“Not all of us can do great things, but we all can do small things with great love.” - Mother Theresa
This is a quote from my childhood. It hung, delicately crafted in my Mom’s cursive needlepoint, on the avocado green walls of our kitchen. In that world where the grand gesture always seemed to steal the headlines, the humility behind small being beautiful and impact being attainable resonated with my family.
That’s why MacKenzie Scott’s unprecedented grand gesture of billions of dollars in donations last year upended the world of philanthropy. By disbursing money to hundreds of organizations quickly, quietly, and without strings attached, she has pushed the focus away from the giver and onto the nonprofits she is trying to help. They are the types of organizations — historically Black colleges and universities, community colleges, and groups that hand out food and pay off medical debts — that often fly beneath the radar of major foundations. Read the NYT article, Giving Billions Fast, MacKenzie Scott Upends Philanthropy.
And in our conversation last June with Dayle Haddon, the former supermodel and UNICEF Ambassador who founded the nonprofit WomenOne focused on the education of girls globally, she gave us her best piece of advice -- “Build a life around your values, not your desires.”
So whether the pandemic has given you a reason to change direction or you are just getting back to your “new normal” routines, here are some inspiring examples and tips for giving your time, talents or treasure to causes you want to support.
Looking for recommendations for nonprofits from education to climate to animal welfare? See below for a list of BakerAvenue favorites.
And if the last 18 months have taught us anything, it’s that doing small things with great love for our families, our friends, and our communities matters. Thank you.
View a short video on how to get started, view a directory listing of community outreach sites, or see our roadmap of various philanthropic advisers, nonprofits, and volunteer experts to help narrow down the best method of giving for you.
When Life Gives you a Worthy Cause...
Do you have a charitable vehicle? This is a great article on Private Foundations and donor-advised funds, and how to use them together.
Are you feeling burned out at work? You aren't alone.
Read | WSJ - Burned Out and Restless From the Pandemic, Women Redefine Their Career Ambitions
Do you need the security of a job you are not thriving in?
Read | Entrepreneur - Why Leaving Your Job Could be the Smartest Career Move You'll Ever Make
Up your trick-or-treating game with this witchy cocktail. Spooky!
See | The Flavor Bender - The Witch's Heart - a Halloween Cocktail
Feminist Spotlight
NY's prior governor resigned due to allegations of workplace harassment. How appropriate that a woman would step into his place. Meet Kathy Hochul, NY state's first female governor.
How Cuomo's Downfall Paved the Way for Kathy Hochul to Make History Read | NYT
Our Favorite Nonprofits
Pacific Beach Coalition - In September, the BakerAvenue team got together to help clean up one of our local beaches. We learned more about how trash, specifically plastics, harms sea life.
- BakerAvenue Team
Giant Steps Riding - My daughter, Christina Luff, has Down Syndrome and we became active in this great organization when she was four. The benefits to her confidence, discipline, and connection with her surroundings have been immeasurable. Nothing like seeing your four-year-old, smiling ear to ear, on top of her beautiful steed. Queen of the world!
Surge for Water invests in communities to provide safe water access, sanitation, and hygiene solutions to end the cycle of poverty. They implement customized and sustainable solutions in developing countries like Haiti, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, and Uganda.
- Jennifer Leong, Wealth Advisor, Director
Foster the City is the organization that gave me the support to take the leap and become a foster parent.
Friends of the Bay Area - I serve on the board of Friends of the Bay Area. This organization provides full-time professional mentors to at-risk youth for their entire schooling, to break the cycle of poverty. Mentors are such an incredible influence in the development of these kids, giving them hope for their future.
- Tanya Welch, Wealth Advisor, Managing Director
Lily's Legacy - My wife Margaret and I are big supporters of a nonprofit in Petaluma called Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary. It is a wonderful organization that rescues large-breed senior dogs from shelters and provides a home for them before they are adopted out.
- King Lip, Chief Strategist
Achieve Program | Opening a World of Possibilities - Achieve helps underserved high school students from low-income families by providing access to quality education, including cultural, career, and community service experiences and extensive college counseling. The program was founded, financed, and run by an incredible woman, Barbara Bakar, who considers each of her students part of her family. I love the program's mission to produce successful citizens who will, in turn, give back to the community!
- Simon Baker, CEO
ANNOUNCING OUR MASTER CLASS SERIES - COMING SOON
We are excited to announce that our Financial Feminism initiative will be launching our Master Class series designed to provide education, insight, and guidance for you and your financial life. Stay tuned!
FINANCIAL FEMINISM
The theory that both women and men should benefit equally from engagement in financial markets. Our goal is to empower women financially in creative and dynamic ways to live a life they design with intent and purpose.
Since 2004, BakerAvenue has guided clients through personal and professional transitions. Our firm provides comprehensive wealth management and investment expertise for high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, foundations, and endowments.
Driven by our purpose, we strive to make a positive impact on society alongside financial return. We’re headquartered in San Francisco with offices in New York, Dallas, and Seattle.
BakerAvenue is a registered investment advisor regulated by the SEC whose mission is to protect investors and maintain the integrity of the securities market. Under the strict SEC rules, our registered investment advisors have a fiduciary duty to our clients and it is a moral and a legal obligation to place our client’s interests ahead of our own.
Links to third-party websites and articles are provided for your convenience and informational purposes only. View BakerAvenue's full disclosures at bakerave.com/disclosures.
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