Youth and Philanthropy

I recently answered some questions for TILE Financial’s Spend Grow Give program about giving and volunteering. Tile Financial  is a bank which works with wealthy families and their children, and the Spend Grow Give program “is an online financial environment designed to engage and educate the next generation of high net worth individuals on the benefits and responsibilities of wealth.”  Here is an excerpt on Expert Guidance where they asked my advice on volunteering for their teens.   These are the questions some of the teens asked:

 

1. TILE members are often interested in finding groups to get involved with. For someone looking to volunteer for the first time, how do you suggest they go about choosing an organization?

If I had to state it quickly, I’d say: “Find a cause you care about, and a leader you believe in. “  Those are two great milestones that can help ensure success with your volunteer experience.

I would really also try to understand yourself and find out first what your greatest passions are.  What is the issue you care about, such as education, poverty, the environment?  What do you enjoy doing:  Writing, working with people, detailed work/operations?  And what is the region you are most interested in, such as New Orleans, El Salvador, Africa or the neighbor across the street?

What’s also important is the size of the organization. Would you like to work in a larger organization that may have more resources, but less flexibility? Or a smaller, entrepreneurial organization that has less support, but multiple opportunities to get involved?

Most importantly, I’d find a good personal fit. Leadership is so important. Find a cause you care about, and a leader you believe in. That’s always a great start!

 

2. Someone once complained to me that it’s hard to find an organization that will assign volunteer tasks other than “clean out the broom closet.” Is this true in your experience and what tips do you have to avoid such situations?

It’s important that you find an opportunity that provides a good chance to grow and contribute.  I’d try to meet with the leader or volunteer manager to make sure it’s a good fit.  Are they open, willing to give you opportunities, warm, friendly, outgoing?  Do you see yourself enjoying your day working with them? Then most likely you will have a positive relationship where you can ask to be involved in areas you care about.  They will want to see you grow and develop, and you will want to help them.  It’s a ‘win-win’ for everyone, each helping another.

It is important to realize, too, that we all have to jump in.  I’m CEO, but I still send faxes, too.   I try to teach my team that a ‘fax is never a fax.’  As I was faxing, I told my team member, this is not just about a piece of paper going through a machine. This particular fax was our contract with Cisco, which allows us to pay salaries at our nonprofit. So it is important to do the small, detailed tasks, and connect them in to higher meaning.  Everything works together for good;  everything is important. Can you try to find the meaning, and see how you can serve? All leaders appreciate wonderful attitudes of a sincere desire to serve.  If you work sincerely at creating a service-minded attitude, a kind demeanor, and make an impact, they will want to help you, too. 

 

3. What’s the best advice you would give to your teenage self?

Be open. Surprise yourself.  You may find you are interested in something you never considered!   Go for your dreams and goals, and realize that every experience helps you learn something, and contribute something.  Sometimes it will feel great! Othertimes you might not enjoy it as much, but try to commit to serving, learning and growing. That will lead you to the next wonderful step on your journey.

 

4. How can young people play an important role in the changing philanthropic landscape?

Young people have such energy and a genuine desire to change the world now.  There is no waiting for them. I love that you are jumping in to make a personal impact now rather than ‘waiting until you are financially successful,’ which I think many have done in the past.

Since most of you are so involved with Web 2.0 and social media, I love your input on how you use Facebook, Twitter, text messaging and the like in your communications. How can we integrate philanthropy and volunteerism more into these areas?  What are you ideas on how we can use Web 2.0 to truly change our world? 

Equally important, how are you using these communications to create relationships with your peers across the world, in different countries?  For that is where true change will come, from building trusting relationships, one-on-one, amongst people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, race and religion.  This relationship building leads to greater ‘world trust’ — based on honest, heartfelt communications and actions — which then results in world peace.  You all are leading this cause for greater peace, simply by your generation’s desire to communicate, connect and care. We appreciate who you are, and what you are doing to create these positive relationships.

The Future for Social Media

Predicting the next big trend in social media is a widespread goal.  I recently read an article  by David Armano which offered some good insights.  “Six Social Media Trends for 2010” looks at where we are, and suggests where we might be going.  David also asked for our own predictions.  Here are the three I can see:

1- Global Phone Pals. We’ll see increased world peace and  understanding due to more people communicating so easily through global phone networks, begin ‘phone pals’ rather then penpals. We’ll see this most with the generation starting at age 10. They don’t know anything else but a global world.

2- Focus on Quality. People will fatigue of keeping up numerous sites. They’ll begin to pick a few which provide excellence in information and stick with those sites which can consistently deliver the following:

- Quality Information
- Quality Interaction (with other, qualified people providing value/excellence in their social media experience)

3- Specific Successes and Failures.  We’ll see some sites crash and burn, but not always across the board. We’re already seeing some social media sites fail in one country and thrive in others (ie Friendster: failed in U.S., but succeeding in Asia, primarily the Phillipines.)

