Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • March 25, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 21 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Philanthropy: The values exchange that builds community By Kara Fenn I t's that time of year again … tax season. And in preparation, you gather the documentation of your charitable contributions. As you review these materials, have you ever paused to consider what difference your gifts make in the community? Do you realize that you can legitimately call yourself a philanthropist? There are thousands of nonprofit orga- nizations in Con- necticut. Their scope of work is enormous: They combat social and economic disparities, protect the environment, defend the vulnerable and enrich the quality of life for all of us. Without a doubt, our communities would be unidentifiable economically and socially without their meaning- ful, transformative and mission-based work. A culture of philanthropy is essential to the survival of nonprof- its and the work that they do. The philanthropic support of individuals and corporate contributions are their lifeblood. By definition, "philanthropy" means "love of humanity." Being a philan- thropist means that you are an inves- tor in community and in humankind. As a philanthropist, you're not buying a packet of gum; you are investing in the betterment of humankind. As a donor, you are making finan- cial investments in organizations and in your community. In exchange, the nonprofits you support provide you with the vehicle to have great effect. This symbiosis is key. The impact of your philan- thropic support compounds your legacy in the community in a way your individ- ual bandwidth of influence could never match. It is only through your support that these or- ganizations can realize the full richness of their work. Nonprofits offer individuals and corpora- tions an invitation to create legacy by becoming partners in their work for "good." This is an exchange far more refreshing than peppermint. So, the question for philanthropists and philanthropists-to-be is: With a cornucopia of meaningful nonprofits in the state, where do you donate? Bill Gates, one of the world's most famous philanthropists, takes this decision seriously: "Giving money effectively is almost as hard as earning it in the first place," he said. So, let's take it one step at a time. Define your values Donating to an organization is not just a contri- bution of finan- cial resources but an exchange of values. Chal- lenge yourself to identify orga- nizations that match your own values. Do you value leader- ship? Economic security? Access to opportunity? Identify the mission that really con- nects with your own or your com- pany's core values and goals in the community. Do your research and ask questions Seek out organizations with a dem- onstrated history of impact and veri- fied financial prudence. Just as you would with your other investments, ask targeted questions: Where is this donation going? Why is it needed? Identify the nonprofits that are uncompromisingly dedicated to their mission, the work of their industry, and can respond to your questions. Your support is powerful, needed and (should be) valued. Only the organi- zations that can fully articulate why your support is necessary and how it makes a true impact should be in the running for your financial support. Be valued for your valued investment Do the nonprofits you support ap- preciate your contribution? Do you trust that your donations are making a difference? As a donor, you become an ambassador and advocate for the work of the nonprofits you invest in, and you have a right to expect that this relationship is a mutually mean- ingful one. Those of us in the busi- ness of philanthropy know that there is no silver bullet or magic potion for getting people to donate. There are no shortcuts to creat- ing a sustainable giving program; it requires continued dedication (even fanatical devotion) to best-practice stewardship. Great nonprofits develop people, relationships, community and inves- tors. Great nonprofits draw in people who will, year after year, recommit themselves to their mission, re-invest in their work, and introduce new stakeholders to their programs. Pursue organizations that share your values, manage their resources effectively and excel at stewardship, and you will not be disappointed in your decision to contribute. Kara Fenn is vice president for development and marketing at Leadership Greater Hartford. Kara Fenn LETTER TO THE EDITOR NTE Energy delivered on promises in North Carolina city To the editor: E astern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tony Sheridan is correct when he writes ("Killingly Energy Center a boon to clean energy, economic develop- ment") that the proposed Killingly En- ergy Center will have many benefits for the town of Killingly and Connecticut. I should know. I am the Mayor of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, where NTE Energy built and now operates Kings Mountain Energy Center. The promise of hundreds of con- struction jobs, cleaner, more reliable energy and millions of dollars in new tax revenue, with no impacts on mu- nicipal services, sounded almost too good to be true. But it was true. NTE's Kings Mountain Energy Center began operation last summer and we have seen NTE meet every commitment and promise they made. The job fair that NTE ran prior to plant construction resulted in hun- dreds of jobs locally. The city of Kings Mountain and the state of North Carolina now have a more reliable and cleaner source of en- ergy and is helping displace older, less efficient power generating facilities in the region. And the city of Kings Moun- tain has indeed seen a sizable, and very much needed, increase in property taxes from the facility helping to sup- port our schools and public safety. And again, all of this has been done with no negative impact to our city's services. In addition to the jobs created and the cleaner energy for the environ- ment and the tax revenues, NTE has proven to be an outstanding commu- nity partner. Through NTE's substan- tial support for our local charities, their participation in scholarship programs for high school seniors, to their corporate support of local activi- ties, NTE is one of Kings Mountain's premiere corporate citizens. I can certainly understand how some might be skeptical, but please take my word. NTE's Killingly Energy Center can do for Killingly and Con- necticut what Kings Mountain Energy Center has done for my community and the state of North Carolina. Sincerely, Scott Neisler Mayor, City of Kings Mountain City Hall 101 W Gold Street Kings Mountain, NC 28086 scott.neisler@cityofkm.com By definition, "philanthropy" means "love of humanity." Being a philanthropist means that you are an investor in community and in humankind. As a philanthropist, you're not buying a packet of gum; you are investing in the betterment of humankind. HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM POLL LAST WEEK'S POLL RESULT: Will Hartford follow through on its pledge to develop areas surrounding Dunkin' Donuts Park? NEXT WEEK'S POLL: Should Connecticut offer free community college to state residents? To vote, go online to hartfordbusiness.com 47% No 53% Yes

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