GOOD NEWS: Civil Society
Good News: An enewsletter for donors and nonprofits
on strategic planning, governance, fundraising, and executive leadership.
Civil Society
Thanks to Essex County Community Foundation and The American College of Financial Services, I recently completed a ten-month series of three courses and exams with a cohort of six other seasoned professionals to earn the credential of a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy. At its core, CAP students study in depth how donors and nonprofits combine forces to forge a more civil society - everything that government and businesses do not provide a civilization.
In addition to learning about the true meaning of wealth, the CAP curriculum studies how nonprofits function well and the methods by which donors invest in important causes that are often the glue helping communities thrive, especially for the most vulnerable populations.
Yes we studied charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, giving annuities, bequests, pooled income funds, and other financial instruments designed to preserve wealth and do good but the heart of the course to me was about how and why human beings have a deep-seated desire for meaning and connection.
Whether you are a philanthropic advisor, financial advisor, nonprofit professional or simply a community member invested in the common good, I encourage you to contact my wonderful teacher Jenn Mayo at ECCF to learn more about the CAP experience and the invaluable role community foundations play around the country.
I’m grateful to Jenn for her direction and encouragement. I’m also grateful to CAP’s guiding light Phil Cubeta, his co-founders, and other early adopters of a philosophy rooted in the two bedrock American principles of a citizen’s aspiration for self-reliance and mutual aid when needed.
Happy summer.
Stuff Steve Is Watching, Listening To, and Reading
Ali Farag, the Now Retired Best Squash Player in the World (6 minute watch)
“As much as squash has meant to me - it's been my passion and my identity, my purpose for as long as I can remember - I'm now a husband and a father to two young, beautiful girls. I've met so many of my squash goals but I want to be there for the school pickups, the late night cuddles, the bedtime stories, all of those things that pass too quickly when you're always chasing the next flight, the next match, and the next tournament. I've always believed in balance and feel like that balance has shifted now. Today feels like goodbye not to just a game that has shaped who I am but I am saying goodbye to this version of myself.” Ali Farag, the Current #1 Squash Player in the World
Watch Here
What's Going On? (4 minute listen)
"I just want to ask a question. Who really cares to save a world in despair? Who really cares? You know we've got to find a way to bring some understanding here today." Marvin Gaye
Listen Here
A Spectrum of Legacies (1 hour read)
“'We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.' Winston Churchill Once you are confident that you have 'enough' for your future financial security and you've decided how much money to leave your children, you can move on to the question of legacy. I like to think of legacy as connecting our money to meaning: How will you be remembered when you are gone? Will people be inspired by your generosity to the community and those less fortunate? Will they admire the wonderful job you did raising caring, confident, contributing children or will you leave everything to children who will bitterly fight over or squander money they feel they were entitled to? Perhaps saddest of all, will you be forgotten because you really didn't make a difference?" A Spectrum of Legacies, Mark Weber
Read Here
