Consciously and unconsciously, design informs and influences our lives on a daily basis. As Angelenos, we take for granted that much of the world receives its cues from our vibrant architecture, art and fashion, to name just a few areas where form and function intercept.
Given design's pervasiveness, those of us at The Foundation began pondering the question: how do the concepts of crafting, forming and melding impact and shape philanthropic legacy? Those very concepts provide the cornerstones of our new Center for Designed Philanthropy, created by The Foundation to provide collaborative guidance and creative solutions to donors. The accompanying article provides an overview of the Center's services to imagine and realize the full promise of your philanthropic endeavors.
Over 20-plus years leading The Foundation, among the most gratifying parts of my job remains observing the satisfaction and meaning donors-and their families-derive by molding their philanthropy in ways which are deeply significant to them.
Through the Center, we build upon and bring structure to a number of services offered on a less formal basis through the years. The Center provides opportunities to craft the architecture for philanthropic legacy in a manner that stresses both continuity and progression. We understand that the arc of each donor's charitable pursuits, along with the underlying motivations, changes at respective stages of life.
Consequently, Center-donor collaborations are customized and hand-tailored to address these timely, relevant needs. Instead of merely turning out a plan, the Center facilitates a participatory process of designing together-give-and-take engagement, if you will-so that donors draft the blueprints for their philanthropic futures, whether they are focused on the long-term or the short-term.
Collaboration often means serving as an insightful voice on intergenerational issues common to family philanthropy. Since charitable passions of parents and grandparents frequently differ from the ambitions of offspring, the Center will deliver resources and skills-building for strategically engaging and linking multiple generations. Some examples of this-as you'll read in the lead story-describe the Center's collaborative work with different generations of several families. As we've learned through extensive experience over the years, shared understanding, respect and effective communication are fundamental to family philanthropy that stands the test of time.
Partnership and collaboration may begin with Center staff but don't end there. We intend to facilitate new opportunities for the exchange of ideas between like-minded funders through dialogue and discussion where interplay can enhance efficacy in charitable pursuits, so that ultimately, our donors can magnify the impact of their giving.
We share a sense of enthusiasm and excitement about the Center. It represents a fresh new beginning, coupled with an unwavering commitment to meeting our donors' far-reaching needs and diverse areas of interest. The Center offers the opportunity for our donors to craft their own philanthropic narrative and shape a legacy reflecting their core values.
During coming weeks and months, you will undoubtedly hear and read more about this new enhancement to The Foundation. We encourage you to contact us at any time to take full advantage of the Center's breadth of expertise and resources. Let us assist in unlocking and imagining the full promise of your charitable ambitions. Let's see what we can design together for the greater benefit of our community!
