| Inspired Legacies - www.inspiredlegacies.org Volume 21 Fall 2011 |
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FALL EVENTSNOVEMBER
3-6 Denver, CO: Women Donors Network Conference
OCTOBER
12-14 San Francisco, CA: Slow Money Conference
TEAM MEMBERJessica Chao
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Jessica Chao, principal of Lotus & Grain LLC, is a noted philanthropic advisor focusing on both strategic grant initiatives and foundation management. Jessica has launched numerous major multi-million-dollar programs in fields spanning the arts, social services, disaster philanthropy, education, and diversity/inclusion initiatives. She has worked with large and small foundations including the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Helmsley Charitable Trust, and the Kellogg, Prospect Hill and Ford Foundations among others.
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Tracy Interviews
Next Generation Inheritor http://bit.ly/n2xrWz downloads slowly, no sound first 5 seconds |
- What's Cookin' - Establishing Prioriites & Having Accountability, from www.inspiredlegacies.org
- How Thought Leaders Rise, from www.theopedproject.org
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Unleashing Generosity: Breakthrough Models of inspired Giving
See here too our new initiative, and support our work at Inspired Legacies. Our latest work is a global pilot for donors and foundations to accelerate their giving through seeing models of community giving that are proven: Unleashing Generosity: Breakthrough Model of inspired Giving. Click here to download our proposal and send seed money to Inspired Legacies PO Box 1693, Ross, CA 94957. We aim to raise $25,000 by the end of December in the US and $10,000 from European funders so we can capture what is already breakthrough. Email Tracy for questions at tracygary1@aol.com. |
Books out this month:
Breakthrough Solutions
How to Improve Your Life and Change the World by Building on What Works
by Eleanor LeCain
Forward by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Innovation rocks our hopeful souls. So why not focus on breakthroughs, not what's breaking down! Author and exemplary leader, Eleanor LeCain peaks our imagination and sense of the possible through a diverse portfolio of remarkable and practical social solutions detailed here. Years of service for the public good and astute listening to those that bring us personal and cultural evolution, makes, in combination with the website, www.TheBreakthroughWay.com, a ripe combination for all our cultivation. Finally a great source to find what's working!"
Order The Breakthrough Way
www.thebreakthroughway.com
(Ebook, $12, Paperback: $19.95)
Stewardship Essentials:
The Donor Relations Guide
How can you turn one major gift into a string of additional gifts? In what ways can you fully demonstrate the impact of a gift? What techniques can you use to show how much you genuinely appreciate a donor's major gift?
There's a mix of both science and art when it comes to donor relations. That's why we've just published Stewardship Essentials: The Donor Relations Guide.
This 52-page resource covers every aspect of donor stewardship and shares dozens of ideas and procedures you can use to solidify and strengthen relationships with those who have generously invested in your organization and those you serve.
Order your copy today! Available in both electronic (PDF) and hard copy formats.
This 52-page manual features:
• Step-by-step guide for properly stewarding those who generously support your organization.
• Dozens of stewardship ideas, procedures and strategies used by other charities to steward their donors.
Online (PDF Format) $59.95
Hardcopy $69.95
Both Versions (PDF and Hardcopy) $109.95
Click here to order online or call customer service at (712) 239-3010.
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* NEW PUBLCATION *
from INSPIRED LEGACIES 
Trusted Advisors for the Next Generation: A Guide for Wealth Management and Living Legacies An essential resource for inheritors, wealthy individuals, families and their advisors seeking to invest and give to shape a changing world. For the table of contents, with 13 articles by 33 co-writers, click here. For more information: CLICK HERE. |
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Inspired Legacies
Past: What hook, pivotal moment or challenge brought you to this work?
Click here for notes from our gathering. |
MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN
Tipping Point Fund
www.inspiredlegacies.org/resources/ tippingpointfund.htm
Please make a gift to just one of the organizations here before you leave for the holidays. These organizations are transforming their communities and world and need your support to thrive and survive this holiday giving season.
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INSPIRING CHANGE
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Follow Up With
Inspired Legacies
• Share your concerns and best
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CLICK HERE and CHIP IN to be part of our next collective call to action: (all amounts SO appreciated.)
