PASSION PURSUITS: Purposeful Philanthropy
STRATEGIC GIVING Bob Long, CEO of StepStone Private Wealth Solutions, grew up in Eden, North Carolina, knowing he was adopted from the Greensboro Children’s Home in 1962. Adoption wasn’t a big topic in his family, but decades later a friend invited him to fundraising events for Children’s Home Society, and Long and his wife, Mary, became deeply involved. Their philanthropic focus is clear: helping North Carolina families overcome the financial barriers to adoption. “We prefer to think of these expenditures as investments, not gifts. Creating a family has a forever impact,” Long says. Long’s approach reflects the principles of strategic giving: choosing a purpose, building relationships with nonprofits, and planning for impact. He serves on Gift of Adoption’s advisory council and previously sat on the board of Children’s Home Society, inspiring others to give through his leadership and advocacy.
4 STEPS TO GOOD GIVING: 1. Find your why. What problems do you want to solve? Whom do you want to help? If you’re stumped, ask yourself questions like, “What breaks your heart?” suggests Pam Devereux of Gift of Adoption. 2. Find your where. Which nonprofits share your vision? For any major gift, go beyond online research and meet with charity staff. If possible, volunteer to see the charity’s work in action.
3. Bring in your team. Consult your financial advisor, tax advisor, and estate planner. And talk to your family, especially if any part of your giving will happen after your death. 4. Track results. After you donate, keep checking in with the charity to assess the impact and determine whether to continue giving. “If an organization has an annual report or impact report, pay attention to that,” says Emily Johnson of the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina. Experts recommend donors start by identifying causes they care about, researching charities, and maintaining ongoing relationships. Strategic giving also involves planning, whether through direct donations, donor-advised funds, or foundations, and often requires guidance from financial and legal professionals. Long’s message: You don’t need great wealth to make a difference. “A well- placed gift can change a life,” he says, “or, in our case, thousands of them.”
Stop Trying to Hustle Harder PLAN SMARTER INSTEAD
STOP SAYING YES. How often do you say “no” to others? Many of us are people pleasers who often agree to requests, even if they exceed our capacity. Saying “yes” all the time will lead to burnout, regardless of
Do you ever wish you could accomplish more in a day? Whether you’re trying to squeeze out as many tasks as possible at work or take care of all of your chores before Sunday, it can feel like you’re always trying to maximize your productivity. But many of us feel like we fall short each day. You may think you just need to regularly refresh your coffee or eliminate every distraction from your mind to improve your productivity, but this only gets you so far. Instead, focus on incorporating strong, simple strategies into your routine. Here are three ideas to help you be as productive as possible, no matter the situation. PUT A PLAN IN PLACE. When do you start thinking about what you need to accomplish on any given day? Too often, people wait until they face their work computer or stare at a sink full of dishes to strategize their day. Instead, take some time before you wrap up work to establish your priorities for the following day. Before the weekend starts, figure out which chores you need to do and the best time to tackle them. Having a plan will increase your likelihood of sticking to it.
whether it’s your boss asking you to complete a project before noon or your friends wanting to go out for the fourth night in a row. Say no, and keep your main priorities at the forefront of your mind.
TAKE REGULAR BREAKS. You may want to push through all your tasks so you can finally unwind and relax, but this could lengthen the process. Sticking to your responsibilities like glue prevents your body and brain from taking necessary breaks to recalibrate and reset so you can operate at peak performance.
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