An Entrepreneurial Perspective on Philanthropy

The more I am exposed to the nonprofit and corporate philanthropy realms, the deeper I believe in entrepreneurial philanthropy. While I certainly understand the push back for nonprofits falling in line with business principles, I think a new view, openness and approach are on the horizon. When nonprofit organizations have the drive and ability to become self-sustaining, amazing things can happen. Society's views of the purpose of philanthropic funds and charitable giving has to change. Understanding that an organization is not a pure funnel of money is critical to the success of solving societal issues. Additionally, it is imperative to understand that well-meaning, passionate individuals are not always the only ones to grab when trying to solve for a larger issue. Strategic thinking, financial understanding and talented partnerships are rare gems that are starting to make more frequent appearances. I love the below article and take on the issue...

"There are many philanthropists and volunteers who act locally, giving tirelessly, donating their time and money to help the sick, poor and other individuals most in need. But why stop there? Philanthropic work on the local level is wonderful, but time and again it has proven incapable of reaching the scale we need to foster economic development and leading to the monumental changes we all seek.

Doesn’t philanthropy deserve, indeed require, the same level of audacious hope and limitless opportunity as do our business ventures? Our power to impart positive change goes well beyond our communities. We can surely think about both–our communities and the world beyond–and act on the same." Naveen Jain, Forbes Read More....

The Hamptons: Learning to dance in the rain.

I fell in love with Emily Giffin's awkwardly charming NYC love story, Something Borrowed in the years leading up to our big move. When I watched the movie, I fell in love with the Hamptons. We all know I am a travel junkie, and of course, the Hamptons is just one move beautiful travel spot to check off the list. But what I really fell in love with, yearned for, was the fun free-flowing group of friends that traveled to the popular beach spot together. I wanted to pack up a car (a real live car, friends!), see the views of the city through the back window and laugh uncontrollably all the way to the beach and back. I wanted that cute, comfortable, stunning, oh-my-gosh-I-will-never-own-a-home-like-this, rental to play games in, swim and make lasting memories.

I know this is going to be a shocking statement. Did you know that trips with a large group of people can be stressful? I know, you are dying to know how that can be true. It just so happens that everyone plans a trip through a different lens, with different expectations. And here is the real newsflash... we are all different. What?! "You don't drive that way?""You eat when?""You think that is actually fun?!" I believe your best of friends are the ones that you travel with... the ones that you travel with and don't end up killing each other. You learn to accept the strange things they do, say, and eat - because you realize they are putting up with just the same from you. I know, second shocking statement... you are not perfect. Flexibility starts with a big "F"... for FUN! Because the more flexible your learn to be, the more fun will ensue. A lesson I continue to learn from my husband.

And I'm really glad that I've been practicing the big "F", because I walked away from an amazing experience. I danced in the rain, in a swimsuit, in a parking lot. I jumped into the freezing cold ocean, danced with a polar bear, and played baseball and football...or some iteration of it. I stayed up way past my bedtime, ate lots of dessert and shared intimate secrets. Steering away from my pre-planned scheduled even allowed for a spontaneous trip to Brooklyn on the way home.

Years down the road, I won't remember the stress of planning a large group trip. I will remember those beach snapshots, secrets shared and how we had so much fun playing football, the cops came. I pray that everyone has the opportunity to experience the fun that flexibility can lead to... and if you receive a noise violation, you know you did something right.

My friend with a big heart.

I love all-things that make me ask why - especially when it comes to people. This is a trait that I find often goes hand in hand with quirkiness, another trait I love. I suppose this is how I ended up with my quirky tattoo that makes people ask why, almost 10 years ago. I have been counting down the days until my former co-worker turned great friend came to NYC. When I first met Brenda Diaz, I couldn't keep up with her fast, fast, fast talking. I knew she would fit right in with this fast-paced city.

My friend with a big heart came to New York to visit this past weekend, explore and check-off another travel spot. She came with five girls under the age of 18. Yes, five. All girls. Hormonal, fashion-loving and boy-searching girls. She told me that someone recently asked her about her five girls, and one of the older girls was quick to answer that only two were from the same father - so a total of four men helped to create these funny, giggly girls. You really have to love their honesty.