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WHAT INSPIRED LEGACIES NEEDS NOW: 1. General operating $ asap (we are down 30% like many.) 2. Join Inspired Dialogues: Catalyzing Change. Inspired Dialogue our new group blog series is being launched on our web site, and we want you to contribute to that conversation. Big thanks to co-creators and partners, Jean Russell and Nathaniel James. Just email me, and we will add you to the blog for donors and advisors and we will share what's working to unleash more generosity and donor and advisor leadership. 3. Support our Initiative, Unleashing Generosity: Breakthrough Models of Inspired Giving. Give support for us to interview 15 proven community giving methods, to catalogue at least 25 more, and to video 5 inspired leaders of those breakthroughs. This is a joint European and US project that Inspired Legacies and our team of seven have launched. Here's the proposal. Unleashing Generosity: Breakthrough Models of Inspired Giving.. Email Tracy if you want to make this happen for Inspired Legacies, with your $500-$1000, $2,500, $5000 or 10k and we will be sure you get first dibs at the research. For 10k we will come and present our findings to you and a donor group by Spring 2012. |
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Join Inspired Dialogues: Catalyzing Change
Philanthropic advisors are facing ongoing challenges advocating for social justice/change giving in a period of ongoing economic uncertainty, and we need to respond with new ideas and initiatives. We have an open community conversation on the contemporary donor experience, and the challenges and opportunities of the advisor field. Ultimately, we hope these insights will uncover new pathways for strengthening the Inspired Legacies community and catalyze collective action. Inspired Dialogues unfolds with a new blog series, and conference calls ahead. Board Chair Jean Russell and our consultant Nathaniel James launch our blog this week. Email me for connection and watch our webpage for content from key progressive philanthropic advisors, nonprofit leaders and donor activists. |
Be sure to check our next issue in December 2011
We welcome your feedback and ideas at any time! To contribute to the next issue of Inspired Stories, please submit by December 7th.
Would you like to donate to support Inspired Legacies and Inspired Stories?
Please pass this on to anyone whom you think would benefit. Keep in touch!
"We have an obligation to be sure that donors (and the top 1%) do not become isolated from the needs of the public and the community."
~ Tracy Gary, 1981
VIEW FROM THE FOUNDER
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TAKE YOUR NEXT STEPS FOR ECONOMIC SOLIDARITY
All my life I have waited for and worked toward this global speak-out about class, injustice, and essential changes needed to fix the system. May we listen to each other at the highest level and join or watch as we can whatever our communities are asking of us, EACH in solidarity. Call it economic and human-hearted solidarity.
Years ago I said the above quote, and it is true more than ever today, several years later. I still know I am part of the 100% who says they want a better world. The question is HOW, and do we have the will and commitment to collaborate, to care truly and to face that too much sacrifice has been and is being required for 95% of the world?
Clearly this is a time of breakthrough, but it will take us each to truly reflect and commit to awakening at new levels. Will we leverage it and support its flow or help shape what could change in our broken systems? Will we face, many of us, our share of complacency, or point fingers? Will we just say it's hopeless and blow it off, that nothing can change the existing lack of accountability amidst corporate power and government leadership gone amuck? Do we believe that regulation or holding each other and corporations accountable is no longer the job of government? HOW can we insist that the budgets be revised so that ACCOUNTABILITY DOES MATTER, but so do our collective and individual connection between our consciences and our actions? As Jennifer Buffet, a member of Women Moving Millions, just said, "We can do this." With heart, soul and daily action, we can make a difference in each others lives.
Also what are the alternatives? See one of our partnerships with Criterion Ventures: Women Effect Investments, and their breakthrough initiative about investing in women and girls businesses worldwide. We aim to help get 30% of ALL portfolios by 2030 filled with women led businesses, stock, mutual funds, micro and community based businesses, and equity in entrepreneurs.
We are not talking about "justice for all" happening today. We are simply envisioning capitalism that as social impact investing has shown, that HOW we do our work and who is affected, and how change happens to be sure it's culturally appropriate and environmentally safe, matters; that the double and triple bottom lines (profit that benefits or does not destroy more people and the planet...) IS not only possible, it is the wave of hope (see SLOW MONEY's conference webcasts or Bioneers for great examples of the world we want).
This fall, in donor gatherings and meetings, I have appreciated hearing new commitments to give more. Could you and your family give or do more? Or consider selling one of several houses? Every small step matters even as we work for larger systemic change. If you want to be inspired read Eleanor LeCain's new book Breakthrough Solutions and reserve some giving gifts for our Tipping Point Fund list.
But reality is this WILL take each of us reconsidering our next steps BEYOND our own self-interest and toward collective respect and mutual concern for a world trajected for destruction of hope and possibility for 60% of the world, species, and the environment. Will we stand for ourselves only and circle our wagons, or will we be bridge builders and make slowly but surely systemic change together, step by step?
