Blog - Jimmy Lustig | Lustig Family Foundation

Jimmy Lustig Make Philanthropy Second Job

How to Make Philanthropy your Second Job

On June 18, 2019

While you may enjoy the work you do in your regular nine to five job, it may not be very rewarding. For many people, turning to philanthropy can give them an opportunity to do something meaningful. While you may end up working without earning much in the way of monetary compensation, volunteering your time, expertise, or money can help you do something more meaningful.

Achieve immortality

There is no fountain of youth. We all must die someday, but we can be immortal by leaving behind a legacy that will be cherished by others. You can achieve this kind of longevity when you participate in philanthropic projects. Even if you don’t have the resources to fund a cure for cancer or pay for an addition to a university, your smaller acts will be remembered and cherished as well.

Use your talents

It’s easy to sit back and say anyone could design a better irrigation system or create a self-sustaining garden. While that may be true, the fact of the matter is that no one is doing it. When you’re the one to step forward and use your expertise to offer an innovative solution, that’s something that can and should fill you with pride. Even a small act, like organizing a community food drive, will benefit dozens or hundreds of people in need.

Network with other philanthropists

While you didn’t get into philanthropy for personal gain, that’s just what can happen. As you involve yourself with philanthropic events, causes, and organizations, you’ll meet others who share your passion for giving back. This can open up new opportunities for you, which you can use to advance your own career. You will also have the opportunity to develop long-lasting friendships with the people you meet. Philanthropy offers as much to the donors as it does to those in need of charitable donations.

By getting involved in philanthropy, you can change the lives of those in your community, or you can help a community somewhere else in the world. It’s up to you to decide what causes mean the most to you. Whatever you end up doing, your efforts will help make the world a better place and that can be far more enriching than your regular nine to five paycheck.

Jimmy Lustig Giving Tips For Philanthropists

Giving Tips for Philanthropists and Their Families

By Jimmy Lustig

On May 22, 2019

In Blog, Jimmy Lustig, Philanthropy

Are you and your family looking for a way to make a difference in the world but are unsure where to begin? It’s not surprising when there are millions of causes out there competing for your donations. Here are some tips that will help you get started:

Give to a cause that’s meaningful to you

Everyone will find different causes meaningful to them. Some people are natural animal lovers and feel drawn to help causes like the Humane Society while others have soft spots for children and may prefer to give to a children’s charity.

If you’ve gone through a hard time in your life when you could’ve used help, search for an organization related to that hardship. If you can find a cause that means a lot to you personally, you’ll find giving is more enjoyable.

Do your research

When giving away your hard-earned money, it’s essential to know how it will be used. Even if the cause is one that’s near to your heart, how can you be sure that the organization is effective at creating positive change in that area?

There are plenty of tools available to you that can assist with researching non-profits. Charity Navigator is a popular site that reports on larger non-profits (those claiming over $1 million in annual revenue). Charity Watch or the BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance are also useful as references. The information available on these websites include income amount, foundation status, and effectiveness reports.

If you aren’t sure where to start, you can look at one of these sites and see which charities they rank as the “best.” If one stands out to you, cross reference it on other sites. If the consensus is that the organization is legitimate and effective, then it’s a good choice.

Give with a plan

Creating a plan for your charitable giving the same way that you would for a business. How much money will you contribute? Will you give monthly or annually? Will you give a more substantial amount to one organization or smaller amounts to several different ones?

If you’re giving as a family, each family member could choose a cause that’s most meaningful to them. Or, you can take a vote and decide on one charity that is worthy of your contribution. Whatever your plan is, decide on it before you begin sending out donations.

Give respectfully and with humility

As a philanthropist, give respectfully and from a place of humility. You are doing a noble act by giving, and of course, you are allowed to be proud of that. But try to remember that you are a part of a community of donors and that every part of that community is valuable. Also, remember to be grateful for the organization and the individuals who work hard to make your donations worthwhile.

Give joyfully

Lastly, whether you’re a solo philanthropist or an altruistic family, be sure to make giving fun. When you enjoy giving, you’ll be happier and you’ll be more likely to give in the future. And who knows? You may even inspire others to become more generous too.

