The Giving Café now a bi-monthly event at the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation
The Rancho Santa Fe Foundation launched The Giving Café at its office in the Union Bank Building on Jan. 24. The Giving Café, a bi-monthly event, offers continental breakfast and nourishing conversation. The topic was “13 Reasons to Give in 2013.”
The conversation included questions such as, “Why will you give to charitable causes and organizations this year?” and “How would you persuade a friend to give to a cause that you care about?”
The Giving Café guests had many reasons for giving, and they actively shared their ideas. They see a need that is unmet in the community and realize that they can help to solve it. Some give as a family and want to set an example for their children. These donors expanded on the familiar idea of “giving back” to an organization by adding that they want to show gratitude and perpetuate the organization as a way of showing its importance in their lives.
Giving is often relationship-based. Friends encourage their friends to get involved. Organizations and causes sometimes come to the attention of these donors and keep their attention because of a dynamic person involved developing a relationship with them. This point led to a discussion of the importance of trust in the people involved in leading an organization so that donors believe in the direction of the organization and that it will be a good steward of their money.
The Giving Café guests also raised some questions of their own: There are so many needs – how do you choose? How do you find the people and organizations that could motivate you to give time or money? And, with all the fragmented requests I get for money, how can I be more focused and involved in my giving and volunteering? These questions will help to inform the ongoing conversation about charitable giving at The Giving Café.
Please join us at the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation for the next Giving Café on March 8, from 8 – 9:30 a.m. The topic: “Charitable Giving: What’s Love Got to Do With It?”