Luckily, the most important lessons I’ve learned in my 40+ years of fundraising and charitable estate planning came near the beginning. Many of those experiences were painful, and it’s still somewhat embarrassing to shine a spotlight on my greatest mistakes. Nonetheless, things I learned from my stumblings have become essential elements of my fundraising career. Here are my top ten greatest mistakes (so far).
Tax Benefits and Public Subsidies:
When you think about donating to charity, what comes to mind? Most of us picture generosity and kindness—people stepping up to make the world a better place. But behind every gift lies a complex system of tax benefits, sparking plenty of debates. And some are ugly.