Jimmy Lustig Changes For Philanthropy To Survive

Three Ways that Philanthropy Needs to Change to Thrive

By Jimmy Lustig

On May 9, 2019

In Blog, Jimmy Lustig, Philanthropy

Right now, the field of philanthropy is facing several serious challenges. There’s the need for collective action on an unprecedented scale to tackle climate change. There’s the fact that while technology is helping to solve a lot of problems, it’s also creating some new ones. Then, there’s the fact that the very nature of philanthropy is currently under attack. Some are questioning whether or not philanthropy is effective or not. There’s a question of whether or not it can remain legitimate in a democratic society. All of these issues mean that philanthropy is currently at a crossroads and three major changes need to happen for it to continue to be a successful endeavor.

Acknowledging how money is made

The Sackler family is the owner of Purdue Pharma, the inventor of OxyContin, a drug largely responsible for the current opioid crisis. The family is also a big donator to the arts. Recently, a number of organizations have rejected donations from the family and have stated they won’t take any more of their money. It’s clear that donations cannot be separated from how the money was made. It’s been a long debate, one that started with Rockefeller and Carnegie, but it seems to have come to an agreement that money made through ethically dubious ways shouldn’t be put towards philanthropy.

Reflecting diversity

Power shifts in philanthropy can only happen if the field itself reflects the diversity of the communities and people they serve. Some nonprofit organizations have begun to ask themselves if the gender and ethnic makeup of their board of trustees is representative of the larger population of the communities they’re working in. As philanthropy continues to grow around the world, it’s crucial that organizations match the culture of giving already present in that country.

Transparency and openness

Transparency is an ongoing challenge for nonprofit organizations. A level of anonymity is sometimes required to keep donors private, but the general culture should be one of openness. It helps the organization remain legitimacy in regards to where the money comes from. Open data can also help inspire new discoveries. The recent shift towards using limited liability companies (LLC) in place of traditional philanthropic structures provides more flexibility but also means there is much less transparency required of the donor. This switch could undermine the fields overall effort to be more transparent.

Jimmy Lustig Can Small Donors Impact Philanthropy

Can Small Donors Make an Impact in Philanthropy?

By Jimmy Lustig

On April 12, 2019

In Blog, Jimmy Lustig, Philanthropy

It’s a commonly held belief that giving small amounts to philanthropy is pointless. Change can’t be done with just a few dollars, so donations should be left to those who can give in large sums. However, that type of thinking prevents change from happening. Small donors can still help to change the world with their philanthropic giving. Many small funders are uniquely positioned to be the catalyst for lasting change. Family foundations especially have the opportunity to help make a change in their communities, even if they are donating in small amounts. Here are three ways that small funders can have a more significant impact in philanthropy.

Small funders serve smaller areas, meaning they can build stronger relationships

Strong relationships are the foundation of lasting impact in philanthropy. Small donors can use those relationships to inspire larger groups to give. Think of a small community where the local hospital is slated for closure. A small funder that is connected to their community can rally everyone up to voice their support for the effort to save the hospital. This movement would have nothing to do with how much money the philanthropist gives, but everything to do with the connections they’ve been able to make with others.

Small funders can be more responsive and agile than larger ones

Without huge staffs and large boards, small donors and family foundations can make decisions quickly and deploy resources much quicker than large philanthropies can. With large organizations, it sometimes takes weeks to send out much-needed relief. When dealing with disasters in the local community, most small funders can approve emergency funding and send out relief within 24 hours. Quick response times have a significant impact on the people affected by natural disasters and help them to get back on their feet quicker.

Small funders can take risks

Risk is essential to philanthropy, and no one understands this better than small donors. While large foundations may also realize the importance of risk, they have barriers and safeguards in place that prevent them from taking advantage of the little opportunities that turn into considerable successes. Small funders can invest in a program that seems promising but has no proof that it will work. A modest investment may be precisely what the program needs to see success.

