Thoughts on Ted Talk with Dan Pallotta—The Way We Think About Charity Is Dead Wrong

In March, 2013, Ted Talks were held at Long Beach and one of the speakers was Dan Pallotta.  He shared his thought that the way we have been taught to think about non-profits undermines charity and “the causes we love and our profound yearning to change the world.”  Pallotta who has raised millions for breast cancer and AIDS research is considered by many as an expert.  He states that there are two rule books in play, one for non-profits and the other for for-profits.  He points out his belief that this started with the Puritans who were aggressive capitalists who were taught to feel badly about the money they made by their Calvinist beliefs.  So to do penance for making money, charity became a “place for penance” and since you can’t make money when you’re doing penance for making money, the entire notion that all of the donated money should go for the cause instead of profit (more recently translated into overhead), was born.

He points out that in his opinion non-profits suffer because they cannot offer adequate compensation to attract the brightest and the best in business to be part of the team or lead the way; they are unable to advertise and market; they are unable to take risks on new revenue generating ideas; they don’t have the time needed to ensure a return on investment; and finally they don’t have the ability to attract risk capital because there is no promise of profit.

Pallotta advocates for looking at philanthropy in a different way if we plan to tackle social causes related to health and human services in a way that will make a difference.  He believes that we can make the philanthropy “pie” bigger is we stop confusing morality with frugality.  His full Ted Talk can be viewed at: 

Dan Pallotta: "The way we think about charity is dead wrong"

At Entrusted Legacy we work to keep our overhead low and work as much as we can with a volunteer workforce.  We are committed to our mission to educate afterschool professionals to be positive role models and mentors for youth, and we humbly share that we can’t do this without you.  We believe that we can change the world, one child, mentored by a positive role model at a time.  Join with us to brighten our future and secure your legacy.  Visit us at www.entrustedlegacy.org or by emailing us at support@entrustedlegacy.org

Impact

Entrusted Legacy (ETL) is a non-profit that is working to be sure that every youth has a positive role model and mentor.  We believe that most adults who work with youth, would like to fill this role, but are often unclear about how to do this.  ETL believes that one of the best ways to ensure the number of role models and mentors needed by our youth, is to prepare afterschool professionals to accept this role.

Being a role model begins through building relationships with youth that demonstrate the adult is interested in spending time with the youth, will be there for them to support them and help them make good choices, and ultimately believe in the unique possibilities the young person has.  Role models and mentors must have high standards for themselves and high expectations of those they mentor.  ETL works with partners like Southern California Edison, Consult 4 Kids and private donors to make this happen.  Recently, one person who benefited from this support commented, “I don't know if you know just how much of an impact you have had on my life (career.)  You have redirected my path, confirming to me that YOUTH DEVELOPMENT really can make an impact on our youth if we are dedicated to the systems and processes it takes to follow through with all the training you provided to me.” 

Join with us so we can continue supporting the growth and development of those who work with youth.  When we invest in one adult, the number of youth they will touch in a lifetime is exponential.

You can learn more about us by viewing our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org or contacting us at support@entrustedlegacy.org  

What’s Your Point of View?

What are you passionate about?  What is it that you want to accomplish?  I saw a clever license plate the other day and it shared this message:

LV♥NLOL

After pondering the message for a while, I realized it said, “Live, Love, and Laugh Out Loud.”  I would agree with this sentiment, but I would also want to add “LAL” or Leave a Legacy.  I think it is important that each of us leave the world better than when we arrived, in other words leave a legacy that will support the realization of possibilities in our fellow humans. 

Entrusted Legacy has a passion to ensure that everyone has a positive role model and mentor.  When I reflect on my own life I think about those special people who acted as a guide for me simply by being who they were and then being willing to share that with me.  They expected nothing in return and took pleasure from being the mentor and role model that I needed.  Entrusted Legacy strives to ensure that those who are in a position to be that positive role model and mentor, those who work with youth in the space afterschool, are well prepared to take the helm.  If you don’t have time to be a mentor yourself, leave a legacy that will support both the mentor and the mentee.  Contact us at support@centrustedlegacy.org or visit our website for more information.  www.entrustedlegacy.org

Are You A Leader?

Why in the world would anyone want to be a leader?  Don’t we have enough leaders?  Don’t we have enough people “throwing their weight around?”  Don’t we have enough people who have assumed roles of responsibility and power?  I guess the answer to those questions depends upon your definition of a leader.

What is a leader?  There are a wide variety of definitions, but I like the one provided by F. John Rey who says, “A leader is a person who has a vision, a drive and a commitment to achieve that vision, and the skills to make it happen.”  "What Is A Leader"   For me, this hits the nail right on the head.  I believe it’s not enough to have a vision.  You must have the drive and commitment as well as the skills to make it happen.  In other words, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak.  Without results, your vision is just a dream.  Whether your vision is for personal success or one that is focused on the success of others, the best way to ensure that success is to see to it that everyone has an opportunity to recognize their unique potential.  John Dunne was right when he said, “No man is an island entire of itself, every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the whole.”  We are all in this together.

Here at Entrusted Legacy our vision is that every youth, no matter who he or she is, no matter what the circumstance of his or her birth, will have the positive role model and mentor needed to act as a guide and support system.  We believe that with the right role model and mentor, every youth can reach his or her full possibilities and will assume a rightful place of leadership for the next generation. 

We are committed to making this vision a reality, but to do so we need your help.  We believe that your leadership today will pave the way for the leaders of tomorrow, and with a nation full of leaders—people with a vision, the drive, commitment, and skills to make it happen, we are on a trajectory for sustained success as citizens of this country and the world.  Find out how you can help.  Visit our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org