Center for
Designed philanthropy
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(L–R) Elana Wien, Director of The Foundation’s Center for Designed Philanthropy and Sharna Goldseker, Executive Director of 21/64.
Next Up…Next Gen!
Design & impact news
Engaging the Next Generation in Philanthropy After years of investing in causes we deeply care about, many of us continue to face a key question: How do we share our vision and teach our children and grandchildren our values around giving back while encouraging them to explore their own philanthropic passions? To address this, the Jewish Community Foundation recently hosted Sharna Goldseker, executive director of 21/64, a New York-based nonprofit specializing in multigenerational philanthropy, to join us in a conversation about how we can bridge generational differences and create a legacy that is both dynamic and enduring. “Increasingly, we’re seeing expanded lifespans with sometimes as many as four generations sitting at the table to discuss the family’s philanthropy,” explained Elana Wien, director of the Center for Designed Philanthropy at The Foundation. Another important fact in this conversation: The next generation will inherit $59 trillion by 2050. With so much at stake, it’s critical that we know our own values about giving, and that we communicate these with the next generation, while encouraging them to explore their own values as well. To this end, a multigenerational crowd of 20-somethings all the way through octogenarians gathered recently at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills to partake in a conversation about different perspectives on philanthropy.
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FALL 2015
Four Generations at the Table of Giving Facilitated by Sharna and the Center for Designed Philanthropy staff, a lively group participated in a hands-on experiment with results that shed light on how to make the “Next Gen” conversation easier and more meaningful. The question at hand: How can we better manage smart, efficient, and effective philanthropy across generations?
Kim Newstadt, Program Officer at The Foundation’s Center for Designed Philanthropy
A series of posters identifying four generations was displayed at the Paley Center, and people were asked to fill in some of the social influences of each era and how they may have affected notions around giving at the time.
The room filled with voices recalling 20th Century events: wars in Europe and the Middle East, social and revolutionary movements, technological achievements, and political events. Twenty-somethings conferred with grandparents, and every voice contributed to this instant living laboratory for intergenerational communication.
GENERATIONAL PERSONALITIES
Moral Obligation Giving vs. Impact-Driven Giving
Those born in: 1925-1945
Traditionalists
1946-1964
Baby Boomers
1965-1980
Generation X
1981-2000
Generation Y/Millennials
2000-
Generation Z
The posters, Sharna explained, “give everyone a chance to see our connections as well as our differences. The traditionalists—born between 1925 and 1945—who faced the Depression and the Holocaust were conservative and communal with their philanthropic “outlook.” A senior member of the audience shared, “We didn’t have money, so we served. We volunteered for different organizations like B’nai Brith and our synagogue.” Sharna added, “The Depression era period is where we see groups gathering together in federations to pool efforts and leverage scarce philanthropic dollars.” Older members of the family “are often more motivated by a sense of duty or moral obligation,” Sharna continued. “The current Gen Y/Millennials—those born between 1981 and 2000—are driven by impact. There is a great deal of competition for their time, and they want to see results, not give out of a sense of obligation.”
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Intergenerational Philanthropy: Key Things to Keep in Mind Abby Feinman, Co-chair of The Foundation’s
Guest speaker
Center for Designed Philanthropy
Sharna Goldseker
Build a Practice of Gratitude The poster experiment revealed insights about the past, yet Sharna kept the focus on the future: “When we ask the youngest generation—Generation Z—questions about how they build their philanthropic identity, the results are clear: experience is the #1 factor. Watching parents give is second. Hearing about philanthropy is third.” How do you create intergenerational experiences? The key today is to share authentic experiences to “build a practice of gratitude. It’s easy to give to food kitchens or to toy drives as a family,” Sharna offers. “These habits can graduate to giving circles and donor advised funds.”
The Next Generation Nineteen-year-old Yosef Shuchatowitz agreed. “When I was a child, we had fundraising experiences like newspaper drives to raise money for a food pantry. At summer camp, we volunteered. I’m grateful I was raised in an environment where giving was a fact of life.” “It was ingrained in our family,“ added Yosef’s mother Roberta, “that every day is mitzvah day.” The Shuchatowitz family exemplifies future-focused donors who are building philanthropy into their lives. Explains Roberta, “My parents established a charitable foundation quite a while ago, and they have grown older. They recently asked me to assume the foundation’s leadership. I have important decisions to make, and that involves the whole family.”
