Jacqueline Caster on Philanthropy, Innovation and Children's Issues

As we approach the end of the fiscal year for Everychild Foundation,  I must say my confidence in our “giving circle” philanthropic model has only increased during these tough economic times. As soon as the financial crisis hit, I immediately expected more annual attrition in our membership than the normal 3 to 5%,  and, being a realist, anticipated our organization actually being devastated like many of the other charities I know.   (I am in touch with a number of other non-profit heads whose organizations have experienced 40% drops in contributions this past year!)  Remarkably, we have only lost about 10 to 12%, and, happily, have actually acquired a number of new members, leaving our net attrition at only 5% for the year.   What I have learned is that many people are still willing to give in tough economic times; but they want to make sure that the dollars are really having an impact.  The accountability aspect of giving circles which make grant monitoring a priority  gives donors great assurance that their donations are not made in vain.  While I am still not certain yet if Everychild will make another  full $1 million grant this year, if not, it will certainly be very close.  Stay tuned!