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Socially responsible investing has focused largely on what investors don't do, such as choosing not to invest in tobacco, weapons manufacturers, or alcohol. Socially innovative investing takes the concept a step further by reviewing securities across a spectrum of criteria that weigh both social responsibility and financial fundamentals.

Finding the right thing to say to a friend with cancer can be difficult. But by responding in a way that feels comfortable, respecting privacy, being supportive, and finding concrete ways to assist, you can show that person you care and want to help.

Becoming thoughtful and intentional about altruism and the passion to make a difference is the difference between having good intentions and being intentional about our values and commitments to others. This newsletter offers tips on how to give better, helps 'tween philanthropists ask seven critical questions about giving, and provides a visual way to explain the difference between charity and philanthropy.

Now is a good time for not-for-profit organizations to clean their gift closets by assessing endowment funds. This can help to keep funds from being misapplied, identify funds that are dormant due to donor restrictions, and reveal uses that could be applied to new organization initiatives. Check the documentation and review the terms of each gift.

Parents who are concerned about family harmony after their deaths are wise to address the issues of estate equalization as a key element of their estate and business planning. Most of the problems that would create disharmony among their children can be handled with careful thought and with wills, trusts and business agreements that clearly dictate the legacy plan.

The time to consider the reinvestment risk of selling a family business is before, not after, the sale. A reinvention plan can help by taking into consideration the remaining ties to the business, estate and tax planning issues related to the sale, and personal reinvention for family members as they continue on without the business.

Owners who are looking to transition their businesses face the question of whether it is better to sell now or wait until later, particularly in light of the current tax situation. In making this consideration, they should consider the pros and cons of various options: status quo, management buyout, ESOP, sale to a financial buyer, or sale to a strategic buyer.

Donors are reassessing their giving to maximize impact and to ensure their money is being utilized effectively and efficiently by the non-profit organizations they support. Meantime watchdog organizations are grading the non-profit community and posting their ratings online.

Family dynamics often play a critical role in the long-term success of family businesses, and women's relational and interpersonal skills tend to make them well-equipped to manage these issues. Effective leadership within the family business is, now more than ever, dependent on the inherent relational skills that a woman can bring to the business.

Like cost-benefit analysis in the for-profit world, social return on investment provides guidelines that can help charitable organizations to think more strategically about outcomes and show accountability. But if SROI is to be a successful tool, analysis indicates its principles need to be applied with greater rigor.