Giving Ventures DonorsTrust

Today, we're digging into the media landscape and talking to three groups helping people to make sense of the narratives that are out there as well as challenge those narratives when they stray from the truth. First up is our watch dog, the Media Research Center. Then we'll hear from a group that has become a watchdog with teeth, Accuracy in Media. We'll round things out digging into investigative journalism from a more free-market perspective with Real Clear Foundation. It's easy to be despondent about the state of media. These three groups will help you lift your chin a little higher and see that all is not lost.

Ever since the terror attacks in Israel on Oct. 7 of last year, we have seen an increased focus on giving to causes related to Israel and Jewish life. Investor and venture philanthropist Adam Milstein joins us to offer his insights on how donors might think of challenging anti-Semitism, supporting Jewish culture, and the relationship between all of this to our own challenges in America.

Donor-advised funds are a powerful charitable vehicle, and one that has grown rapidly in the past decade. However, just because the use of DAFs has grown doesn't mean everyone fully grasps the value and power that a fund can offer. Even less, there are lots of questions around what the role of the provider of DAFs can offer both to donors but also to the nonprofits who receive grants from those providers on behalf of its donors. In this episode, we explore the ins-and-outs of donor-advised funds.

In this interview with James Whitford, we explore a better way to do human-services charity.
The word "charity" often leads people to think of the human-suffering side of giving, or rather efforts aimed to alleviate human suffering. Think homeless shelters, food banks, church-run thrift stores, and after-school programs in tough neighborhoods. All of these places have a role to play, but are they enough?
Many listeners likely agree it's not. On the very first episode of Giving Ventures explored free-market approaches to alleviated poverty. We talked with groups trying to help individuals get over the welfare cliff and reclaim their dignity through work. Today, we'll expand on that theme and explore a concept called True Charity. The True Charity idea challenges the notion that kindness and giveaways to the poor are enough, and argues that true compassion comes by helping individuals in dire straights find a path toward self sufficiency and dignity.
True Charity is both an idea and the name of an organization started by James Whitford. James originally founded Watered Gardens Ministry with his wife in Joplin, MO, which did many of those human-suffering alleviating things we mentioned at the start, but came to realize that wasn't enough and now is an evangelist for other human service organizations across the country to rethink how they do charity.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Darla Romfo, president and CEO of Children's Scholarship Fund; Norton Rainey, CEO of ACE Scholarships; and Carol Liebau, president of Yankee Institute. The guests share what their nonprofits are doing to ensure every child gets a quality education no matter where they live. Tune in for this and more on the latest episode of Giving Ventures.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Lawson Bader, president and CEO of DonorsTrust, and Christie Herrera, president and CEO of PhilanthropyRoundtable. The two guests share insights and trends in philanthropy and discuss regulatory and legislative threats that, if approved, would chill giving. Tune in for this and more on the latest episode of Giving Ventures.