Be a Highly Involved Philanthropist

Philanthropy is about more than donating money to good causes. If you want to be an effective philanthropist, you need to learn about the issues challenging your community and get to know the organizations working to address them. Here are a few suggestions for becoming a highly involved philanthropist.

Be Civic Minded

How can you make Lake County a better place to live? Start by getting to know your community. Read local newspapers, attend city council and school board meetings, or work on a political campaign. You'll quickly get up to speed on the community's most pressing concerns.

Start a Donor Advised Fund

Establish a donor advised fund with The Lake County Community Foundation, and be closely involved in making important charitable decisions. Declare a charitable mission for your fund, decide which community challenges you'd like to take on and recommend not-for-profit organizations you want to support. You can start a donor advised fund with an opening balance of only $10,000.

Volunteer

How effective is a particular not-for-profit? See for yourself by volunteering your time. Whether that means you tutor schoolchildren on a regular basis, spend a weekend helping to build a house for a low-income family, or advise a fledgling not-for-profit on a public-relations campaign, you'll get the best view from the ground floor.

Do Your Homework

Don't take their word for it—investigate the record of any organization that asks you for a donation. You can verify a charity's tax status with the IRS, go online at www.guidestar.com or simply call the Foundation and ask. Partner with the Foundation, and we'll tell you what we know about the charities that interest you—how long they've been around, whether they're effective and if they have shown fiscal responsibility.

Encourage Friends to Participate

If you're excited about something, share your enthusiasm! Talk to your friends and colleagues about the not-for-profit organizations you support and why. Encourage them to make donations by setting up a giving pool or offering to match any gifts they make.