Giving Done Well: Responsible and Ethical Giving

When we give, we give to make a difference. But sometimes intentions aren’t enough. We’ve heard the stories of donors with the best of intentions who miss the mark on making things better—sometimes to the point of doing harm.

Car seats for new moms who don’t have cars. Chromebooks for children who don’t have internet access at home.

What does Giving Done Well mean as it relates to being a responsible and ethical philanthropist?

At Seven Hills Philanthropy, we encourage donors to go beyond asking, “What do I care about?” to ask, “What is the community telling us it needs?” 

Community-centered change is impactful because it has relevance and authenticity. Donors who support programs that have close connections to the communities they serve give voice to authentic needs and solutions that will make a difference.

Samaritan House of San Mateo County recently piloted a supplemental income program to help single mothers achieve financial self-sufficiency. Lifeline to Ignite Financial Transformation (LIFT) provides participants with $1,000 each month while they attend school or training.

LIFT was designed with community input. Potential participants shared which program features would be most important—such as monthly 1:1 case management sessions—and what might be barriers to success—such as scheduling required financial literacy classes at inconvenient times. Listening to community is paying off for LIFT. Single moms are enthusiastic participants and early indicators of increased financial stability are positive.

Listening to community is one way to be a responsible and ethical donor. We’ll explore other ways in future posts.

Giving Done Well.