What I love about my friend, is that she has been a foster mom to so many kids over the years that I have lost count. She also has two girls of her own. She's a rockstar foster mom in a world of frustrating government red tape, meetings on top of meetings, language barriers, and a range of issues that spread so wide I didn't know they existed. Sad, frustrating and heart-breaking issues that show you just how cruel this world and the people in it can be. I know this because we used to have offices next to each other. Oh yes, she holds down a full-time job too. I've watched her coordinate schedules, paperwork, language classes, school projects and government I.D.'s - all in hopes that these children will have a better life and become so well educated that they not only never return to their former lives, but that they become advocates and role models for others in those same situations.

It's situations like this that make me want to ask why when I see something a little quirky, a little off-beat. The good stories usually flow in the natural lives of those around us and unless we ask why, we just might miss the because and I live for the because in this world of uncertainty. I'm thankful for friends that show me the love of God in their every day actions, decisions and lives.

And I'm always, always, always thankful for the Texans that make the trek to the Big Apple.

Dylan's Candy Bar - NYC

Delaware & Maryland...our last 2 states! Plus DC.

Washington, D.C.
Nationals Game, Sights

We were pretty excited about this trip, our final two states. We had already been to Washington, D.C. together...but as you know, I travel there pretty often for work. Which meant, it was pretty easy for Richard to come "down South" and meet up with me! We kicked off his arrival at D.C.'s Union Station by seeing the Capitol and then walking through the National Mall to the Washington Monument. That night we went to a Nationals Game with my co-workers, and had a great time meeting everyone's other half. It's always fun to see personalities when their partner in crime is around! Before catching our train to Baltimore, we enjoyed a nice long brunch and stopped for a quick photo at the White House. Oh yeah, and the shower threw up on me that morning... apparently sewage issues are common. That's a nice shot of caffeine. Until next time, D.C.!

Some big white house we found...wonder who lives there.

DC Metro

Baltimore, Maryland 
Inner Harbor + Fells Point

Baltimore's Inner Harbor was really pretty, and even more touristy. So we walked a mile to Fells Point and fell in love. We took ourselves on a crabcake tour and breathed in the warm weather, delicious aromas, adorable quirky neighborhoods and local conversation.

Stop 1: kali's mezze Our favorite crabcake of the night. This cute restaurant in the center of Fell's Point was a recommendation from a food-loving friend. The crabcakes were filled with crab, I know this is shocking - but seriously, hardly any other filling. Just pure, amazing crab.  And the bar tender was extremely helpful and created our itinerary for the rest of the night.
Stop 2: one eyed mikes This bar spot was hilarious - it is home of the world's first grand marnier club. They really take their grand marnier seriously. Fun atmosphere, good food - this spot ranked #3 on our crabcake tour.
Stop 3: riptide by the bay A definite local hotspot. Busy atmosphere, crazed restaurant staff and really good crab. We got to sit outside on the busy street and watch the locals drink up their Saturday night with friends and family. A fun spot that ranked #2 on our crabcake tour!
Stop 4: salt tavern Next we took a fifteen minute walk through the quiet neighborhood to a local hidden gem, salt tavern. The plan was to grab dessert, but we ended up splitting two appetizers first. I tried liver pate for the first time...and I am a huge fan! But the exciting part was the dessert - salted goat cheese donuts dipped in honey with a side of cappuccino ice cream. Loved this adventurous restaurant.
Stop 5: b and o - american brasserie After a quick cab ride back to our favorite hotel chain, Kimpton -  Monaco, we had to stop at the hotel restaurant. After all, Kimptons are known for their quirky, delicious menus. We went out with a bang...fried oysters and espressos! So good that we returned the following morning for breakfast pizza!

When near crab... eat like a fat kid? No? That's not a saying?

Wilmington, Delaware
Riverfront Walk

And then it happened. We arrived at our final destination...

We stumbled upon Wilmington's eye-catching Riverfront. After strolling along the river, checking out the fun birdhouses and taking photos, we did the thing we know best... found a great riverfront dining spot and ordered the tallest seafood platter we had ever seen.

Once we recover from the amazing food and let our 50 state travel adventure sink into our minds...we will recap one of our biggest little adventures so far!

Baltimore's Inner Harbor

The winner of our crabcake tour

Baltimore - Penn Station

 

THE final state...and first incorporated.

Riverfront - Wilmington, DE

Neon Green Grass - Corporate Philanthropy vs. Nonprofit

Inspiration is a funny thing. Sometimes I want to feel inspired so bad that I search endlessly through independent films, quirky novels and forgotten blogs. And I do find it sometimes. But I think the best inspiration comes when you least expect it. As such is life.

