The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, a public charity, and the Giving Circle of HOPE presented “Do More Than Give: How Donors Maximize Philanthropic Impact,” on April 3 at Gannett’s headquarters in McLean, Va.
The program sought to engagee donors in the Northern Virginia region in a discussion of catalytic philanthropy — a fresh approach to going beyond financial support to make an impact on a cause.
Leslie Crutchfield, senior advisor with the Foundation Strategy Group and the author of “Do More Than Give: The Six Practices of Donors Who Change the World,” served as the featured guest presenter.
“The savvy suggestions Crutchfield provides have the power to change how and why donors give,” said Eileen Ellsworth, president of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. “We hope this seminar has inspired donors to take a new, active approach to giving, and we welcome increased participation in the Community Foundation’s philanthropic efforts throughout the region.”
Crutchfield’s book outlines ways for philanthropists to actively engage with communities so as to increase the impact of their gifts. In the book, Crutchfield highlights six practices that take philanthropy from “check-writing to proactively producing change.”
The event, made possible with support from Gannet Company and Foundation Strategy Group, aimed to provoke discussion among donors about best practices in philanthropy.
The program included a panel discussion featuring three local donors — Dr. Alan Harbitter, Kristin Pauly and Diana Katz — who practice engaged philanthropy.
Harbitter is a board member of the Medical Care for Children Partnership (MCCP) Foundation — a partnership between private contributors, the medical community and Fairfax County government aimed at providing health care for the children of working poor families in Fairfax County.
Katz, who co-founded the Giving Circle of HOPE, serves on the boards of Computer CORE, Empowered Women International, Inc. and Nonprofit Northern Virginia.
Pauly, managing director of Prince Charitable Trusts in Washington, D.C., is the co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network and of the Washington Regional Convergence Partnership.
