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I am sitting here with my Sunday morning coffee, contemplating philanthropy after reading the BC Business article “Tough Love”. Myles Murchison, a former independent consultant for Bentree Investments Inc, writes an indepth article about the struggles Bob and Lynda Bentall have endured trying to be philanthropic.
For the last 30 years, the Bentall`s have willingly supported self created projects in Vancouver, Mexico and currently, Africa. Mr. Murchison explains in detail the struggles that have ensued, most seemingly due to the lack of accountability within the countries themselves or in the case of the Ailanthus Achievement Centre in Vancouver, perhaps creating something too insular.
I equate the philanthropic endeavours of the Bentall`s with the likes of Warren Buffet, Bill and Melinda Gates, Milton Wong, Frank Guistra`s of the world; their intentions real, coming from their own personal experience, in the case of Lynda, who endured her own personal adversity.
The article does beg to question, why is it so difficult to give away money, to be truly philanthropic? Is it government bureaucracy, societal norms, or in the case of other countries, individuals who lack integrity?
And it makes me ask, other than these large philanthropic agencies the Bentall’s have created, what have they done with their money? Who else have they generously given it to? Mr. Murchison listed some of the largest charitable gifts by British Columbians in 2007, Mr. Guistra, Mr. Wong, the Blusson’s. All amazing gifts to the agencies they support.
I would love to know what other monies Mr. And Mrs. Bentall donated here in BC? What events do they attend, if any? And do they, like me, bid feverishly on the silent auction table just to get a signed Canucks jersey?
Big gifts, large bequeaths are incredibly important to charities and organizations. Take the Chinese fund investment manager, Zhao Danyang, who just bid $2.1 million dollars to eat lunch with Warren Buffett. The Glide Foundation, who benefited from the bid, can’t be anything but thrilled that one six of their annual budget was received in the form of one cheque.
However, it is the every day philanthropist, be it Bob and Lynda Bentall, to Milton Wong, or Mr. And Mrs, Average Joe, who choose consciously to give., that create sustainable revenue for not for profits and organizations around the world. It is this constant, this known, that allows organizations the comfort of knowing they are supported.
So, Mr. And Mrs. Bentall, I have a list of organizations that fit your mandate who would willingly embrace and acknowledge your generosity. Whether you wanted to cut a large seven figure cheque, or merely hand over the spare change found in your sofa.
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Plus we have added the UK Charities.
UK Charities adds another 400,000 charities to the existing Canadian, American, and Australian charities, and brings us to a total of 1.2 million charities. This begs to ask, how long does it take to search through all 1.2 million records? The answer is less than a second!
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Microsoft’s Phil Sorgen on social responsibility
Globe and Mail Update
June 24, 2008 at 12:12 PM EDT
Should a corporation answer only to its shareholders, or should it have a social conscience as well?
Not all executives are convinced they can afford to pour time and money into such things as community projects. But according to recent studies, an extraordinarily high number of their employees want to be involved in a company’s social responsibilities, would prefer to work for a company with a strong commitment to community, and believe companies tied to a charity are more trustworthy and more respected.
An increasing number of companies have gone beyond writing cheques or donating cash to charities, donating products, services and time to works in the community.
Join the Conversation with Microsoft Canada president Phil Sorgen, who will take your questions about Corporate Social Responsibility from 1 p.m. to until 2 p.m. Wednesday, who can offer a history of his company’s CSR projects and ideas on how companies can start their own programs. Join us Wednesday, or leave a question in advance..
But how does a company create an in-house Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program? How would it fit with the company’s overall plans or products?
Is there a business case to be made for creating a CSR program?
http://www.microsoft.ca Microsoft Canada is one company that has plunged into this field, with such projects as the Child Exploitation Tracking System, a free software system used by the RCMP and the Toronto Police to combat online child pornography. Another project is the Child Life Interactive Computers for Kids program that helps hospitalized children lead a more normal life by connecting to the outside world through technology.
The company has also created the I Volunteer program, which offers employees one week of paid leave each year to volunteer at a cause of their choice, even sending them overseas.
Join Microsoft Canada President Phil Sorgen to discuss how companies can build CSR programs and how they can benefit the company.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080624.wgtPhilSorgenchat0625/BNStory/Technology/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080624.wgtPhilSorgenchat0625
Bill Gates Waxes Philanthropic At Microsoft ‘Exit Interview’
The Microsoft chairman will retire from full-time duties this week, but expects to remain busy with his foundation’s work.