As we reimagine the American and global economy and our ability to redefine how to do business and home life with honor and integrity for the greater whole, I ask you not to target only the top 1% but to bring them into the community they need for new ways of partnership. (see our BOX on 7 Things that TOP WEALTH HOLDERS CAN DO NOW!) Here are some of the voices of the 1% who stand with the 99%. Be part of this as it grows and may we keep moving our money and influence. See here too our new initiative, and support our work for: Unleashing Generosity: Breakthrough Models of inspired Giving.
We stand and work with you all for change. Please commit to your personal, business and family next step and join us by supporting our leadership work as well.
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SEVEN THINGS THAT TOP WEALTH HOLDERS CAN DO NOW! 
1. Listen to the debate that is live and worldwide about systemic changes needed from those different from yourself (and your peers) 2. Consider your own part in what has happened: could you have voted differently, voted your proxies, shifted some waste or consumer trends, been less unconscious about using more or taking more than your share? Or made sure some policies did not pass? Could you have protested sooner corporate power or decisions made by local, statewide or national policy makers? Spoken up with your own family or advisor? Made different consumer, lifestyle or investing choices? 3. Consider your next steps to make a better world: what will you do in the areas of consuming, investing, voting, advocacy, education, volunteering and giving? What about making a sizable legacy gift that is not just to agencies familiar to your family or class or race based self-interest? 4. Know where you are on the socio-economic scale. Educate others, and join in more learning from and supporting (by donations and membership or time with) Responsible Wealth, Bolder Giving, We are the 1%, Resource Generation, YES!, Inspired Legacies and Wealth for the Common Good, and other signers soon to join in! 5. Advocate publicly for change: write op eds, speak in public, write blogs, Tweet, add links to your Facebook page, educate and be educated by your next generation (older and younger!) Let your thoughts, commitments and strategies be known. 6. Network with others across class, race, cultures, ages, abilities and differences. This is a global movement. Get curious and join this remarkable shift in history. 7. Lastly, MOVE YOUR MONEY: increase pay for workers, reduce your share and benefits, if too much, shift consumer patterns, and purchasing power, vote in those with your community and world view. Have your decisions and lifestyle aligned with your stated values. Consider where you are NOT aligned, own it and shift. Inform and change banks, connect to and educate your advisors (or change them if they are not in alignment with your decisions). And get your giving and living in alignment.
from Tracy Gary, Inspired Legacies, www.inspiredlegacies.org
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Here is a chance to rebalance SOME of what has so dramatically changed.
What's your next step? Take it, please. (And call us for support or planning.)
May the true joy of giving be with you,
Tracy Gary
Director, Inspired Legacies
415-377-9447 cell
40 Redwood Drive, Ross, CA 94957
Tracy@inspiredlegacies.org
To contact Pat Tiller, Administration: Pat@inspiredlegacies.org
To send donations by mail:
PO Box 1693
Ross, CA 94957
Contact Pat Tiller for credit card payments or see ourdonations link here.
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HOT OFF THE PRESS
New Report from the Foundation Center: "Diminishing Dollars for Social Justice Philanthropy" Let's Change this! Give to social justice funds this holiday season.
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INSPIRED PARTNERSHIPS
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1. Criterion Ventures, Inc
Leaders: Jackie Vanderbrug and Joy Anderson
www.criterionventures.com/ht/d/sp/i/1810/pid/1810
When women are economic agents and leaders, social change accelerates and returns multiply. The returns of women-focused investing can be measured in our families, our neighborhoods, and on the other side of the world. This is The Women Effect. This amazing team, seeks to have by 2030, 30% of all portfolios be full of women and girls investments. Raised $200,000, Still to raise: $100,000 Nov/Dec. for development of the field, landscape and products that include women and gender options for investors.
Click here for their proposal for $100k this year and $374k for 2012. Contributions will mean research and strategy for all. Criterion is building the field and is tops at that work.
See billions in investable dollars and business capital, flow to women and girls world wide and in the US because of this project. It's really that simple.
Call, Kirsten Bunch, Director of Dev. & Engagement, 917 754 0274
or Contact Jackie Vanderbrug: vanderbrug@criterionventures.com
2. Bolder Giving
Leader: Jason Franklin
www.boldergiving.org/
1. See their upgraded amazing site at www.boldergiving.org/
2. Take the Give Half Pledge http://www.boldergiving.org/pledge.php
3. See the The Bolder Giving Workbook
4. Explore Bold Giving (Giving Toolkit)
5. And weekly to keep inspired, or to educate new wealth holders or future inheritors see the Inspiring Stories Library
6. More than Money (13 years worth of magazine articles about money) is archived here too now: http://www.morethanmoney.org/
7. See their Donor Network listing also for great resources for yourself, family or clients
| Attend the Bolder Giving, monthly Bold Conversations: Webchat. Contact them for the December dates: info@boldergiving.org |
3. Bread for the Journey
www.breadforthejourney.org
Has just started an internet grassroots radio called "Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Deeds: Nurturing the Seeds of Generosity in Every Human Heart."
