Posts by James Burden
Rediscovering the Joy of Living Generously
Going Deeper Than Decluttering When I was a teenager, millionaire Malcom Forbes quipped “he who dies with the most toys wins” and it quickly became a popular bumper sticker and T-shirt slogan. Nowadays, the saying is more likely to be used as an ironic meme, but we continue to put an enormous amount of time…
Read MoreThe Freedom of Flexible Philanthropy
Donor-Advised Gifting Funds When a healthy tax refund and an inheritance left Bert and Sue Johnson* with extra money in their chequing account, they wanted to use it to do some good in the world. They were excited about giving to charity, but they were so busy they didn’t immediately have the time to decide how and where…
Read MoreGenerosity Strategies for the Self-Employed
Sisters and business partners, Janice and Jenn Nelson* run a small but thriving real-estate agency they built up over years of hard work. From the time they were young, they both valued giving to charity. However, being in the real-estate sector, their income was tied to the fluctuating market conditions, so they settled on giving…
Read MoreLifestyles of the Kind and Generous
Opportunities for spontaneous generosity pop up all the time. Your doorbell rings and a canvasser for Heart & Stroke is on the stoop. “Would you consider giving a minimum $10 to research,” she asks. The cashier at the grocery store asks whether you’d like to add two dollars to your bill to support the local…
Read MoreCamp: a catalyst for generosity
Summer’s Here – Now What? It is the first week of July. Most Canadian parents are aware that their kids have a lot of empty days ahead this summer. Parents want to make sure the break from school is not only restful, but constructive. I was the same. Many parents are grateful for the variety…
Read MoreDollars and Sense
Good manners tell us that we shouldn’t talk about money because it isn’t polite. At the same time, we are bombarded with constant conflicting messages. One second ‘money can’t buy happiness’ is on a billboard and the next says ‘buy this product and you’ll be happy’. Commercials encouraging us to give generously interrupt episodes of reality…
Read MoreI’ve Got No Strings
Building Healthy Relationships Between Donors and Charities No matter why a person gives to charity, the organization they support is certain to be grateful. Financial contributions are what enable charities and nonprofits to do the good work they do. When I work with people giving to charity, they often know which charities they want to…
Read MoreSummertime, and the Giving is Easy
For many charities, summertime is one of the most difficult seasons of the year. Even though most of us have a bit more time off and there are no snowy roads to drive, giving tends to slow down when the weather heats up. This may be because donors are away, or their resources are being…
Read MoreEngaging the Next Generation in Generosity
Last fall, Greta Thunberg gave a compelling call to action against climate change[1]. She was 16 years old at the time. Greta has Asperger’s Syndrome, OCD and Selective Mutism, which she explains as “only speaking when necessary.” Her frustration with the lack of action against climate change caused her to speak up. She recalls learning…
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