Valuable Liquids

Widely reported, the Northern Virginia chapter of the American Red Cross is hoping to increase blood donations this summer through its weekly gasoline raffles. Blood donors will be entered into a weekly drawing for $100 worth of gasoline. At the end of the summer, donors will be eligible for a drawing for $1000 worth of gas.

My first thought was that this is terribly silly. On further reflection, I decided that it was a brilliant public relations strategy. By tying their story of summer blood shortages to the story of high gasoline prices, the Red Cross was able to receive valuable publicity for its blood donor program.

Street Beggars

Years ago, when I first moved to the mountains of Northern Virginia and began employment in downtown Washington, DC, I realized that I would encounter street beggars daily. I decided that to ease the pain of confronting their pain, I would follow this simple rule: I would always give money to street musicians; I would never give money to street beggars. I reasoned that street musicians were giving something of great value to those of us who had the good fortune to hear their impromptu, informal concerts. Street beggars, on the other hand, brought all of us down. By making the decsion ahead of time about who and who not I would give to, I was mostly able to avoid guilt when I turned down a street beggar's plea.

Today, I listened to the internet radio cast "Bringing Your Genius to Life" by Michael Neil regarding philanthropy and learned a new and possibly better approach to the situation. Michael's guest, Bill Cumming, told about his practice (inspired by a philanthropic mentor) of sometimes giving $20 to street beggars who asked him only for spare change. He pointed out that doing so would provide several modest opportunities for the recipient while a handful of change would not.

Bill Cumming's approach is in tune with the Cowgirl Philanthropy philosophy that a gift should be large enough to be noticed by the recipient.

The Center Will Focus on the Following:

Public Service: Women Becoming Citizen Leaders through Philanthropy

Teaching, training and encouraging women to advance their personal and professional lives and to make a positive impact upon their communities by becoming philanthropic leaders through both their individual financial giving and their effective involvement in fundraising.

Women in Academia

Teaching, training and encouraging women who have or who are seeking academic careers to advance their standing within their institutions and to garner necessary financial support for their research and scholarly work by becoming skilled and practiced at fundraising.

Feminization of the Third Sector: A Proactive, Prescriptive Approach

Teaching, training and encouraging women who have obtained or who are seeking managerial and executive positions within the third sector to manage their careers strategically and to lead their organizations in a manner that will maintain and/or enhance the prestige and power of the third sector despite its increasing feminization.

and, Related Public Policy Issues

The Center for Women's Philanthropic Leadership

The Center for Women’s Philanthropic Leadership will be the recognized thought and opinion authority on issues pertaining to the nexus of women and philanthropy and leadership. It will also be the nation’s most highly regarded source of leadership training for women in both philanthropic giving and philanthropic fundraising.

First Post. Not Surprisingly Little KayKay is With Me.

(I am my own Muse.)