5 Make or Break Points for Successful Philanthropy

Without having any claim to completeness, I have found a number of things to be important to the success of philanthropic activities. This list of key points resembles a list that could be drawn up for any business venture and that is one of the key conclusions I have come to: Treat your philanthropic activities as you would treat a business venture!

Each of the key points listed below needs to be expanded on, but the concise list should provide a good starting point for any ambitious philanthropist.

1. Have a (written) strategy
As with most things, a strategy is a good starting point. Think about what it is that you want to change in this world and how you can best contribute to achieve this. This will also allow you to go back and review your strategy based on how you compare to your goals and aims.

Putting a strategy on paper forms the basis for accountability and the ability to measure progress.