There has always been a give and receive model of philanthropy. The ancient Romans even had a phrase for it: do ut des, which means "I give so that you may give." It started as the way people approached offerings to their gods, and it became a basic rule of how favors and gifts worked in Roman life. Today we might call it quid pro quo, or more simply, give to get. (Quid pro quo is also an IRS term for when a donor gets something back for a gift, like a gala dinner, and the charity has to...

I’m a crafter at heart. I love learning new things, making gifts for people, and watching an idea come to life. Over the past year, I started watercoloring, and it has brought me so much joy. What began as a way to try something new became a place where I could unplug, quiet the noise of social media and politics, and reconnect with my creative side. What I didn’t realize was how much my brain needed time to unplug. My job is to help clients stay competitive, stand out, and engage donors and...

I’ve spent my entire career in philanthropy, starting at the American Cancer Society right out of college. But the truth is, it started long before that. Growing up, giving was just part of life. Giving a small portion of my allowance each week at church and watching my parents quietly help families around us who needed it. One moment stuck with me. A single mom at our church needed a car to get to work and support her family. My parents decided we were going to make that happen. Around the...