A little over a year ago, I was planning out my professional development activities with my boss. When the word conference was mentioned, I sighed heavily and said I'd rather go back to school than sit through another dry, freezing and mind-blowingly boring conference on the same topics, repeated issues with cotton-candy answers and speakers who either were "volun-told" to speak or truly love hearing their own voices. Thus, I started my continuing education at New York University. Which, I am beyond thankful for. However, when a co-worker had to drop out of a conference last minute, I was the replacement. Oh the torture!

So there I was on that warm, breezy Tuesday morning. I flew out of our little Upper East Side apartment and ran down York chasing a cab to take me to Columbus Circle during rush hour. I figured, hey, at least the views will be nice right? Yes, they were indeed. But the content, ohhh the content. It was fantastic. Teary eyed - I am ready to walk outside and change the world type of content. The views were an added bonus. Sitting there in the intimate room of 200 other corporate grantmakers and volunteer managers, I felt so moved watching performances and hearing impact stories with the skyline of Manhattan draped around the room. When you sit behind a computer all day putting together presentations, answering emails, approving grants and trying to figure out another way to engagement associates and impact the community... you sometimes have to take a step back to get re-energized.

Anyone that has worked in the nonprofit and corporate philanthropy realms can tell you the internal dilemma that one often faces... the grass being greener, like neon green on the other side. The type of neon green that will allow you to make a bigger, larger and more impactful splash in the community. When you are working your days away inside a nonprofit you are in the weeds. Tired and dirty, understaffed and never loud enough. But you feel connected, deeply connected to the stories and lives of those that you are working with and for. You see and get the small picture. But wait, there is a larger, grander picture. Ahhh, and it can be seen from the corporate philanthropy angle. So you cannon ball into corporate philanthropy ready to make a splash so large that it tidal waves into all the nonprofit causes that you so deeply care about, those that you know how to fix. There are funds, more staff and processes and training and materials than you have ever seen. More than you know what to do with. The excitement, oh the excitement. And you are everyone's best friend. Then there come corporate politics, and you realize just how large and complex this little world of ours is, just how many issues, how many hands, how many strategies - good strategies. You feel disconnected from those weeds that you once knew all too well, those stories, those personalities. You begin to feel lost in this dichotomy.

Time Warner Building overlooking Central Park... told you the views would be grand.

And on the days that you feel this internal pull and struggle, you search for something to center you. Something to make sense of your passions, your need for social change and desired impact. I was blessed to attend the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) Summit held in New York City this month. After hearing so many amazing speakers, performers and social entrepreneurs, I started to wonder...how am I going to change the world? What is my big plan? What am I going to do today? The speaker addressed this, almost like she could hear my thoughts. She said, "We need social entrepreneurs, big dreamers, world changers...these people are the driving force of social change. But you know what we also need, even more do-ers, workers, and pushers to get this work done. You don't need a big grand idea or proposal. Social change and impact happens one day at a time, no matter what sector you work in or what part of the puzzle you work on."

I am reminding myself that life is a series of events, chances, challenges and opportunities. All of which can lead to social good, impact and change. And for that, I am thankful.

***

I found the below to be extremely moving and inspirational.

The Power of Storytelling for Social Change (documentaries)
Girl Rising is a groundbreaking film, directed by Academy Award nominee Richard Robbins, which tells the stories of 9 extraordinary girls from 9 countries, written by 9 celebrated writers and narrated by 9 renowned actresses. Girl Rising showcases the strength of the human spirit and the power of education to change the world.

American Promise A documentary 13 years in the making, American Promise provides a rare look into the lives of two middle class Black families as they navigate the ups and downs of parenting and educating their sons.
Social Change through Arts Performance
No Child, written and performed by Nilaja Sun, is a tour-de-force exploration of the New York City public school system. An insightful, hilarious and touching master class not to be missed by anyone who is concerned about the state of our education system and how we might fix it.

Local change started by one very young girl's hope for her brother
Pathways for Exceptional Children To create a future for children of all abilities where they are included, valued, and empowered to redefine the world.

Acela 2164.

