We’re Reading…Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World

*This post was originally written by Dieu-Anh Nguyen, one of our previous colleagues at Stetson & Associates.

What we are Reading

As June approaches, I look forward to a less hectic work schedule and a little summertime fun.  I picked up Giving 2.0:  Transform Your Giving and Our World by Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen (http://laaf.org) for two reasons- 1.  I need some advice about how I might better spend my “free” time and 2. the format of the book appeals to my reading style.

Arrillaga-Andreessen writes this “how-to” in a very personal way.  She describes her journey as a philanthropist as well as the giving experiences of others.  The chapters are relatively short with bullet points and 2.0 icons to highlight the take-away strategies, tools, and questions to guide the reader forward.  Plus, there is a glossary, called “Jargon Buster” in the back to help navigate the language of non-profits.

As individual teachers and as a collaborative learning community, we work under the same principles regarding accountability and impact.  These big ideas read like a poem to me and I wanted to share them with you.

• A philanthropist is anyone who gives anything – time, money, experience, skills, and networks – in any amount to create a better world. (p.1)
• This book won’t tell you why to give… But it will tell you how to give, and it will provide tools with which to give more effectively. (p.7)
• After all, if the nonprofits you are funding aren’t serving the community successfully, then you can’t be successful as a donor. (p.87)
• It’s wonderful to be driven by causes that touch us personally.  But at the same time, it’s important not to neglect the strategic analysis and assessment we can bring to bear on the process.  Otherwise, we’re giving in the dark, something that prevents millions (potentially billions) of philanthropic dollars from having the impact they might otherwise achieve. (p. 103)

Isn’t it cool that we get to make philanthropy our profession?  A win – win.

Teaching Resources

Reading Interest Surveys

http://www.pinterest.com/explore/reading-interest-survey/
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PM9NF86
http://www.gotoquiz.com
http://www.abookandahug.com/reader-assessment
http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml

Effective Reading Strategies

https://www.adlit.org/topics/comprehension/teach-seven-strategies-highly-effective-readers
https://www.edutopia.org/article/6-elementary-reading-strategies-really-work
http://www.pinterest.com/shermanelemk6/text-to-self-text-world/
http://www.gpb.org/blogs/passion-for-learning/2013/04/08/effective-strategies-for-the-struggling-reader