Giving 2.0™ Guide: Philanthropic Asset Portfolio 

Overview

Giving in a thoughtful and effective way starts with clarity around the vast array of resources you have at your disposal to realize your philanthropic goals and purpose—whatever they are and however they evolve over time. This is called a philanthropic asset portfolio.

It may include financial, intellectual and human capital. What assets you have to give will likely vary widely during different periods of your life. Also consider the intangible assets that you will bring to actualizing your purpose. These include your commitment, resilience, tenacity and the principles on which you base your vision, strategy and execution, such as your consumer empathy, ability to analyze markets or a commitment to ongoing learning and iteration. It also includes assets you can access, from individuals to companies and communities. 

Your philanthropic asset portfolio is your unique value proposition. It can be powerful to see all that you have and can use to create change.

“Change starts with clarity around what resources we have at our disposal to realize our philanthropic goals and purpose—whatever they are, however they evolve over time. I call this a philanthropic asset portfolio. That is your unique philanthropic value prop.”

-Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, Stanford GSBGEN 381, 2019

Volunteering: Time/Expertise/Skills

Your philanthropic risk profile will inform your investment criteria. A risk profile describes the amount of risk you are willing to take on to pursue your social change goals. It is a relative decision based on your philanthropic purpose, social change goals, asset portfolio, values and public needs, and may or may not align with your for-profit investing profile. 

Fact:

 In 2019, roughly 30 percent of Americans (more than 77.9 million people) volunteered for a total of 5.8 billion hours. Based on the Independent Sector's estimate of the average value of a volunteer hour ($25.43 in 2019), the value of that time is $147 billion, according to AmeriCorps’ biannual “Volunteering in America Report.”

Why?

  • Many nonprofits depend on volunteers, both skilled and unskilled, to do meaningful social change work. 

  • Each organization has different needs where your time, skills or expertise will be most useful.

  • Donating time allows nonprofits to serve additional beneficiaries, put staff on priority projects, allocate funds elsewhere and get expert advice. 

  • Volunteering can be a great way to start building a relationship with an organization and investing in causes close to your heart. 

  • Volunteering may provide a pathway to employment. A 2013 study conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service found that volunteers have a 27 percent higher likelihood of finding a job after being out of work than non-volunteers.

  • Volunteering has mental health benefits such as “feeling more socially connected, warding off loneliness and depression and lending a greater sense of purpose to life.”  

  • Remember: Your time is precious and you should volunteer where you can have the biggest impact.

How?

  • Opportunities to give your time, expertise and skills are overwhelming. Here are the two best ways to find opportunities that best fit your interests and/or skill set:

    • Find an organization whose mission you believe in and reach out directly to see how you can help. Send a resume so they can see the skills you can offer. Lots of websites have a place to apply as a volunteer, but don’t be deterred if they don’t. Simply find their contact info. It’s still worth reaching out!

    • Volunteer opportunity listing websites like CatchaFire.org, VolunteerMatch.org, LinkedIn.com, Idealist.org, Points of Light and the Corporation for National and Community Service will have lots of good opportunities based on different skill sets and time availability, as well as a clear way of applying.

  • Remember: It is incumbent on you to tell nonprofits the skills (e.g., accounting, web design, Excel, teaching, strategic guidance) you have that they might not be aware of or have thought of using. 

When?

  • Reflect on how much time you have to give. Some people will choose to volunteer weekly, monthly or whenever they have time, or to do more intensive pro bono work for a short defined period. 

  • Note that many nonprofits working with vulnerable populations will want you to make a longer commitment and maywill have a more intensive onboarding process. This may involve training or certification especially if minors are involved.

References:

“Volunteering in America,” Corporation for National and Community Service,” https://www.nationalservice.gov/serve/via (July 6, 2022).

The study also found that volunteers without a high school diploma have a 51 percent higher likelihood of finding employment, and volunteers living in rural areas have a 55 percent higher likelihood of finding employment. Spera, Christopher, Robin Ghertner, Anthony Nerino and Adrienne DiTommaso, “Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment: Does Volunteering Increase Odds of Finding a Job for the Out-of-Work?” June 2013, https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/evidenceexchange/FR_2013_VolunteeringasaPathwaytoEmployment_1.pdf (August 4, 2021).

 Susan N. Dreyfus, “Volunteerism and U.S. Civil Society,” Stanford Social Innovation Review, August 29, 2018, https://ssir.org/articles/entry/volunteerism_and_us_civil_society (August 4, 2021).

Additional Ways of Giving Yourself

Credibility/Influence

Mentoring/Sponsoring/Advising

Network

Nonprofit Board Service

Voting

Blood, Bone Marrow and Organs

Blood

Bone Marrow

Organs

Other “In-Kind” Donations

Household Items and Office Supplies

Real Estate

Vehicle

Financial Options Besides Direct Cash Donations

Crowdfunding and Microloans

Impact Investing

Loyalty Points