Jimmy Lustig How To Know If Philanthropy Reaching Right People

How to Know if your Philanthropy is Reaching the Right People

By Jimmy Lustig

On March 22, 2019

In Blog, Jimmy Lustig, Philanthropy

Practicing generosity through philanthropy can give you a feeling of satisfaction, especially when giving towards a particular cause you’re passionate about. However, philanthropy is meaningless if your efforts aren’ t reaching your targeted groups. It’s important, with any type of philanthropy, to determine if your contributions are going where they’re supposed to. Follow these three steps to make sure your philanthropy is impacting the right people.

Evaluating the organization’s competence and commitment

The charity organization you contribute to should be well led by competent and committed leaders who have a passion for charity. Before making the partnership with any charitable organization as a philanthropist, you should evaluate the organization’s leadership, vision, mission and objectives. Your due diligence ensures that you are partnering with an accountable charity institution that will channel your contributions to the proper people.

Evaluating the organization’s previously completed projects

A good charity organization that would put your contributions to good use should be able to showcase its previous successes. When assessing their past projects, you may want to establish how well managed the projects were. Do some research into how much funding the project received, how the funds were utilized, how long the projects took to complete, the precise objective of the projects and how the projects are faring in terms of helping those targeted. A good profile of the previous projects should be a positive signal that the charity organization will put your funds to good use in helping the right people.

Getting in touch with other donors and volunteers

If you want to know the reputation of a given charity organization that you plan to partner with, you should speak with previous donors and volunteers who work with the organization. Most organization’s keep a record of past volunteers. Ask to see those records, if possible, and reach out to some of those volunteers. If not possible, speak with current volunteers in private. Donors showing concern and reservation for a given charitable organization are a clear indication that your funds will most likely suffer a similar fate of poor usage and management. Equally, talking to volunteers who work for the organization will give you an idea on how well-managed, focused and accountable the charitable institution, which may equate to how focused and accountable they are when handling money.

Jimmy Lustig Build Philanthropy Into Budget

How to Build Philanthropy into your Budget

By Jimmy Lustig

On February 28, 2019

In Blog, Jimmy Lustig, Philanthropy

Incorporating philanthropy into your business plan is one of the most effective ways to make a difference. It allows you to put more money and muscle behind your efforts. However, it can also cause some companies, especially smaller ones, to struggle financially. Most companies don’t have the resources of Google, which gives 1 percent of the company’s total equity and profits to charity, but every company can make an impact. While it’s not recommended to bankrupt yourself to incorporate a corporate social responsibility initiative, there are ways to make philanthropy work for your budget. Here are three ways to make philanthropy more cost-effective for your organization.

Don’t reinvent the wheel

Throwing money at different causes isn’t the most effective approach to philanthropy. The best way is to incorporate social responsibility into your business model organically. Look at what your organization already does well and determine how philanthropy fits in with those strengths. It isn’t a requirement that you think outside of the box to have a social impact. Often, what you already do well is what you can do for others. For example, TOMS philanthropy is tied directly to their business offering. For every pair of shoes purchased, a pair is given to a child in need.

Join forces for a broader reach

When working alone in philanthropy, your impact is limited to your own expertise and resources. If you want to have a more significant impact, it’s necessary to partner with other organizations. Look for relationships that are mutually beneficial and will result in long-term results. Collaboration helps to expand the mission of your organization and lessen the financial and operational load for smaller businesses.

Get your hands dirty

You may be tempted to outsource your community involvement work, but a hands-off approach means that your employees have little opportunity to be involved with the project. Hands-on involvement with philanthropy will help your employees to feel connected to your mission. This doesn’t mean you need to send your employees across the world to see the impact of their work. Work on initiatives either taking place in your local community or even inside of your office. You can start a green initiative to reduce waste and save on energy consumption within the workplace. These types of efforts help your employees to feel a sense of ownership over the corporate philanthropy and allow them to see the direct impact.