June 23, 2008 04:23 PM
Despite retiring from his full-time duties at week’s end, Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) chairman Bill Gates said he doesn’t expect to have a lot of free time on his hands in the months and years ahead — mostly because his schedule will be filled by philanthropic efforts championed by his Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
“I don’t know that I’ll get much more [free time], the foundation work is very important,” said Gates, in a video interview posted Monday on a Microsoft Web site.
Gates, 51, co-founded Microsoft 33 years ago. Friday will mark his last day as a full-time employee of the company, as a planned semi-retirement takes effect. He will remain Microsoft’s chairman, but will cede day-to-day operation of the company to an executive team led by CEO Steve Ballmer, chief software architect Ray Ozzie, and chief research and strategy officer Craig Mundie.
That will free up Gates to focus on a number of causes that he has tackled through his foundation, including the eradication of malaria and bridging the so-called digital divide — a term that groups the world’s populace into technology haves and have-nots.
Gates, in the interview, made no secret of the fact that he will lean on his wealthy friends to spur the foundation’s efforts. “I need to orchestrate the rich world to help out,” he said. But he added that you don’t have to be a multi-billionaire to promote social and economic change.
“Everybody should give time and some money,” said Gates. “Pick a cause, and there are so many good ones out there, that you can develop some expertise in, and perhaps involve your spouse or the rest of your family,” Gates said.
He added that the Internet makes it easier for donors to monitor the progress of projects they fund. “If we’re giving money for wells in a country, did they get done?” said Gates. “You can communicate a bit with the people that are involved there.”
“Everyone should recognize the disparity that exits in the world today and understand that we have an opportunity to narrow that,” said Gates.
When it comes to charity, Gates is known for putting his money where his mouth is. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has donated billions of dollars to fund medical research in AIDs, malaria, and other diseases; minority college scholarships; literacy efforts; and additional causes.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/management/interviews/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=208800318&subSection=News
http://www.ic.gc.ca/cmb/welcomeic.nsf/261ce500dfcd7259852564820068dc6d/85256a5d006b972085257467004b6155!OpenDocument
nline Giving Reaches New High: Annual Estimate Released Estimates 2007 Total Online Giving In USA Reached $10.44 Billion http://www.slideshare.net/tedhartusa/2007-annual-o… Editor’s Note: Since 2001 Ted Hart has provided an estimate of online giving in the United States and around the world. This estimate is based on the review of hundreds of first hand reports of giving he recieves from charities and review of third-party research projects completed during the time period. Mr. Hart estimates that total online giving in the United States reached approximately $10.44 Billion (USD), a 52% increase over 2006 estimates, driven by significant increases in online giving for both small and large organizations, creativity in strategy and the unprecedented use of the Internet by individuals for non-disaster and disaster support efforts. The United States continues to represents slightly more than 50% of the world-wide giving online. Global giving is estimated to have surpassed $20 Billion (USD).http://www.slideshare.net/tedhartusa/2007-annual-online-giving-estimate-ted-hart/http://philanthropy.com/premium/articles/v20/i17/17000701.htm
Soles4Souls announced this week that it handed out 130,000 shoes to residents and disaster victims in Atlanta and New Orleans. Wayne Elsey, founder and CEO of Soles4Souls, said he hoped the large shoe give-away would encourage other charitable organizations to recognize the importance of providing for the thousands of people throughout the world who lack adequate footwear. “It’s not about the numbers of shoes we are giving away, it’s about issuing a call to action to people that can make a difference right here, right now, in our own country,” Elsey said in a statement. “[I hope] to catch the attention of shoe retailers, footwear brands, churches and individuals and inspire them to join our simple yet important cause,” he added. The give-away was part of this year’s Barefoot Week, which was held June 1-7 to raise awareness about the millions of children who have never owned a pair of shoes and to offer opportunities for the public to participate in Soles4Souls mission – “changing the world one pair at a time.” The international charity announced it would donate more than 325,000 pairs of new sandals to needy people in five cities, including Miami, Detroit, and Taylor, Ariz. Celebrities including Scarlett Johansson and Lauren Conrad lent their names to help raise publicity about the weeklong event. Corinne Knight, associate director of Communications for the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, said she was proud to testify about the great help and impact that the ministry had done in giving thousands of children – still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina – badly needed pairs of shoes. “The faces of the