Being Charitable in Times of Incivility Sam Watts March 18, 2024 1115 Think Philanthropically “If you haven’t got any charity in your heart then you have the worst kind of heart trouble” - Bob Hope Turn on the news. What do we see and hear? Much of the reporting covers storie...
When journalists identify the wrong scandal Sam Watts February 8, 2024 1863 Think Philanthropically The non-profit sector is an economic driver, contributing over 192 billion dollars to Canada’s GDP. Is it scandalous that a few non-profit executives appear to be overpaid? Probably. B...
2024 Wishes – or Resolutions Sam Watts January 14, 2024 756 Think Philanthropically At the beginning of every year many of us have a habit of articulating something we call resolutions. Some of us even write them down. In this context, the word “resolution” is define...
Generosity in an Era of Uncertainty Sam Watts December 23, 2023 1341 Think Philanthropically It isn’t a secret that Canada is facing a multitude of society-level crises. There is a housing crisis, an opioid crisis, a mental health crisis, a climate crisis, and a crisis of affo...
Three Philanthropic Considerations Sam Watts November 11, 2023 1195 Thinking Philanthropically Important news! Donors might need to donate more intentionally to causes they support because there has been a revenue decline in most charitable sectors. According to Canada Helps,...
The solutions are simple – they are not easy Sam Watts October 9, 2023 2003 Think Philanthropically Some readers have expressed concern about the recent report that identified a big increase in the population experiencing homelessness. Yes, the challenge of visible homelessness is gro...
Is “Celebrity Philanthropy” Helpful? Sam Watts September 15, 2023 2645 Think Philanthropically What do Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Warren Buffet, Melinda Gates, Ed Sheeran, Mackenzie Bezos, Taylor Swift, Matt Damon, Jennifer Garner, Bono, and Beyoncé all have in common? The...
Do local community organizations need reinvention? Sam Watts August 15, 2023 1659 Think Philanthropically Why would anyone suggest that the local charitable and community services sector ought to reimagine their programs or services? Who would have the audacity to raise questions about the ...
Put philanthropic funds to work now Sam Watts July 7, 2023 1570 Think Philanthropically Most people agree that it is foolish to respond to a major crisis with half-measures. It is generally advisable to act decisively and deploy a disproportionate amount of resources so t...
Homelessness – there are solutions Sam Watts June 13, 2023 1162 Think Philanthropically I work with people who serve people experiencing homelessness. In the past couple of years, hundreds of articles and opinion pieces have been written about this issue. Many of these art...