayed on the right hand sidebar. My hope is to improve communication between those in Wealth Bondage and the world of philanthropy. We have The Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal at Hudson leading the way for humankind. And we have the Philanthropy Round Table facilitating giving within the enlightened worldview of wealthy business people. But, in my estimation, the best role model for Stragegic Philanthropy on behalf of the interests of wealthy people (and therefore the world at large) remains Candidia Cruikshanks. Her social venture, Wealth Bondage, is both self sustaining and self serving in a major way. I may be biased, though, since Candidia sometimes throws me a bone from her table. So, when Candidia asked for a little recognition on Gifthub, I was happy to sit up and beg, rollover, fetch, and lick her boots. You would do the same in my position. Who are we kidding. Giving is all about getting ahead. It is what makes the world go round.