little kids were absolutely lit up with happiness … something that you and I may take for granted was the most exciting thing to them,” she said. “We are thrilled that they aren’t forgetting the continued struggle of New Orleans residents.” Elsey, however, emphasized that much work still remained in fulfilling his goal of equipping needy children everywhere with footwear – particularly in the still recovering areas of New Orleans. “We have donated more than one million pairs of shoes to residents in and around New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina,” he said. “But the city remains in great need of renewed assistance from all types of charities. We want to remind Americans that the work is not done, the mission is not accomplished. We invite them to invest in charities that work in New Orleans to help finish the job we all committed to immediately after the hurricane.” Since the charity’s inception nearly four years ago following the Asian tsunami crisis, the group has given away over 3 million shoes. By
Christian Post Reporter Sat, Jun. 07 2008 03:46 PM ET
Baby Boomers Express Strong Interest in Charity-Related Second Careers By Caroline Preston At least 6 percent of Americans between the ages of 44 and 70, or 5.3 million people, are working in second careers with charities, governments, schools, or other institutions that benefit society, according to a new survey. And half of the people in that age group who aren’t already involved in so-called “encore careers” say they would like to find such employment. Even so, the survey found that many older Americans wanted more flexibility in their jobs and schedules than they thought most nonprofit groups could offer. The survey was commissioned by Civic Ventures, a charity in San Francisco that seeks to engage older Americans in civic activities, and paid for by the MetLife Foundation, in New York. It was based on telephone interviews with more than 1,000 people. The number of people who are working at nonprofit groups or want to do so “is a huge talent pool,” said Phyllis N. Segal, vice president of Civic Ventures. “This is a potential boon to nonprofits looking to carry out their mission.” Top Causes Working in schools or at other organizations that promote education is the biggest draw for people pursuing a second career. Thirty-percent are employed with education charities, schools, or similar groups. Twenty-three percent of those employed in encore careers work in health care, while 16 percent work for government and 13 percent for other types of nonprofit groups. Survey respondents interested in encore careers said they were motivated by a desire to stay active, productive, and challenged. More than a third cited practical concerns such as a need to continue making money and receiving health benefits. However, the survey found that even those enthusiastic about encore careers had significant reservations. Eighty percent said they were concerned about being able to take time off from work when they needed it. Seventy-one percent were worried about being able to balance work with taking care of family members and other responsibilities. But most people already working in encore careers didn’t see those concerns as an issue, according to the survey. Just 27 percent said they were not able to take as much time off as they would like, while only 15 percent said they were having trouble balancing work with other tasks.
The majority (59 percent) devoted 40 hours or more per week to their job. “This is a highly skilled and educated work force, but it’s also a highly committed work force,” said Ms. Segal. “They’re highly satisfied with the income and the benefits and the flexibility they receive.” Ms. Segal also noted that many of the things older workers wanted in their jobs — such as flexibility and a sense of purpose — were characteristics that people in their 20s and early 30s have told researchers are important. “By making workplaces attractive to people who are interested in encore careers, nonprofits will also make workplaces attractive to younger people,” she said. Changes in Policy Survey respondents also cited additional steps that employers and policy makers could take to make second careers more appealing. Seventy-two percent said they’d like to see an end to financial penalties for continuing to work. Sixty-four percent wished it were easier to use the Internet to find jobs with nonprofit groups, government, and other institutions. Sixty-one percent wanted more education and training that would qualify them for second careers. The survey found that people already working in encore careers tend to be in their 50s, highly educated, and female. Sixty percent are age 51 to 62, while 24 percent are 44 to 50, and 16 percent are 63 to 70. Eighty-eight percent come from professional and white-collar jobs, while more than two-thirds (67 percent) have at least a college degree. Fifty-six percent are women. Forty-two percent reside in the suburbs, compared with 30 percent who come from cities and 28 percent from small towns or rural areas. People who expressed an interest in finding “encore-career” work, but hadn’t yet made the leap, were slightly younger on average. Fifty percent of people between 44 and 50 said they wanted such jobs. That compares with 46 percent of people 51 to 62, and 34 percent between 63 and 70. http://philanthropy.com/news/updates/index.php?id=4982
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