FURTHERING THE TRADITION OF PHILANTHROPY
ONE DONOR'S STORY:
Personal Giving Strategies that Make an Impact
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References to individual nonprofit and other organizations herein are not intended to be solicitations, endorsements, or recommendations.
Gift Fund donor Robert "Bob" Hildreth of Weston, MA, was first introduced to philanthropy in the late 1980s, when he assisted in the creation of a hospice for AIDS patients in Los Angeles, CA. After seeing the results of his efforts, Hildreth made charitable giving an essential part of his life.
Since that time, Hildreth's philanthropic efforts have focused on helping immigrants from Latin America. As an economist for the International Monetary Fund, he lived in Bolivia in the 1970s and later worked as an investment banker trading Latin American loans. Given his knowledge and passion for this region, he decided to focus his charitable giving on immigrant education, legal protection, and research.
Gift Fund donor Bob Hildreth (right) with students and Coordinator Dave Zagunis (left) of the La Vida Scholars Program.
Hildreth believes in sharing responsibility and ownership when it comes to charitable giving efforts. He applies this belief with an effective fundraising strategy that offers monetary incentives to charitable organizations. For instance, when he supports the La Vida Scholars Program of Lynn, MA, designed to help Latino students prepare for and apply to colleges, Hildreth recommends grants from his Giving Account® to the organization after the students' parents agree to save a certain amount of money each month as part of the program. He said, "One of my giving goals is to motivate immigrant families to invest in their children's education. I want to foster an appreciation for higher education and an ability to save money for college."
Hildreth notes that matching gift programs have been very successful in motivating the clients of nonprofit organizations. He also finds that a match or incentive can be an effective way for donors to continue supporting a charity when they may be unable to provide the same level of monetary support as in years past.
Given his deep involvement with charitable organizations and participation on several boards, Hildreth offers additional perspectives on working with charities during challenging times.
"Because donors will undoubtedly be asked for support by numerous organizations during tough times, it is crucial to stay focused."
– Bob Hildreth, Gift Fund Donor
"First and foremost, I encourage other donors to focus their efforts on causes most important to them," said Hildreth. "Because donors will undoubtedly be asked for support by numerous organizations during tough times, it is crucial to stay focused."
To truly make an impact, Hildreth also feels that it is beneficial to establish close working relationships with nonprofit organizations. "In addition to volunteering time or participating on boards, donors should feel comfortable asking specific questions and getting involved in strategic or technical issues that may arise," said Hildreth. "For example, if an organization needs to downsize, discuss how it can be accomplished with minimal impact and how it will help achieve an organization's mission."
Hildreth also believes that donors should look to charities to think creatively. For instance, if there are two nonprofit organizations with similar goals, does collaboration make sense? Or, if a function within an organization is not crucial to its mission, can the work be outsourced to trim costs? He is facing a similar situation with one of the charities that he supports, the North Central Charter Essential School in Fitchburg, MA, that is currently trying to find a new, more cost- effective building.
Lastly, Hildreth feels that it's important to note that today's difficult economic environment brings with it a significant level of stress to charities, specifically to the individuals who work at these organizations. "It's really worth it to take a moment and thank these people for continuing to do a great job and to reinforce that they are not alone in the challenges they face," said Hildreth.