Donor Advising
Concierge Services for Philanthropy
Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.
– Thomas Alva Edison
Clients
Wealth Creators
People who had an idea and made it into a business. Wealth creators think differently than their children, or grandchildren, or professional foundation staff. They love a challenge. They’re more interested in solving a problem than winning a popularity contest. They keep score. And they hate to lose.
World Changers
People who had a vision of how to improve the world – and built a business around doing so. To become wealthy is to find ways to help people and have them pay you for the privilege. Our clients have already made the world a better place through their businesses. Now they want to continue through their philanthropy.
Innovators
People who are willing to take chances, accept risks, and try new things. They want their philanthropy to shift paradigms, not move the needle. Our clients are looking for results, not recognition, although they may get both.
About Us
As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.
– Andrew Carnegie
Experienced
We have participated in hundreds of millions of dollars of transactions and been involved in projects in dozens of countries and at more than 75 universities and colleges across the country. We’ve seen the good and the bad of the philanthropic world.
Reliable
More than 25 years’ experience in philanthropy and the non-profit world. While we are happy to work with clients on one-time projects – such as developing and negotiating tricky legacy gifts to major institutions – our goal is to work with a few, select clients in an ongoing way. We prefer to establish long-term relationships with donors and their families and to help them assure donor intent over the life cycle of a foundation or giving program.
Trustworthy
We believe deeply in donor intent. We only work with clients with whom we have shared values. But our role is to understand the particulars of your values, your goals, and your dreams; to internalize them; and to assure that they are preserved and achieved.
Fred Fransen, Ph.D.
Angelika Quitschke, Th.M.
Getting Started
It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Our clients come to us at various stages of the development of their philanthropic giving. We can add value at any stage, from participating in setting up your estate plan, to developing and negotiating a major gift. We can work in the shadows, assisting your other trusted advisors, or we can be the face of your philanthropy, allowing you to preserve your privacy and anonymity. In particular, we specialize in:
Education & Planning
Drawing on our experience and observations over a career in philanthropy, we can help you create a structure and timetable to maximize the impact of your giving.
Due Diligence & Logistics
Doing philanthropy right can be a lot of work. We can provide much of the investigation and oversight – the due diligence – necessary to assure that you are getting a good return on your investments. And if you have an interest in international giving and want to be personally involved, we have a lifetime of experience in the logistics of travel, including helping maximize your health and safety while traveling abroad.
Project Development & Implementation
Successful grant-making involves more than just writing checks. By combining our experience in grant-making with yours in business, we can often create projects that stretch the imagination of recipient organizations. Or we can work on your behalf to launch a new one when no suitable partner shares your vision.
Foundation & Grant Management
One of the surprises many philanthropists experience is the burden of managing their family foundations. On the one hand, you need highly experienced and knowledgeable staff. But on the other hand, there isn’t a huge volume of work except at certain times of the year. We can help. By outsourcing the management of your family foundation, we can provide you with the highest level of experience, while eliminating the cost of managing employees week-in, week-out.
Questions?
To give away money is an easy matter and in any man’s power. But to decide to whom to give it, and how large, and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in every man’s power nor an easy matter.
– Aristotle
Doing philanthropy right requires the same care and attention as building and managing a business. And without the bottom line of a profit and loss statement, it can be a lot more difficult to evaluate. Working with a top philanthropy advisor reduces the burden for you, allowing you to enjoy the fruits of your success.
Donor Advising will provide you with highly personalized philanthropy services specifically tailored to meet your needs. We offer you the benefit of the best, most experienced philanthropic advising in the country, without the hassle and burden of managing employees.
Donor Advising can manage all aspects of your philanthropy, or only help where you need it. At a minimum, you will still be responsible for final decision-making about grants and investment policies, but you will decide the level of detail you want us to oversee.
Because Donor Advising’s services are customized to your needs and aspirations, we find it best to develop a proposal after beginning to understand the particulars of your situation. For initial planning and education or simply to review documents, we are happy to work on an hourly basis.
For longer, deeper relationships, we find a flat fee based on the size and volume of your giving works better. In any case, we guarantee that hiring us will cost you less than managing your philanthropy on your own. Both in terms of administration costs, and, more importantly, by helping you avoid mistakes.
Insights
A Sommelier for your Philanthropy
"I have never met a miserly wine lover" - Charles Fadiman What could be simpler than giving away money? For…
Higher Education Philanthropy: A Cautionary Tale
Building Leadership "Higher Education Philanthropy: A Cautionary Tale." Summer 2010 In a publication of the Leadership Institute, Fransen points out…
Philanthropy Daily
Starting in June 2010, Fransen became a Contributor at the new Online news site, PhilanthropyDaily.com His blog post can be…
Conscience Capitalism
Philanthropy Roundtable "Conscience Capitalism" Fall/October 2009 Fransen's review of "Be the Solution" by Michael Strong with John Mackey is supportive…
Contact Us
Donor Advising
8520 Allison Pointe Blvd., Suite 220
Indianapolis, IN 46250
317.570.2345
Donor Advising, Research & Educational Services, LLC