Visionary Voices

Who is our enemy? The current administration or us? This explosive essay argues nonprofits are committing suicide through moral performance theater. While organizations obsess over donor ‘purity tests’ and Twitter tantrums, missions collapse and staff get laid off. The brutal truth: accepting ‘tainted’ money isn’t unethical—letting your cause die because you’re afraid of headlines is. Universities and government take questionable money daily. Stop letting reputation managers kill your mission. Take the controversial donation, keep the lights on, and help people instead of virtue signaling your way to bankruptcy

Today’s 10-year-olds will inherit and create more wealth than any generation before them—yet we wait until age 40 to talk to them about philanthropy. That’s a strategic mistake. Habits form early, and if we want generosity to be part of their identity, we must start now. Philanthropy isn’t a transaction—it’s a belief system. Waiting means forfeiting influence over the values of those who will soon control trillions. The future of giving starts younger than you think.

We’re thrilled to share that Patrick O’Donnell will be taking the helm of GIVING magazine as executive editor, and will also serve as editorial director for GIVING’s sister site, Philanthropy.org. Patrick is a writer, editor and author who brings more than 30 years of experience to the table. He’s been working with the PlannedGiving.com brand for almost a decade, specializing in storytelling, attention-grabbing appeal letters, and planned giving content.

The most meaningful gifts aren’t given out of impulse—they’re reserved for those who’ve earned lasting trust. If your organization hasn’t shown it’s built for the long term, don’t expect to be remembered when it matters most. Donors don’t leave legacies to nonprofits scrambling to survive. They choose the ones that act like they belong in the future. If your message ends with “we need help,” you’ve already lost. The real question is: Are you worthy?