Actively deciding to give to causes that move you deeply is far more fulfilling than the momentary gratification derived from signing a check and mailing it to a nonprofit about which you know little more than what's on the brochure they sent you.
Laura Arrillaga-AndreessenMedical tests have shown that giving stimulates a part of the brain that gives us the same gratification as when we eat food or have sex.
Laura Arrillaga-AndreessenShouldn't you put the same amount of effort into your giving as you might for your for-profit investments? After all, philanthropy is an investment, and one in which lives - not profits - are at stake.
Laura Arrillaga-AndreessenThe fact that 35 percent of all American giving went to religious organizations in 2010 reflects how closely bound many of us are with our place of worship.
Laura Arrillaga-AndreessenPhilanthropy is often seen as society's risk capital. That means the onus is on philanthropists, nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs to innovate. But philanthropic innovation is not just about creating something new. It also means applying new thinking to old problems, processes and systems.
Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen