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How a Few Minutes a Day Can Change the World

Can you change the world in a few minutes a day? A common question asked by teachers, writers, philanthropy advisors, and so on is, “if money is no object, what would you do to change the world?” It sounds like an innocent enough question, straightforward in purpose. The quick answer

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How Your Philanthropy Ripples into Greater Change

Sunflowers, zinnias and gerbera daisies have overtaken the rose bushes. A shallow garden running the length of our backyard fence is full of colorful flowers tumbling over each other as if escaping into the yard. As the flowers fade and fall arrives, I become a little sad. Thus, in my

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How the Storytellers in Your Life Help Bring Your Legacy to Life

On the first Friday in October, the Nobel Prize Committee will announce the winner of the Peace Prize as well as prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and the economic sciences. Laureate nominees are not made public by the Norwegian Nobel Committee or the Swedish Academy to protect the legacy

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How a Philanthropy Filter Easily Improves Giving

How does it feel to be a philanthropist today? It might be tempting to assume that question only applies to the wealthy donor who can write large checks year after year. When in fact, the question is for you. Comparing ourselves against others who give more or less does not

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Tips for How One in a Row Can Remake Your Philanthropy

“She’s a bookworm,” a frequent description used to explain why I didn’t hear my mother announce dinner or remind me of chores. As a teen, I occasionally found myself in a waiting room with magazines strewn around on subjects of no interest. However, I was drawn to read, read whatever

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How to Make Nonprofits Jump Up and Down and Shout for Joy

Water, lights, toilet paper, batteries, rent, copy paper, staples, pens, printer cartridges – what do the items on this list have in common? They can all be found somewhere in the budget of practically any nonprofit organization you support. Oh, did I forget the coffee? Someone must buy the coffee

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How to Build Lasting Partnerships with the Greatest Impact

This past weekend I had some extra time to read a book that has been patiently waiting for me to pay it some attention…Accidental Philanthropist – A Journey Towards Intentional Generosity by Steve Perry. A respected Facebook friend recommended it so I headed over to Amazon and ordered it months

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How Honoring a Graduate Models Generosity

Graduations are upon us. They are celebrations for what is ending and for many what’s finally finished.  They are a threshold event with doors opening and paths disappearing into foggy futures. They are a pivot moment for many graduates as they find their way into the work world. For us,

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The Gift of Giving

The Gift of Giving is a journey into a donor’s personal legacy—the one they’ve been living every single day. It started the day they were born, a story only they can live and share. Their story is their legacy.

The Gift of Giving is not just a book, it is a valuable resource, guide, and tool for givers of all ages at all stages to tell their legacy story. Throughout this book they will find short exercises to help them understand and convey their legacy, in essence, write their legacy.

While the story they’ve already lived will not change, donors can do something about tomorrow by becoming a more intentional giver today!

Available in Kindle, digital download or paper edition.

Your Legacy, Your Story

Some of us are great story tellers, and then some of us are better on paper. But for most of us, our stories play out on a never-ending tape stuck in our heads. Sometimes we feel them in our heart or gut. Author Don Miguel Ruiz says it this way, “You create an entire picture or movie in your mind, and in that picture you are the director, you are the producer, you’re the main actor or actress. Everyone else is a secondary actor or actress. It’s your movie. Every movie has a script. That script is your life story."
FROM
THE GIFT OF GIVING

One Story Across Generations

Golda, matriarch of a generous family, modeled a legacy story for her granddaughter, Sharon, and her community. Sharon learned about giving, watching and talking to her grandmother. When the young and curious Sharon asked Golda why wheelchairs were hanging from the basement rafters, she learned that her grandmother believed it was a community’s responsibility to care for those in need. As a result, Golda had prepared with wheelchairs, walkers, and dressing rolls ready for the future.
FROM
THE GIFT OF GIVING

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Giving Fingerprints

Sign up to receive Dawn’s FREE e-book, Giving Fingerprints, designed to help you be the unique giver you were meant to be.

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SPEAKER REQUEST

Request A Speaker

Dawn Franks is available to speak on a wide variety of topics to philanthropic organizations, professional associations and community groups. Topics include:

  • Giving Fingerprints

  • How Your Philanthropy Impacts the Next Generation

  • What Story Does Your Foundation Tell?

  • Family Foundations: Starting from Scratch