Coaching

Phone Consultations (Resource Hotline)

We know that long lists of resources can be overwhelming. If you would like help to figure out which organizations and publications on our resource list might be most useful to you, please contact Bolder Giving. We offer personal, half-hour phone consultations on a donation basis. With just a little bit of guidance, you can be on your way to becoming a more strategic and satisfied giver.

The Giving Potential Program

Who can take the Giving Potential program?

Based on our work of over 25 years with people with wealth, we've developed the Giving Potential program to serve people with the potential to commit at least $1 million to philanthropy in their lifetime. The program is for people who are motivated to discover their full giving potential and willing to make an ongoing commitment of time and effort.

We will be developing other resources to support people of a wider range of financial circumstances to explore their giving potential.

What do you mean by “giving potential?”

Your giving potential is whatever money you decide you don’t need personally in your lifetime or for your loved ones. For many people, to determine this figure – which includes deciding “how much is enough” – feels invigorating, grounding, and freeing.

Why would I need a Giving Potential program?

For most people, to thoughtfully determine their giving potential, it helps to create:

  • A life-time financial plan,
  • A legacy plan, and
  • A long-term giving plan.

In our experience, making these plans can be fraught with complex technical, emotional, interpersonal and values questions. We have met hundreds of committed givers who have meant to complete one or more of these for years or even decades, but still haven’t. Many give far less than they easily could.

The Giving Potential program aims to provide whatever structure, motivation, and expertise you need to complete the plans you choose within the time frame you choose. The program does not assume that your giving potential is or should be 50%. It is designed to support you to systematically figure out the right amount for you, within the context of maximizing your giving.

Once you determine your giving level, the program also connects you to resources to help you give it well, and encourages you to step into leadership inspiring other givers.

Components of the Giving Potential program

We offer individually-designed programs over three months, six months, or twelve months, depending on how intensively you want to work and the extent of your needs. All programs start with a one-month trial, and include three parts: individual coaching, sessions with appropriate financial professionals, and connection to peer mentors.

Coaching

For many people, the hardest part of creating the above plans is carving out the time. Individual coaching sessions, generally 2-3 times a month by phone, help you design a structure to provide accountability, and help to keep this work a priority. Coaching sessions are also a place to explore emotional and values questions, to hear what other givers have done, and to get referrals to other philanthropic resources.

Financial professionals

We encourage you to work with financial professionals who are not only high in technical competence and personal integrity, but who also understand and support the idea of fulfilling one’s giving potential. We can work collaboratively with your existing financial professionals, and/or offer you sessions with other professionals who share the League’s core values.

Peer mentors

Most of us are influenced by the giving norms of our friends and associates. It can be enormously reassuring to talk with peers who are giving at the higher levels we are considering. You will have the opportunity for personal conversations with 50% League members, and be encouraged to participate in other donor networks.

Cost of the program

We offer two payment options, so you can choose the model which best serves you:

  • A market-rate “fee-for-service” structure. (Fees are generally $100-$300 hourly, with cost depending on the professionals you have on your team and on the design of your program.)
  • A “pay it forward” structure. You pay no program fee, but understand that you will be invited (but not obliged) to make a tax-deductible contribution at the end of the process. Your contribution will enable future people to take a risk to do their own work, as well as support us to develop our programs for people who have less money but who still want to give more boldly.

Bolder Giving’s goal is not profit, but sustainability in this simple non-profit program that effectively supports people in fulfilling their giving potential. For some people, paying market rate fees is most comfortable or most motivating. For others, such fees are a significant impediment to engaging with the work, even if they are theoretically affordable. We are committed to creating the payment structure that works best for you.

Getting started

Please contact us to discuss your interest in the program. Together we will design a one-month trial, including several coaching sessions and some preliminary, self-reflective work.

Yes, determining your giving potential takes some work. We are committed to helping your process be streamlined, enjoyable, and even joyful.

We look forward to exploring the possibilities with you.