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Just as an individual goes through life cycles, so does a charity. From the start-up phase to adopting a strategic vision to looking at ways to grow the charity, there are many steps to consider at each important phase of the charity’s lifetime. By bringing discipline and focus to your family philanthropy and going beyond just writing checks, your charity has the best chance of making a greater impact.

Travis Roy’s story is well known—in 1995, the rising college hockey star suffered an on-ice injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down after only 11 seconds of his first Boston University game. That tragic accident ended Travis’ hockey career, but it marked the beginning of his decades-long commitment to helping others through the Travis Roy Foundation. As the Foundation grew, Travis faced a critical question: how can a grass roots organization powered by volunteers manage growth and sustain its impact without a sophisticated support structure?

Strategic philanthropy is similar to intentional asset allocation in that it requires as much of the giver’s intellect as it does the bank account. A careful and disciplined approach to philanthropic giving combines purpose, practicality, and passion. In planning for charitable giving, families can review their choices with a planning matrix that outlines the types of gifts and their basic features, control features, term, administrative considerations, income tax benefits, deduction limits, estate and gift tax benefits, costs, and other benefits and considerations.

Philanthropists from Europe, the United States, Asia, and the Middle East are approaching philanthropy in an innovative way and actively promote their causes. Interviews illustrate how they are trying to make a lasting change in terms of impact on the ground as well as the longevity of their charitable organizations. For many philanthropists, achieving a sustainable outcome is the second motivation, after the cause itself. And impact investing and collaborative philanthropy are considered as the top trends in achieving sustainable outcome.

Jessica Jackley, cofounder of KIVA, the world’s first microfinance website, shares her unique wisdom on financial inclusion and social justice. Jessica highlights stories and lessons from her book, Clay Water Brick: Finding Inspiration from Entrepreneurs Who Do the Most with the Least, as well as experiences from her own life as an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist.

A rising generation of clients in their 20s and 30s turned to Jim Steiner, president of Abbot Downing, and asked him to share his insights, both as a parent and a wealth management leader. Through four memorable stories and thoughtful questions, Mr. Steiner reflected on matters of career, philanthropy, family, and leaving a legacy. He began with a cab ride in Chicago, learning to see with fresh eyes.

In this Family Philanthropy Speaks conversation, Jeff and Tricia Raikes join Nick Tedesco to discuss how they have changed practices and acknowledged privilege throughout their donor journey. Jeff shares the value of diversifying their network, which opens the doors to new grantees and opportunities for impact. Tricia describes a revelatory moment that changed her views on youth homelessness and notes the need to embrace discomfort as she grapples with her own understanding of racial inequity.

When an off-the-shelf solution doesn’t cut it, responsible investors can turn to customized separately managed accounts (SMAs) to build portfolios that align with their values, including expressing their individual ESG views. With an SMA, investors can also gain the market exposure they’re seeking through portfolio construction, active ownership, or a combination of the two.

Solving world hunger—or “food insecurity”—is really hard. The solutions are not particularly sexy, and they require a very long-term outlook. In seeking to learn more about the problem, we reached out to the ones trying to solve it.

In Part 2 of the conversation on solving world hunger through innovation and strategic investing, we welcome two more entrepreneurs. Ezinne Uzo-Okuro, CEO of Terraformers, is using her background as a NASA scientist to empower people to grow healthy food and create sustainable livelihoods. Manuela Zierau, Global Lead of H2Grow, works with communities to grow food—and well-being—in impossible places. Private Client CIO Sid Ahl and CrossBoundary’s Kirtika Challa join in to discuss investment takeaways.