How to Find your Philanthropy Secret Weapon

By Jimmy Lustig

On February 7, 2019

In Blog, Jimmy Lustig, Philanthropy

The point of being involved with philanthropy is the hope to make long-term changes in an area of need. To be able to achieve this, philanthropists need to create a space where they can pause their routine, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Taking a step back allows you to reflect and think on how you can improve your philanthropy. What this “secret weapon” looks like varies from philanthropist, but here are three places to start to find yours.

What do you read?

There is a plethora of information available out there that can help inform your work. In fact, there’s almost too much information. Don’t let information overload get to you. Instead of subscribing to every newsletter about philanthropy leadership or the specific cause you’re interested in, choose a select few and set aside time each week to really go through them. Take in the information they have to offer instead of just skimming over it. Another way to approach this is to think if what specific issues you’re currently dealing with in your organization and seek out information to help solve those issues. If you’re trying to address a foundation-wide issue, then have your staff set aside time during their work day to read the selected materials as well. Don’t expect them to use their personal time to do so.

Where can you build camaraderie?

In the effort to get everything done that you need to, you may not prioritize attending conferences and speaking with others working towards the same mission as you. It’s easy to push them aside to accomplish more pressing tasks. However, getting outside of your office and meeting up with others face-to-face is necessary and will help you find a new perspective when addressing your issues with philanthropy. It enables you to learn what your peers do to manage the same challenges you face and can help you build a support system. Even if you serve in different roles, you’ll be able to make connections with the people you meet at these events that will help open your eyes to your organization.

Whom do you confide in?

Having someone you can discuss difficult decisions with is necessary, especially in the world of philanthropy. Having someone who is an expert in the field can you give you an objective, third-party view and help you to make sure you’re doing the right thing. Finding an adviser that you trust will help you to get out of your own head. There will always be certain issues that you’re not able to talk about with other board members or staff, so having someone to turn to will help save you from experiencing frustration and burnout. This adviser may be a professional or life coach that you hire, or it may be a connection you’ve made by attending conferences. As long as it is someone dedicated to helping you and removed from your organization, they can be a valuable source.

Jimmy Lustig Five Ways To Give To Charity

Five Ways to Gift your Assets to a Charity

By Jimmy Lustig

On January 23, 2019

In Blog, Jimmy Lustig, Philanthropy

There are many ways you can choose to give back to charitable causes, whether it’s donating money directly or volunteering your time. If you want to make a more significant contribution, you may consider the five following ways to gift your assets to a charity of your choice.

Charitable gift annuity

A charitable gift annuity is when you make a sizable gift to a charity. This gift makes you eligible for a partial tax deduction, and you receive a fixed income stream from the charity for the rest of your life. The money you give is set aside in a reserve account and invested. After you pass away, the charity receives the remainder of the money. Charitable gift annuities can be set up by individuals or couples. The minimum amount of money required for this type of giving is usually $5,000, but are often much larger than that.

Donor-advised funds

A donor-advised fund is an account set up through a charitable organization. Donors make a charitable deduction and receive an immediate tax deduction from the gift. You can continue to contribute personal assets to the fund, where the money will be invested and grow tax-free until you’re able to make a grant to a qualified charity. Donors are able to give to the fund as frequently as they’d like and recommend grants when they make sense.

Retained real estate

In this type of giving, the donor gifts a residence, farm or another kind of property to a charitable organization. The donor retains the right to live on the property for a designated period or throughout your life, with the property going to the charity at the end of the term, or after the death of the last person with a retained interest in the property.

Family foundation

A family foundation is a private wealth fund established for charitable reasons. Often, the donor has full control over grantmaking and passes that authority to a relative or other trusted party after their death. Starting a family foundation is not practical for smaller donors. Family foundations require significant administrative overhead and have large establishment costs up front.

Charitable remainder trust

A charitable remainder trust is a tax-exempt trust that pays a stream of income to the grantor or other non-charitable entity for a designated amount of time. The remaining value is then paid to a charity at the end of a period of time. The trustee takes on the administrative burden, meaning they’re responsible for preparing and filing tax returns, tracking the categories of income and calculating the annual payout. The grantor typically receives an income tax deduction that is equal to the value of the remainder interest in the trust.

