Over 200 young professionals converged at the Sophia Theater on September 5 to participate in the Emerge Summit. A conference spearheaded by Metro EDGE, a program of the Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation, Emerge Summit brings together young professionals to share information on leadership, creative thinking, inspiration, and more.
I led a session at Emerge Summit to demystify the meaning of philanthropy and share how young professionals can make an impact locally. Collectively, we explored giving circles, board service, charitable funds, and other vehicles to create positive change during their lifetimes.
We talked through current trends in philanthropy such as Donor Advised Funds, trust-based philanthropy, alternatives to cash donations, board membership, volunteerism, and crowdfunding.
Attendees then shared barriers they encounter related to philanthropy such as:
- Feeling their financial contributions were not large enough to consider themselves a philanthropist.
- Other financial commitments such as school loans and home purchases prevent major giving at this time.
- Busy schedules inhibit volunteer opportunities due to family and work commitments.
- Unable to see how their gift makes an impact.
Once we acknowledged these barriers, we brainstormed opportunities to address them and each member drafted a personal philanthropic plan. Ideas included a commitment to researching organizations, starting a budget to focus their giving, exploring board involvement, and continuing their philanthropic educations. Each attendee left with a workplan and resources to become immediately engaged with our community!
While the Sacramento Region Community Foundation offers personalized charitable funds, not all philanthropic community members wish to open their own personal giving accounts. For those who desire to give where it’s needed most, our community’s Impact Fund puts gifts of any size to work.
I enjoyed participating in these conversations and look forward to continue working with philanthropists of all ages and giving levels!