Travel. I do it pretty often these days. Both for pleasure and work. My most frequent trip is the Acela, business class. 2 hours and 45 minutes South to DC's charming Union Station. I say charming when comparing to NYC's Penn Station.  There is always routine in these trips. Cabs, Dramamine, starting and stopping, trying to eat healthy. Business people talking proposals, parents  checking in with nannies, daycares and each other. Obnoxious office calls to admins, bosses and clients. Northeast train views, sunsets and life buzzing around. Weather changes. Cool breezes, warm days, rain, chilly temps, snow delays.

I've come to really love a few things about traveling for work, and specifically, from NYC to DC. 

• Cabs - last week, I left on a cool Spring morning. I felt very "movie-esque" running in the street in the Upper East Side to catch a cab to Penn Station. I loved the cool breeze through the windows as we shot down 5th Ave along Central Park and drove straight through Times Square. 

• Food - I have to eat. I love to eat. And I love that I don't have to pay while eating the food I love. 

• Face time - can be fabulous when you spend 80% of your time behind a computer swamped in emails. 

• Daily routines of others - are just flat out fascinating to me. Social media has trained me to pay close attention to everyone's eating, drinking and social habits. Seeing this in person is quite the treat. 

• Train conversations - can be great! A few trips ago, first class was emptied when Dr. Jill Biden boarded the train with her secret service posse. Thus, we ended up next to an investment banking Californian who lives in CT and travels to Philly often. We shared political, social and nonprofit views. 

• Being away from home - Makes you appreciate home and its simplicity. Having dinner with your husband, walking the dogs and the routine that you create in your own little cloud of life. 

• Independence - navigating trains, planes and cabs forces you to gain independence whether you like it or not. 

There are also things I hate about work travel, specifically NYC to DC. 

• Cabs - I get car sick. 

• Food - it's not homemade or routine or always healthy. 

• Daily routines of others, throw my routine off.

• Train conversations - never, ever end.

• Being away from home, my husband, my dogs, my space.

• Independence, I don't always want it. 

And then you have those moments of thought.... Because when you travel, you have a lot of time to think... and your brain begins to pump out questions faster than you thought humanly possible. 

-train leaves- I should get some work done. Internet and VPN are not working. Does everyone have this many IT issues? Am I on the right career path? At the right company? The right level for my age? Do I have a healthy work/life balance? What is a healthy/work life balance? Do I spend all my time working towards my passions? What are my passions? Am I using my greatest strengths? If I'm not, and if I jump ship...will I be able to pay my bills? Will I have enough stability for a family? Or do I really love my career? Why do I always wonder if the grass is greener? Grass... Will we ever have our own yard? I hate yard work... Do I even want a yard? Do kids really need a yard? Should we be starting our family? Are we in the right city? Is this the right time? What is the right time? What time is it? Will my cab be on time? Where's my Dramamine... -train arrives-

And this, my friends, is why I sleep so soundly while staying in hotels and my first night back home. I am exhausted upon arrival. 

Rat Hockey Tuesdays: The tale of those that lost their tail...

One of the things that I have loved about our move to New York City is the flexibility I have with my job. I work from home (or around the city) a good majority of the time. However, it doesn't come without its challenges....specifically, Rat Hockey Tuesdays. And I don't mean this rat.

While accepting a work meeting invite on Tuesday mornings between 9AM - 10:30AM would not bother most, it makes me cringe. Imagine this: maintenance staff, hockey sticks, cheering.

I've been referencing Rat Hockey Tuesdays since our third week in NYC. I guess I failed to give all the specifics to Richard. He understood that every Tuesday morning there is a mad-dash for which maintenance worker can kill a rat the fastest. What he didn't understand is that they bring (yes, bring from home I suppose) their own hockey sticks and play a real hockey game. Once the "puck" has been captured, the game begins.

Have I told you about our gorgeous view?

Oh yes, we live in between buildings and overlook the garbage AKA the Tuesday morning hockey rink. A lucky NYC apartment find. Go us.

As you can imagine, Tuesday mornings are quite loud with all the murder excitement going on below our window. Pickle and Sundae do not approve (we raised them well) and often bark their disapproval out the window. Can you imagine having to explain to your boss what is causing so much noise? "Oh you know, today is Tuesday...Rat Hockey Tuesday". So now you become the weirdo. Awesome.

Icing on the cake? I have a strange connection with my neighbors. Last Tuesday I locked eyes with the 2nd floor girl looking out her window too... I could feel her annoyance pain.