Jimmy Lustig Five Charitable Celebrities

Five of the Most Charitable Celebrities

By Jimmy Lustig

On December 27, 2018

In Blog, Jimmy Lustig, Philanthropy

Celebrities all around the world are dedicated to philanthropy. Many have started their own foundations that aim to tackle a specific area of need for the world. These five celebrities are only some of the many who are doing their part to make the world better for everyone.

Leonardo DiCaprio
Since 1998, DiCaprio has raised at least $61 million for over 65 conservation, bio-diversity and climate-change programs. He has also donated around $3.2 of his own money to charitable causes. He founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which is dedicated to helping protect the Earth and vulnerable wildlife.

Oprah
Oprah has used her platform to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for charitable causes. After Hurricane Katrina devasted the Gulf coast, she donated $10 million to relief efforts. She helped to lobby for the National Child Protection Act, known as the Oprah Bill, that created a database of convicted child abusers. In 2007 alone, she spent $50.2 million on health care, education, and advocacy for women and children. She also founded the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, which serves underprivileged girls in grades 8 to 12 living in nine provinces across South Africa.

Elton John
In 2016, Elton John reached the top of the Sunday Times Giving List for donating around $38 million to different charities. The majority of his donations go to organizations that are helping to fight HIV/Aids. He also started the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which for 24 years has helped those at risk of or living with HIV by providing them with access to medication so that they can live normal lives.

Michael Jordan
A basketball legend, Jordan is also a legend in terms of charitable giving. In 2016, he pledged $2 million to help build trust between law enforcement officers and communities of color around the country. The donation was divided between the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Institute for Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. He has also donated to over 20 charities in Chicago aimed to help needed children and given $5 million to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton founded the Dollywood Foundation in 1988 to offer scholarships to high school students. It then grew into the Imagination Library, started in 1995, that gives children free books each month up until the age of five. Every month, this foundation serves around 1 million children and donated its 100 millionth book in March of this year. After wildfires came through Tennessee in 2016, the Foundation grew again into the My People Fund, which donated $1,000 a month to every family that lost their home in the fire.

Jimmy Lustig Philanthropy Makes You Happier

Does Philanthropy Make You Happier?

By Jimmy Lustig

On December 3, 2018

In Blog, Jimmy Lustig, Philanthropy

When you participate in philanthropy, you’re helping to make the world a little bit better for someone else. But does giving help make your world a bit better as well? Researchers have found that when we give to charity, our brain reacts similarly as it does when we eat chocolate, proving that doing good for others is also good for us. Here are four ways to maximize your happiness when giving back.

Give to specific projects
When organizations that are framed tangibly, you give three times as much and feel happier doing so. Same goes for projects, where you give two times as much. When it’s clear where your money is going in an organization and is helping real people, it helps you to feel that you’re making a real difference. It helps to fight that feeling of “am I even making a difference” that sometimes surrounds donations. Choose a specific project or organization that is focusing on an area you are passionate about.

Give more often in smaller amounts
Giving a lot of money to an organization one time has less of an effect on your happiness than giving smaller amounts of money more often. Spreading out your donations across multiple charities will help you to feel happier and as though you are making an impact in many different areas. A giving circle may be a good idea as it allows you to give regularly and choose who you support. Throughout the year, you can also stay conscious of any good opportunities and donate when they arise.

Give without strings
A lot of companies make promises to donate a certain portion of proceeds when you make a purchase or reward you in exchange for donating money. Giving in these circumstances limits the happiness you receive from a donation. It takes you out of the “how can I help others” mindset and puts you in the “how can I make the most out of my money” mindset. To maximize your happiness, choose to give to organizations when you’re not getting anything in return.

Give when you know who you’re helping
Putting a name and a face to a donation makes your impact seem more real, which helps make you happier. Seeing a name and a face also makes you give 60 percent more than you would without it. Child sponsorship programs are an excellent choice for you to see exactly who you’re helping and how. Other charities will share individual stories from people helped, even though donations are used to support more than one person.