Inspired Philanthropy: Your Step by Step Guide to Creating a Giving Plan

After reading "Strategic Giving" by Peter Frumkin (ISBN: 0226266265) last night, this book was a bit of a letdown. I read both books last night at Barnes and Noble. Although this book was well written, easy to follow, short and to the point, and pleasing to the eye, its text fonts were larger and the line spacing was bigger than used in Frumkin's book. The larger fonts and line spacing made the book feel less credible. But that's just me. I can't fairly knock this book, though. In fact, it is a wonderful book. It will provide much help to an engaged philanthropist when creating his or her giving plan. My recommendation is that if you are interested in being an informed and strategic major donor, then get a copy of both books because they really compliment each other very well. Gary's book provides the framework of a guide to putting a giving plan together, and Frumkin's book gives the necessary background information that will help you better use Gary's "guide." The first eight chapters of this book are the meat of the guide. They will lead you step by step in creating a sound giving plan. And the last four chapters are an attempt to cover what Frumkin covers in his book. I would have liked the book better if the diagram of the Giving Plan Model at page 198 included in Appendix A had been included up at the front of the book and fully explained in what should have been the first chapter. Then the author could have proceeded to more fully explain the model in the next eight chapters. And I'm not sure Appendix B was necessary. To me the book was about "how to plan to give" to charity in a meaningful way. Not "how to give." I would liked to have seen more content in this book like the content included in Frumkin's book. And if that had been done, then Appendix B would have clearly appeared to be out of place. All in all, this is a 5 star book and one that major donors should definitely read.

Tracy's book is probably the most practical material you can get anywhere on engaged philanthropy. Whether you give a lot or a little, whether you give money or time, this book walks you through a process that will make your giving more informed, passionate, strategic, and effective. This book is based on many years of experience in which Tracy has given herself and worked with others who give. Tracy herself is a well-known progressive philanthropic and activist, but the worksheets in this book would work well regardless of a reader's philanthropic causes. Highly recommended.