What trends do you see in social media for the future?

Aid: We Need It All

I recently read a post on the Philanthrocapitalism blog, When Aid Shrinks, which inspired some interesting thoughts about what kinds of Aid the world needs.  I wrote to the author, and wanted to share with you as well:

Thank you for this clear piece on our current situation of Aid, and the need for more investments, and socially conscious investments.  The developing nations’ middle class has jumped to 50% of the world population over the past 10 years, as opposed to 24%.  This is an amazing testament to numerous factors which are all part of the process.  Some populations of poverty need direct aid to simply eat. Others can eat, but need direct investment, and donations, to attain an education and solid healthcare.  On the next level, many can receive microfinance investments to start a business.  Furthering the process, a person formerly in steep poverty can attain solid job training and employement opportunities. Which then leads to the developing a middle class: A Middle Class that can care about voting, health, education and being a participatory citizen caring not only about survival, but also contributing to the growth and positive development of their community.
 
However, this could take generations; this trajectory does not happen rapid fire in every person’s life. We need it all: direct aid, for profit investment and philanthropy — invested at different times, and different ways, across different life times, before we can get out of the woods of poverty.

Ask Pamela: How do I Manage Interns?

“Ask Pamela” is a collection of real life conversations between Pamela Hawley, an established social entrepreneur, and Mike Del Ponte, an up-and-coming social entrepreneur. Pamela was a co-founder of VolunteerMatch and is the founder and CEO of UniversalGiving. Mike Del Ponte is founder and CEO of Sparkseed.

Great news! Thanks to your advice, we found office space in San Francisco and the whole team is here.  I’m now finding that the learning curve is steep for new managers. What advice can you give me about managing interns? I want to make it a valuable experience for them and for Sparkseed. <4:27pm July 9, 2009>

 

Mike, this is a big one and we’ll have to talk about this over the long-term.  For now, read this article entitled “Rotten? Or Right? Internships that Rule” on my blog.  But what I would say, is that whether it be volunteers, interns, consultants or employees, you must keenly listen to and assess each person to understand two things: how they want to grow and contribute, and how that fits with Sparkseed’s goals and vision.  You can never let go of this. People management is ongoing.  You must always commit to caring, each and every day, about their growth and Sparkseed’s growth, always looking for the overlapping area of relevance.

I think it’s amazing that some of your interns are starting to manage their own projects. Make sure you strike a balance between clear direction and independent ownership. It’s not easy.  You want to empower people, but also let them know there is a community behind them.

Tactically, do ensure you begin compiling a manual of helpful tips.  Your interns can help you build this and add to it.  Let them contribute based on their experience, which is so very relevant.  But first, I would start with Job Descriptions for each one. Speak with them about their role, agree to defined activities, and have them write the description. Then you know the intern has “heard” the same conversation as you.  Keep this Job Description ‘live’ and ‘active.’  It is not to be put away, but added to regularly. Review every quarter.

As you can see… there is a lot more we can cover here. This was a great question. Keep them coming!

Ask Pamela: How do I Find Office Space

“Ask Pamela” is a collection of real life conversations between Pamela Hawley, an established social entrepreneur, and Mike Del Ponte, an up-and-coming social entrepreneur. Pamela was a co-founder of VolunteerMatch and is the founder and CEO of UniversalGiving. Mike Del Ponte is founder and CEO of Sparkseed.

Pamela, thanks for your advice. The interns have made a big difference. Our applications went up 46% this year! I’m now recruiting full-time summer interns and the response has been terrific. Now I just need an office for them. Any advice on how to get free office space in San Francisco? Is it worth paying for space? We’re still operating on a shoestring. <9:30pm, April 19, 2009>

Mike, you’re right to look at office space. As entrepreneurs, we’re pretty much willing to work anywhere. I worked out of my home for two years. Then I “cafe hopped” for many months, as I developed business plans, created marketing strategies, and managed a virtual team. Doing this is fine, but remember, many of your team members will need your presence and your vision near them. They need your leadership in palpable form. Additionally, a professional environment does provide energy and a connection to a larger, vibrant community.

In this economy, I’d definitely try to find a company that has extra workspace. The economic downturn has affected the residential market; the next sector to be hit will be office space. I am sure many of these companies have extra space. Try to see if they are willing to host you. They could provide desks, office supplies, and a headquarters for your venture.

Remember, Mike, you bring a lot to these companies. Many of them have gone through severe cuts and employee morale is low. You are vibrant, positive, and have a ‘product’ that is here to positively impact the world. They need your positive energy, too! It’s a win-win for all.