Smart Business Magazine, January 2016

14 Smart Business Columbus January 2016 Put your skills to use with your philanthropic contributions The business of philanthropy The Central Ohio community is full of remarkable female executives who have achieved success through education training experience and being strategic and informed decision makers This success growing building and leading businesses of all sizes has also resulted in personal profit a portion of which is often gifted to charity Are these same leaders deploying the same intentional discipline they used to build their assets when they make philanthropic contributions Leading by example The Columbus Foundation donor family includes hundreds of women who give generously to strengthen and improve the community Many of these women have focused strategies from which we can all learn Barbara Siemer is one of these smart philanthropists Siemer a former teacher knows firsthand how important school stability is for children When she learned that there are local schools where 80 percent of all students that start the year in a school dont complete the year in the same school she was alarmed and determined Siemer reviewed the research designed a program to improve stability in schools and now the Siemer Institute for Family Stability is helping families in more than 50 cities across the country Utilizing smart business practices Siemer identified an opportunity analyzed the need created and tested a strategy and took the program to scale across the country She invested her own philanthropic resources and invited like minded investors and partners to join her In each of the communities where the program has been replicated matching funds and a partner has been required Careful analysis additional investors and scaling the enterprise continue to result in gains nationwide for children and their families Things to consider How can you ensure your philanthropic dollars are going as far as they can Select the right tool Is your focus on current giving giving in the future or both There are many philanthropic tools from different types of funds like donor advised funds to products like charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts that can help you make the most of your giving Be informed There are thousands of nonprofit organizations in our community But which are high performing Are there others just getting started that may need support to get going Where you put your dollars is important If you arent sure ask for help Plan for your personal or family philanthropic legacy Just as you would plan for a childs education or your retirement think about your ultimate goal for your philanthropy and plan ahead In the business of doing good Every day at the foundation we are energized by smart effective women philanthropists who are making their mark on the charitable world These philanthropists take the business of contributing money as seriously as they did earning it The business of philanthropy affords each of us the opportunity to be as involved as we want to be Smart businesswomen work exceptionally hard to earn the privilege to be a philanthropist Remember using some of these skills in the role of philanthropist can yield great returns for the community smartwomen Publishers Note The goal of Smart Women is to showcase the advice and achievements of local businesswomen and to recognize inspiring male advocates and effective womens programs LISA S COURTICE PH D Executive Vice President Community Research and Grants Management The Columbus Foundation Lisas responsibilities include overseeing the development and implementation of grant policies program priorities and areas of strategic grant making Prior to joining the foundation she held leadership positions at Columbus School for Girls the Childhood League Center Center for New Directions Clinic for Child Study and Family Therapy in Akron Ohio and The Washington Center for Academic Internships in Washington D C 614 251 4000 Lcourtice@ columbusfoundation org www columbusfoundation org http bit ly 1RA2MHG www facebook com TheColumbusFoundation @ colsfoundation