“I believe it’s vital to engage in some way to support your community. Philanthropy is about giving time, money, energy and enthusiasm. This page contains of newsletters on a variety of philanthropic topics.”
Highlighting The Power and Positivity of Philanthropy
Tamra Ryan, CEO of Women’s Bean Project, a nonprofit leader, and expert in social enterprise, has worked for years to empower women from challenging circumstances to find self-sufficiency. Tamra chose this path because:
Highlighting The Power and Positivity of Philanthropy
One nonprofit executive chose to take a leadership role late in his career, and he did so based on a personal commitment to make the world a better place for everyone. Scott Levin, the Regional Director of the Mountain States Region of the Anti-Defamation League shared:
Highlighting The Power and Positivity of Philanthropy
I’m excited to share insight from a good friend and nonprofit leader who has made career choices based on her generous soul and interest in satisfying her altruistic nature. When I asked Lynda Ricketson, President, and CEO of Dental Lifeline Network about her motivation to work in the nonprofit sector, she responded:
Highlighting The Power and Positivity of Philanthropy
Focusing on the good in the world and reminding everyone that charitable activities are life-enhancing and beneficial from any point of view. I’m excited to share thoughts from one donor trying to find the best way to make an impact.
The Power and Positivity
of Philanthropy
This year, these quarterly newsletters will hopefully serve as a reminder that there is good in the world. Philanthropy is Positivity! I promise to continue offering inspiration and examples of how philanthropy enhances our lives. In this edition, I’m excited to feature a giving campaign that started rather ordinary, and now has become quite extraordinary.
There is no time like the present to create your legacy plan.
Fall is my favorite time of year! I am anxiously awaiting the days when the air turns crisp and the leaves change colors. Our daily lives seem accelerated, and it feels like the busyness increases as we transition from hot summer days to the hustle and bustle of fall. Perhaps it’s because the end of the year is in sight.
Aging and Loss
Each time I create this newsletter, I feature a mix of philanthropy and estate planning topics. My goal is to be thoughtful, share tips or facts in a new way, or provide inspiration.
Today, I’m not sure if I’m writing to offer information or just writing about very personal thoughts and feelings that typically I would never share. Aging and dying seem to be a topic I can’t avoid. I know it’s that stage in my life, but I never anticipated the impact that friends, colleagues in the community, and I are experiencing. This is a surprisingly difficult stage in the life-cycle experience.
Aging is inevitable. So, if we can’t avoid it, I suggest we address the topic by QUESTIONING EVERTHING
Who are we planning for?
What are our priorities for our finances, our care, quality of life, and living with dignity?
Where do we begin as we prepare and embrace these life changes?
When do we start?
Why should we think about planning?
WHY is the easiest question to answer. Because it is important to plan financially, legally, emotionally, and philanthropically. You can ensure the life and legacy you want will be created and communicated.
Philanthropy Can Boost Your Emotions and Your Spirit
We live in stressful times, and the news reminds us of realities that can’t be ignored daily. We are faced with re-occurring incidents of senseless gun violence, the war in Ukraine, the impending recession, polarizing political issues, fear of drought and serious fires, and even a baby formula shortage. I could list more. My head is spinning with the negatives we experience each day.
This edition is a “commercial break” to highlight a few positive activities in our community, throughout the country, and worldwide.
How Important Are Your Values?
I hope that everyone is feeling back to normal and back to living your best life. Fortunately, I’ve been busy with client projects, and adjusting to getting out more and gathering with others. For me, it’s time to move forward and refresh connections. I’ve felt a spark of inspiration once again!
For 2022, I’m reconnecting with the values that motivated establishing Karotkin Consulting LCC five years ago. Through this newsletter I continue to focus on topics related to charitable giving, creating community impact, and the benefit of defining legacy as part of an estate plan.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Female Leaders
As we transition from spring to summer, I feel hopeful and optimistic about the rest of 2021. Throughout the country and in our community, it feels as though we’ve had a shift in the atmosphere and culturally, we seem to be healing, moving on, and making change. In this e-blast I continue to highlight dynamic women role models who inspire me to seek new contexts for my consulting. For this edition, I feature two very impressive women and their daughters. Both are leaders in the philanthropic community who are raising children, and modeling for their teen and pre-teen daughters how to become effective, strong, thoughtful, and informed.
