Think a career track means only one destination? Well… you’re wrong. Listen to how Maryann Fernandez arrived at Philanthropy Indaba:
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Maryann Fernandez is the founder of Philanthropy Indaba – an organization that makes giving an unforgettable experience for philanthropists of all ages. She sat down and told us a little bit about an awesome documentary film trip to Ghana that Indaba has put together for the next generation of philanthropists.
>> TILE brings you exclusive opinions, explanations, and interviews from experts in every industry. Have a burning question or an expert you’d like to see interviewed? Just Ask TILE!
Check out this inspiring new video by our friends at charity: water!
Is Earth Day your favorite day of the year? Do you care more about the sky or the trees?
Go to Your Nonprofits to find the perfect organization to support!
p.s. There’s an awesome fundraising contest going on right now – if you can pull together the most money for charity: water, you get to go to Africa with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett.
Bienvenidos a Malawi! (Gettin’ filtered with it? The Fresh Prince of Fresh Water?) The current leader has raised less than $12,000. You can beat that, right?
(photo credit: Evan Prodromou)
We all know that carbo-loading is essential for running a marathon (or staying up all night writing papers/ playing video games). So why expect lasting social change to run on a cookie here, a handful of peanuts there?
“45% of the population of rural India live in villages with no electricity.” So it was only a matter of time before capitalist do-gooders found an opportunity to profit from lighting up the countryside. Providing affordable clean energy solutions is potentially a $2 billion industry in India alone. And it’s not just the entrepreneurs who profit: locals suddenly have light to study and work by, cleaner air and water, and a new job market for selling and repairing solar lanterns and other green gadgets.
Sounds like a pretty neat social venture to us. What do you think?
When it comes to supporting causes you care about, are you more likely to fund emergency projects, like disease and hunger relief, or longer-term strategies for change, like electricity?
According to new research from Harvard Business School, most Americans have no idea how wealth is distributed in this country.
Here’s a handy chart from the study that pretty clearly illustrates how Americans think wealth is distributed, how they wish it was distributed, and how it’s actually distributed:
(click chart to download a pdf of the study)
Did you know that there was such a huge difference between the very top and the very bottom of the wealth scale?
There’s an interesting discussion on the New York Times about why this might be the case, why Americans underestimate income inequality, and whether we should even care.
Are you surprised? What would you have guessed?
(photo credit: clagnut)
Carlos Slim (is that really his real name? Googling… his real name is Carlos Slim Helú, which is still kind of funny) is officially the richest man in the world, with a net worth of $74 billion.
That’s more than 6% of Mexico’s entire GDP!
But being the world’s richest man in a country as poor as Mexico isn’t easy on your rep. Unlike Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, America’s wealthiest citizens, Slim hasn’t really focused on philanthropy.
Which led Cyntia Barrera Diaz from Reuters to ask, “What could you pay for with that kind of scratch?”
Here are some gems from the list she came up with:
What does Carlos think about giving away his money?
“Wealth is like an orchard. You have to share the fruit, not the trees.”
What would YOU do with $74 billion?
(photo credit: Kei!)
When something really bad happens in the world, we all feel hurt. And helping each other out is one of the best ways to alleviate that pain. But that common sense advice about not shopping when you’re hungry and not investing when you’re anxious also applies to giving.
Saundra Schimmelpfennig at the Chronicle of Philanthropy shared some advice on how to give smart in an urgent time of need. She encourages “disaster philanthropists” to think carefully before pledging their money to an emotionally compelling cause.
Here are some of her points that we think are especially important:
Ready to make an impact? Text a friend and ask them to donate with you. With two researchers on the job, you can probably find a perfect organization – and double your donation in the process!
“The GAO examined numerous federal agencies, including the departments of defense, agriculture and housing and urban development, and pointed to instances where different arms of the government should be coordinating or consolidating efforts to save taxpayers’ money.
The agency found 82 federal programs to improve teacher quality; 80 to help disadvantaged people with transportation; 47 for job training and employment; and 56 to help people understand finances, according to a draft of the report reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.”
Have any of these fifty-six programs helped YOU? How about SPEND.GROW.GIVE?
Let us know at ask@tilefinancial.com!
Seriously, we’ve never been so excited to watch someone talk about statistics.
In just four minutes, learn everything you need to know about the relationship between income and lifespan, and how the wildly the world has changed since 1810. Very cool.
Ever wonder how people end up homeless or hungry? It’s easier than you may think.
Think it could never happen to you? Play SPENT to get a sense of what life is like for the 55% of Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck.