I want to thank my colleagues and friends here in Northern California. You have embraced Enlightened Philanthropy and Philanthropy Camp for Women and for that I am truly grateful. I’ll still be close, so please let me know how I can be of help to you and your family and/or your clients.

As I pack up my home and leave many things behind, I’m becoming reacquainted with familiar nonprofits and introduced to new ones as well. What to do with all the craft supplies and other random items (e.g., corks, packing peanuts) I’ve collected? Kids at MY Museum can make them into something fun and new at the Creation Station! Or how about that film camera I’ve passed up for a digital one? Turns out I can donate it to the Weston Scholarship, allowing a future photographer to hone her skills. And all those old towels I have can go to the SPCA for Monterey County so the animals they care for can be wrapped in love. Anything that didn’t sell at the garage sale will go to one of the numerous benefit shops in the area to support local causes. I’m happy to give back to this community that has given so much to me. It is a delight to know that although I’m moving away, part of me will find a new life on the Monterey Peninsula.

It makes me think, how well do any of us know the nonprofits in our community? Does it have to take a move to get to know them? I hope not!

How about getting to know one new organization this holiday season? See how you can help out at this busy time of year. Remember, it will boost your happiness and your health! Take time to serve others over the holidays and let me know what your experience is like.

In the meantime, I’ll be on the road…

Wishing you all a joyous holiday season!

Deborah Goldstein
831-402-1724
www.enlightenedphilanthropy.com
facebook.com/enlightenedphilanthropy
@dagphilanthropy

TEDxSantaCatalinaSchool: Matters of the Heart

On October 17, I had the pleasure of speaking at TEDxSantaCatalinaSchool to an audience of 75 young women and 25 faculty, staff, and community members. They discovered that they too can be philanthropists. The theme, Matters of the Heart, was the perfect stage to talk about philanthropy, values, and sea turtles (one of my other favorite subjects).

I am truly grateful to the student organizers for their hard work and the opportunity to be part of this wonderful event. Afterwards, the TEDx advisor and Assistant Head of the Upper School said she liked this talk so much that she’ll use it as part of their curriculum. Talk about a legacy!

If you’re interested in seeing the talk, you can find the video on my website. Click over to watch it and then remember sharing is caring.

Deborah Goldstein Named New Contributing Author for Planned Giving Design Center

As I talked about in the last newsletter, we all belong to numerous communities. Some are local, others are national or international. I’m pleased to join a new community and esteemed colleagues as a Contributing Author for the Planned Giving Design Center. It’s an honor to add my perspective to the conversation on giving. Please check out the first article I wrote and bookmark the page so you can return to future articles. You can even sign up to receive updates in your inbox.

The Planned Giving Design Center “is a virtual publishing company that was founded in 1998 to help create collaborative relationships between charitable and not-for-profit organizations and members of the professional advisory communities.” They do this by offering “the largest body of content found anywhere on the Internet on the subject of charitable gift planning” and planning tools for advisors and gift planners.

Resource Highlight—Grandparent Legacy Project

The holidays are a time for family. And what better time to capture family stories from grandma or grandpa via a video or audio recording. Not sure where to start? The Grandparent Legacy Project is a book including stories of 15 grandparent’s legacies, a CD with the audio for these stories, and a workbook with prompts to help you capture your own stories. There are even 20 suggestions for how grandparents and grandchildren can explore further.

Create a powerful experience for you and your family. Nothing can replace this opportunity for all to share in the retelling of a family’s legacy, especially their philanthropic legacy. For it is in this passing down where the magic happens. You’ll all be grateful you took the time to record these cherished memories.

How will you bring home the magic to your holidays this season?