Since 1988, Bread for the Journey has micro-granted over $4 million dollars in 20 communities. Started by Wayne Muller, spiritual leader and author, of A Life of Being, Having and Doing Enough and Founding Executive Director Marianna Cacciatore, author of Being There for Someone in Grief, they now have 20 amazing community based chapters. Why not help them have one or build one in your neighborhood. These are for everyone to practice generosity and to open our eyes to our neighborhood need. Especially during these times, Bread for the Journey is key.
1. Read their just out GREAT year-long reading, Stories of Kindness
2. Consider opening or contributing to a chapter
3. Give to support Bread for the Journey's great community micro-grants
Listen and download anytime: (series started, 9/22)
www.voiceamerica.com/show/1976/bread-for-the-journey-radio
Contact: Email: Marianna354@gmail.com
4. Free Speech for People
Leaders: John Bonifaz
www.freespeechforpeople.org
Free Speech For People is a national non-partisan campaign working to restore democracy to the people and to return corporations to their place as economic rather than political entities.
They have just supported Congressman Jim McGovern of Massachusetts in the introduction of the People's Rights Amendment to overturn the US Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. FEC to make clear that corporations do NOT have the rights of people under the US Constitution. Support the debate now in Congress to be sure that the 28th Amendment to the Constitution, will ensure that people not corporations shall govern in America.
http://www.freespeechforpeople.com/sites/default/files/FSFPMcGovernPR.pdf
Goal: $1.5m for this next phase of their essential work.
Contact: Email: jbonifaz@freespeechforpeople.org
5. National Center for Research on Women
Leader: Linda Basch, President
www.ncrw.org
The National Council for Research on Women is a network of 120 leading research, policy and advocacy centers committed to improving the lives of women and girls.
Goal: $2m match for the Ford Foundation for endowing their programs and remarkable research.
Contact: Email: lbasch@ncrw.org
6. Use the News Foundation
Leader: Betty L. Sullivan
www.usethenews.com
Goal: $50,000 to support LGBT youth journalists
$15,000 raised to date.
Contact: Email: BETTYSNIE@aol.com
7. Women Moving Millions
Leadership: Board, founder, Helen & Swanee Hunt , Jacki Zehner and Margot Franssen
www.womenmovingmillions.net
Women Moving Millions is a bold global philanthropic initiative and learning community whose goal is to inspired gifts of a million dollar or more to organizations and initiatives that advance and empower women and girls.
Goal: $500 million. $180 million raised to date. Give a million to any project for women and girls and join us.
Pledges must be verifiable.
This is a donor learning and advocacy community, not a foundation. NO requests for funding please.
Contact email: tracygary1@aol.com
8. Equity Media Collaborative
Leader: Ariel Dougherty
www.mediaequity.org
Goal: $100,000 (so far $30,000 raised)
Media Equity Collaborative: an initiative to strengthen and broaden gender justice in the public sphere. IL joins with feminist media leader, Ariel Dougherty and other feminist media leaders, in mapping the field and supporting the over 350 feminist media organizations (some nonprofits, some producers of feminist news, including the Women's Media Center) to assure that critical organizing and production work to create feminist, gender justice information, news and theory vital to the public dialogue, and precursor for advancing change, are visible, known and supported, especially by women funders. Advance women's coverage in the media, especially women of color.
Contact: Email: arielcamera@gmail.com
GRATITUDES AND TRANSITIONS
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This Thanksgiving we extend our love and care to all of you for whom this holiday has a hole in it from the death or passage of someone you love.
There are thousands dying daily from illness and aging out. And we are losing our amazing elders and young souls every day.
May you know how very, very much we appreciate the grief, healing and inspired action going on now around the globe.
This is indeed a time of SHIFTS and WAKING UP. It is also the time that our elders, relatives who have passed and those present and some who we have forgotten, forgive us and ask for renewed care and partnership, through spirit and through the next generation.
May your holidays be filled with GENEROSITY and the joys of giving to each other. For herein lies the reality. It is you see, generosity that is the counterbalance to all this greed and unconsciousness around us.
May you spread your care, and your generosity to others. Pass it on... and Thanks Be Given,
from Tracy, Barbara, Pat, Jean, Nathaniel, Lisa, Heather, Jessica, Tom, Karen, David and Tim.
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INSPIRED LEGACIES ONLINE BOOKSTORE
Buy your books through Inspired Legacies' Online Bookstore:
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| © Inspired Legacies, 2011 - www.inspiredlegacies.org |