Our role in raising kind, empathetic kids today has never been harder. As parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, mentors, it can be a challenge to pull a kid outside of themselves to build understanding of the outside world.  We, at GPA, are of the mind that it is never too early to start building muscles […]

As a philanthropist, you have the exhilarating opportunity to maximize your impact with your charitable dollars, your time and your connections. Early on in the planning phase, you may consider: Should I focus on a specific issue or a specific place to drive my philanthropic efforts? Or maybe it is a combination of the two. […]

In 2019, I had a kernel of an idea to help philanthropists in their strategic decision making. Today, we’ve served dozens of clients and grown to a team of 8 to provide an objective, independent point of view on philanthropy advising. You have been critical in our journey as a firm – thank you! Today, the need […]

When natural disasters like Hurricane Helene strike, the devastation can be overwhelming. Communities face displacement, businesses suffer losses, and infrastructure can be crippled. In times like these, companies have a unique opportunity to step up, providing crucial resources and leadership in disaster response and recovery efforts. An inspiring example is The Biltmore Estate’ response to […]

What is a Learning Journey? A learning journey is a series of intentionally planned experiences with thought leaders in the field of philanthropy. It is more than just going on site visits. You may want to go deeper in understanding your role as an effective funder in a specific area. How can you work smarter […]

In a world that often prioritizes individual success, the concept of family legacy and philanthropy stands as a beacon of inspiration. By embracing philanthropy as a core element of their legacy, families can create a ripple effect of positive change that spans generations. Spending time to define what your legacy is and means to you […]

Regular connection with the nonprofit community is critical to being an effective philanthropist. One of the most immersive ways to be effective is to conduct site visits at nonprofit organizations. These visits provide a firsthand look at how nonprofits operate, the communities they serve, and the tangible outcomes of their programs.  Site visits can broaden […]

Aristotle once said, “To give money away is an easy matter and in any man’s power. But to decide to whom to give it, and how much, and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in every man’s power nor an easy matter.” This question has been posed since the dawn of time. […]

It sounds good in theory: “We’re going to volunteer as a family this summer with all of our free time!” Then reality sets in: When are you supposed to fit this into the schedule? Or we hear a lot, “I want my children to use their summer to get better connected to our community. But […]

Philanthropists and their advisors often wrestle with their options for charitable giving vehicles. You’ve mostly heard of a donor advised fund (DAF) and a private foundation, which are the two most common. Families can choose alternatives in the form of LLCs or Trusts. More sophisticated philanthropists may utilize a variety of giving vehicles to accomplish […]