Foundations of community

On Monday 3rd, I got to meet with the Louisville Community Foundation and its President and CEO, Susan Barry. Susan's charm and professionalism are entirely what you'd expect of a CEO who persuades donor's to trust her to invest almost $30m annually. But her understanding of the root causes of problems, and sheer willingness to work with others to tackle them is what truly impressed me. A fantastic staff team manages to work with individual big donors and make sure their money gets to where they want it, and go as far as possible, but there is also a huge emphasis on the fact that "everyone can be a philanthropist". It might stem from the roots of the Community Foundation, when a number of early leaders recognised that their own charitable donations couldn't go as far as when they were pooled with others. But I suspect it also comes from Susan's leadership: "Of course we couldn't do nearly as much as we do without our big donors, but that shouldn't exclude other people from engaging in and developing a sense of philanthropy, no matter how much it is they are giving."

And they must be doing something right, as charitable giving through the Community Foundation of Louisville is now back up to it's pre-recession levels. Obviously there are a variety of ways of giving in the US that maximise a tax incentive for individuals, that do not exist in the UK. Stock gifts and charitable checking funds - are just 2 ways i've learned about that many people choose to donate "easily" and "cheaply". But there seems also to be a growing sense of sophistication in how businesses and individuals are choosing their charitable donations, and the Community Foundation is leading in how to maximise the benefits of this. For example, using the substantial donations from the Yum group (which includes KFC) to alleviate food poverty or the money from Humana's contributions (a major health insurance provider) to support lifetime wellness projects, not only keeps the interest of major companies in reinforcing aspects of their brand identity, but also keeps the "charity" from being seen as an entirely one way street.

All this is hugely encouraging and the are definitely lessons to be learned for building a more overt culture of philanthropy back home. As ever though, my thoughts somehow go to the "unpopular" causes. I remember being 15 or so, and coming out of city centre cathedral after the annual good shepherd donations being brought in from Leeds schools. As we left, there were beggars asking for money, and the teacher said "Don't give to them. They aren't doing anything. They aren't playing music or even trying. They don't deserve it". Overhearing this, the old Irish priest, who was in the process of giving out coins accompanied by rapid blessings, said to her: "you're right of course, but it's easy to give to the "deserving poor". But i think true charity is giving to even those we think might not deserve it."