With multiple generations sitting at the table to discuss your family’s philanthropy, these take-aways from the “Next Up…Next Gen” event may be helpful to you: – While the conversation about philanthropy used to be about succession planning and getting the next generation “on board” to follow in parents’ and grandparents’ footsteps, it is important now to empower the next generation to have their own voice at the table. – “Generational personalities”—the general character traits that define a specific generation are attributed to events that occurred during the formative years. These affect each generation’s world view. – Understanding someone’s “generational perspective” can provide tremendous insight and build empathy. This can lay the groundwork for a smoother process to make decisions together about giving. To learn how to build consensus and engage your children and grandchildren in giving, contact Elana Wien at (323) 761-8715 or ewien@jewishfoundationla.org.
old, to find his or her voice at the table and come together as a family in a shared legacy. “When family members each have a voice, the family philanthropy can have an even greater impact,” concluded Elana Wien. “This is what we at The Foundation aim to help families achieve together.”
“The goal is to build empathy for others with whom we are engaging in philanthropy,” said Sharna.“ Then, we can understand differences, see common connections, and make decisions together.” After laying that groundwork, a family can then build a process that allows each person, young or
Roberta Shuchatowitz and son, Yosef
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Diane Sweet
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Beth Karmin
Dr. Ronald Stein
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I’m enthusiastic about having conversations with my grandchildren—sharing what my experiences in philanthropy have been with them and learning about what would motivate them to get involved. – Diane Sweet
Foundation donor
MEET THE CENTER TEAM The Center for Designed Philanthropy advises our donors on their giving, and manages the vetting and distribution of community dollars through institutional grant programs. B
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Our staff can answer your questions about creating a lasting legacy, identifying funding opportunities and much more. Please contact Elana Wien to learn more at (323) 761-8715 or ewien@jewishfoundationla.org. For more information, visit www.jewishfoundationla.org/center.
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For more information, visit www.jewishfoundationla.org/center.
A. Elana Wien, Director B. Naomi Strongin, Program Officer C. Kim Newstadt, Program Officer D. Warren Fong, Program Officer E. Danni Parpan, Coordinator
Center for
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Recently seen at events hosted by The Foundation and its Center for Designed Philanthropy
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1. Adlai Wertman 2. Marvin and Sandy Schotland, Alan and Barbara Gindi 3. Ilyse and Steven Teller 4. Cathy Siegel Weiss 5. Larry Rauch 6. Leah Bishop, Beverly Denenberg, Gary Yale 7. Janet Papkin, Lorin Fife, and Ed Levine
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8. Amy Bolker, Jilliene Schenkel, and Emily Schenkel 9. Marcia Cohn Spiegel and Marla Shwarts 10. Cathy and Tony Chanin 11. Loretta Walsh and Paul Milberg 12. Ron Ascher 13. Mark and Marijane Mitock 14. Ken and Patty August 15. Bob Turbin and Carol Vernon
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In the Spotlight FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES: Cutting Edge Programs in the L.A. Jewish Community In 2015, The Foundation awarded $1.85 million to nine transformative programs through our Cutting Edge Grants. This year’s grants were awarded to programs that focus on meeting the needs of underserved populations, reenvisioning the roles of synagogues and religious leaders, and embracing technology and art to reach broader audiences. We’re delighted that the Max Factor Family Foundation recently decided to support one of our 2015 Cutting Edge Grant recipients, Chai Lifeline, for its i-Shine program with a $50,000 grant. The i-Shine program provides after-school support for children whose lives have been disrupted by the illness or death of a parent or sibling. If you would like to learn more about how you can support our 2015 Cutting Edge Grant recipients, or any of our other vetted grantees, please call us at (323) 761-8715.
The Center for Designed Philanthropy helps donors shape meaningful, personalized philanthropic strategies, build consensus among family members, and develop creative solutions to magnify the impact of their giving. (323) 761-8715
www.jewishfoundationla.org/center
Center for
Designed philanthropy Lawrence Rauch
Elliot Kristal
Marvin I. Schotland
Baruch Littman
Dan Rothblatt
Susan Mattisinko
Chair
President & CEO
Senior Vice President, Philanthropic Services
David Carroll
CFO/Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration
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Vice President, Charitable Gift Planning
Vice President, Development
General Counsel
Elana Wien
Director, Center for Designed Philanthropy
Editors: Bonnie Samotin Zev & Lew Groner Design: Maxine Mueller
© 2015 Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or used without permission. Printed with vegetable-based inks on recycled paper/30% post-consumer recovered fiber.