We All Need An Advocate or A Helping Hand From Time to Time
As part of my endeavor for 2021 to write about women who are making a difference, I talked with Lauren Y. Casteel, the President and CEO of The Women’s Foundation of Colorado. We were colleagues at The Denver Foundation, so I know Lauren to be an outspoken and passionate leader who has advocated for diverse communities and has addressed equity issues across all sectors.
The timing of this edition is appropriate because March is Women’s history month. Sharing Lauren’s perceptions are pertinent due to her current role, and because she is the first person in Colorado to lead three separate foundations and is known nationally for leadership in and dedication to excellence and inclusivity in philanthropy. We talked about the principles that guide Lauren’s work, issues that impact women, and we also touched on a few current issues impacting our culture.
Community Engagement Can
Spread Over A Lifetime
This year, we have seen the historic inauguration of a woman as Vice President of the United States, and a woman of color at that. It is about time! Seeing Kamala Harris assume our nation’s second highest office is thrilling. Inspired by this, I will feature women who are making a difference for each of my 2021 e-blasts. So far, I have interviewed three insightful women whom I admire and respect. Over the next few months, I will share their thoughts and responses to questions about the principles that guide their own work and giving. These conversations also revealed insight into the changes each have seen for women in the philanthropic sector, and some of their pearls of wisdom.
Embracing Difficult Conversations
We are five months into living during a pandemic, and often I’m less than enthusiastic about working. Then I have a great conversation and I am re-inspired. After more than one discussion about life and death, I find myself on top of my soapbox on one issue: Don’t avoid the difficult conversation.
Take a moment to focus and relax
How are you handling all of the unknown during this pandemic? I’m trying to remind myself to be mindful, set an intention, take a deep breath, and weather the current instability in society today.
Collaboration is key featuring philanthropic influencer David Miller
The philanthropic community has a common goal to make a difference and help create change to care for its citizens. One challenge within the sector is to understand all the entities and to know when to embrace collaboration.
Relationships are crucial featuring philanthropic professional Eugene A. Hayes III
In almost every profession and aspect of daily life, fostering a connection and building a relationship with associated parties is a key component for success.
In addition to legal and financial goals, charitable giving satisfies emotional needs
Community engagement brings a great deal of emotional satisfaction that goes hand in hand with legal and tax planning and should also be intentional and thoughtful.
Ensure your philanthropy becomes a reality, even if your name isn’t Carnegie or Gates
While the ultra-wealthy may be the best-known philanthropists, they are by no means the only ones engaging in charitable giving. In fact, people all across the economic spectrum help others in significant ways.
Philanthropy spans generations featuring Barbara Grogan, daughter Holiday, granddaughter Olivia, and LivLyme Foundation
Holiday and Olivia followed Barbara’s lead and turned passion from a very personal experience to a philanthropic entity that creates innovative ways to support research and help others. Of her many accomplishments, Barbara is most proud of the philanthropic base she has laid for her family.
Set an intention for philanthropy and community engagement
Philanthropy and community engagement can be practiced like yoga – with forethought, planning and setting intentions.
Engage in causes that are personally important featuring Rachel and Taner Kodanaz
It is all about discovering causes that are personally important, connecting to programs that align with interests and engaging with the organization’s efforts.
Board and Community Leadership featuring community leader Betsy Mangone
Not only is it important to connect people to causes they support, but also to ensure they are operating effectively and ethically.
“Leslie Karotkin possesses an exceptional ability to assess the needs of a nonprofit. Her experienced and insightful counsel and advice in all aspects of fundraising has been invaluable to our organization and to me.”