Defining a Philanthropic Legacy Through Donor IntentDefining a Philanthropic Legacy Through Donor Intent
A critical step in the giving process.
Donor intent is a concept too easily dismissed as a “dead hand” rising from the grave to enforce unthinking adherence to selfish and outdated demands. A more perceptive view recognizes that donor intent is much broader and that it encompasses the core values and principles that drive—and give integrity to—the content and style of a donor’s philanthropy.
Honoring donor intent is essential in ensuring philanthropic freedom and the flourishing of private giving. We all benefit from a diverse and flourishing civil society, one in which voluntary donors are free to decide when, where and how to give to improve the well-being of those their philanthropy benefits most effectively. Donor intent, then, should also be viewed as a moral issue, one t...
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