How To Be More Impactful Through Entrepreneurial Giving

 

 
This Thanksgiving as you think about what you are grateful for, think, too, about how you can be more giving.
 
To help you discover a more giving you, read the new book, A Talent For Giving, by John Studzinski.
 
It introduces the meaning of entrepreneurial giving - a hands-on approach to philanthropy that harnesses skills, expertise, and resources. Through thought-provoking insights, A Talent for Giving offers a powerful new roadmap for impact as Studzinski shows how anyone, regardless of financial means, can become a force for change.
 
You do that by maximizing your Talent, Time, and Treasure and by embracing these values alongside others like Trust, Technology, and Trial, according to Studzinski.
 
“Giving is any act of kindness or generosity that recognizes and respects the dignity of another human being,” shares Studzinski. “It can be something very simple – a smile, or a hug or a few words. And on a larger scale, it’s giving your time, your skills, lending your knowledge and resources, mentoring, or providing emotional support, encouragement, and inspiration."
 
Studzinski encourages us to fulfill our inherent generosity and empathy and instinctual philanthropic impulses, to foster collaborative cultures in our communities, and to create lasting legacies that ripple far beyond ourselves.
 
In the book, Studzinski also explains the difference between charity and philanthropy.
 
“Charity, as I understand it, is about relieving immediate pain, applying an urgent ‘sticking plaster’ to a wound. It can be effective, even powerful in the short term, and there will always be a place for charities and charitable action,” explains Studzinski.
 
“Philanthropy, meanwhile, is about achieving permanent change, creating infrastructure and reinforcing solutions that can be sustained in the longer term,” adds Studzinski.
 
He also states that, “Each one of us has the potential to make a difference through giving. That potential lies in the portfolio of talents that each one of us possesses. And the essence of your talent lies at the intersection of your background, your intuition, your abilities, and your values.
 
More than a guide, this book offers a bold new vision for making a meaningful impact at a time when giving needs a rethink. Whether you're in business, a student, teacher, artist or activist, your talents hold the power to transform lives—and your own life, too.

“Let's move past today’s narrow definition of philanthropy to reconnect with our talents and, crucially, with one another,” says Studzinski.
 

John Studzinski, CBE

 
Studzinski shares these additional insights with us:
 
Question: What inspired you to explore new approaches to philanthropy and giving?
 
Studzinski: I believe that everybody has it in them to become a philanthropist, no matter what their age or status. There is more to philanthropy than money and you certainly don’t have to be rich to be a philanthropist. It’s about doing something positive for the world with what you have, about making best use of your talent and time – not just of the money you have at your disposal. I’ve made a point of talking about “giving” rather than “philanthropy,” because I want to move people away from traditional perceptions of philanthropy, to think afresh.
 
Question: How do you define entrepreneurial giving?
 
Studzinski: Entrepreneurial giving is about making the most of what you have to give – and, once again, that doesn’t necessarily mean money. It’s about doing it your way, with conviction, in a way that grows from your talents and your passions.
 
Entrepreneurial giving can be about dovetailing with existing systems or driving your own projects. You’re not obliged to accept the status quo if you feel it isn’t producing the outcomes you want to see. You might well feel that greater impact can be achieved with a different approach, in which case you could opt for building your own teams and structures – ideally with the help of good advice from the best mentors you can find.
 
Question: How do you envision the future of entrepreneurial giving in society?
 
Studzinski: What we need to remember is that every great charitable or philanthropic project began with one person’s instinctive response to a specific situation. That response fed into a mission and a vision and an entrepreneurial approach to doing what had to be done.
 
As an entrepreneur in giving, your particular passions and talents form the starting point. It is up to you to define those talents and passions and to shape and drive your project. On whatever scale you end up working, entrepreneurial giving has an important role to play in society, but you need to think of your achievements in incremental terms. As Mother Teresa of Calcutta said to me: “You can only change the world one person at a time.”
 
Question: How do you recommend building a community of giving among peers or within a family?
 
Studzinski: Entrepreneurial giving is not something you can do all on your own. As an entrepreneur, you constantly come up with ideas and generate momentum, and you act as a kind of evangelist. You will be setting an example with what you are doing, but you will also need to find ways of drawing other people in and of taking them with you in your venture.
 
It’s not simply a question of asking them for money. In fact, perhaps you should never ask them for money – but you can get people involved by asking them for advice, for their expertise, and for their time and effort as you get a project off the ground or take it a new level. Everyone has their own contribution to make and as an entrepreneur you will bring them together. And if it’s a worthwhile project that achieves positive results, it will be good for everyone’s motivation and self-esteem.
 
Question: Why is it critical to fully understand one's capabilities before planning to give?
 
Studzinski: It is critical to understand your capabilities because, in entrepreneurial giving, your motivation for giving has to grow from your talents and passions. You are simply not going along with what other people are already doing. You are putting your talents and passion into action. This is quite different from making a financial donation and leaving it to someone else to decide what happens next. In entrepreneurial giving, you will be taking on a different set of responsibilities, so you need to have a firm idea of your strengths.
 
You will also need to be honest about weaknesses and to identify where you need to find help in the form of mentoring or through tapping into the complementary talents and skills of like-minded people.
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John Studzinski, CBE commits his time to business, finance, and philanthropy. Since 2018, he has served as managing director and vice chairman of PIMCO, the global investment management firm.
 
In his philanthropic activities, he consistently emphasizes the importance of human dignity and the role of mentoring and active networks. He is founder and chairman of the Genesis Foundation, a UK-based charity that supports freelance artists; commissioner of the United Nations Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, and chancellor of Leeds Trinity University.
 
In the US, he serves as a board member for The J. Paul Getty Trust, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE), and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
 
He was awarded a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) for his services to the arts and charity; Pope John Paul II awarded him a Papal Knighthood (Knight of St. Gregory) for his work with the homeless and marginalized, and a Knight Commander of Saint Sylvester (KCSS) for his work in human rights. He was also honored by the Prince of Wales and awarded the Beacon Prize.
 
With more than 40 years of finance experience, he holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College.
 
Thank you to the book’s publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book.