How often are you stopped on the street by someone asking for a donation to a charitable cause? And nearly all of us have been bombarded by knocks on doors, phone calls, or email solicitations by people asking for our support. As the world has become more interconnected, we’ve been exposed to more giving opportunities than ever before. But how can we ensure that our limited dollars are going to the right place?
That’s a question writer Phil Buchanan has been working on for years. Buchanan is the founding chief executive of the Center for Effective Philanthropy, and author of the new book Giving Done Right: Effective Philanthropy and Making Every Dollar Count.
"I think you want to be able to look back at the end of the year and say, 'Well I gave to organizations pursuing goals that are really important to me'," Buchanan says. "Rather than, 'I gave in response to whoever happened to ask me.' "
