The Art of Doing Good: Where Passion Meets Action

Praise for The Art of Doing Good

"A nuanced and thorough portrait of the phenomenon of generosity in action, by visionary practitioners not only of the art of doing good, but of the art of transforming society. If the world is to be repaired and redeemed, it will be through the work of Bronfman and Solmon, the visionaries they write about in this book, and the visionaries they will yet inspire."
Frederick M. Lawrence, president, Brandeis University

"In The Art of Doing Good, Charles Bronfman and Jeffrey Solomon vividly describe the feelings of overwhelming challenge, unbridled passion, and consuming purpose that every social entrepreneur experiences when establishing a new organization. Providing inspiration and thoughtful advice, this book is for both aspiring social entrepreneurs and accomplished practitioners, helping them navigate the myriad trials and opportunities they will encounter as agents of change."
Laura Arrillaga–Andreessen, author, New York Times bestseller Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World

"Charles Bronfman′s goodness is displayed through his inspiration, talent, and passion for philanthropy, and The Art of Doing Good is a masterpiece for all to enjoy not just nonprofits alone. It is about how each and every one of us can leave our own mark in society through our own positive creations."
Robert K. Kraft, chairman and CEO, New England Patriots and The Kraft Group

"Charles Bronfman and Jeff Solomon′s new book crackles with compelling portraits of social change. Aspiring leaders will return to these stories again and again to find both inspiration and practical advice for their own journeys."
Susan Wolf Ditkoff, partner and cohead, philanthropy practice, The Bridgespan Group

"Charles Bronfman has been involved in the charitable world for his entire life. His knowledge combined with his passion creates effective giving. Philanthropists will find his insights not only interesting, but helpful, as they move forward on their own path of giving."
Bernie Marcus, chairman, The Marcus Foundation, and cofounder, The Home Depot

PREFACE vii

INTRODUCTION: How to Change the World 1

PART ONE Sources of Inspiration

1 That Aha! Moment: When Inspiration Strikes 17

2 The Prequel: The Backstory: The History Behind the Idea 31

PART TWO Bringing Your Idea to Life

3 What It Takes: Can You Really Do This? 49

4 Getting off the Ground: At Some Point You Need to Get Real 65

5 Being the Brand: Identifying with Your Organization 77

6 The Pros and Cons of Partnerships: Do Your Research 85

7 Finding Support: Use Your Connections 95

8 Setting Goals and Keeping on Track: Start Small and Grow 109

9 Staffing Up: Your Most Vexing Resource: People! 125

10 Hard Knocks: Weathering the Storms 135

11 Preparing for Rollout: Ramping Up 149

PART THREE Managing the Organization

12 Becoming a Manager: The Change 161

13 The Board: How the Board Can Help 169

14 Transparency: No Secrets 179

15 Planning for the Future: What to Do Next 185

16 The Money Side: Money Is Not a Dirty Word 203

17 Making Your Exit: How Do You Know When It Is Time to Go? 215

EPILOGUE: The Value of Leadership 223

PART FOUR Resources

RESOURCE A: Index of Nonprofit Resources 229

RESOURCE B: Major Supporters of Capacity Building 261

NOTES 263

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 265

ABOUT THE AUTHORS 267

INDEX 271

Charles Bronfman, of the Seagram′s corporate family, was the founding owner of the Montreal Expos and is the chairman of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies. Among his many philanthropic achievements is the creation of Birthright Israel and Historica. Bronfman has been awarded six honorary doctorates from universities in three countries for his humanitarian work. With Jeffrey Solomon, Bronfman is the coauthor of The Art of Giving.

Jeffrey Solomon, president of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, has taught philanthropy at New York University and has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Council on Foundations. Solomon has been chief operating officer of the United Jewish Appeal Federation in New York, and he is a founding trustee of the World Faiths Development Dialogue.

John Sedgwick is the author of eleven books, including the family memoir In My Blood, and has been a regular contributor to the Atlantic, Newsweek, and GQ.

A nuanced and thorough portrait of the phenomenon of generosity in action, by visionary practitioners not only of the art of doing good, but of the art of transforming society. If the world is to be repaired and redeemed, it will be through the work of Bronfman and Solomon, the visionaries they write about in this book, and the visionaries they will yet inspire.
Frederick M. Lawrence, president, Brandeis University

In The Art of Doing Good, Charles Bronfman and Jeffrey Solomon vividly describe the feelings of overwhelming challenge, unbridled passion, and consuming purpose that every social entrepreneur experiences when establishing a new organization. Providing inspiration and thoughtful advice, this book is for both aspiring social entrepreneurs and accomplished practitioners, helping them navigate the myriad trials and opportunities they will encounter as agents of change.
Laura Arrillaga–Andreessen, author, New York Times bestseller Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World

Charles Bronfman′s goodness is displayed through his inspiration, talent, and passion for philanthropy, and The Art of Doing Good is a masterpiece for all to enjoy not just nonprofits alone. It is about how each and every one of us can leave our own mark in society through our own positive creations.
Robert K. Kraft, chairman and CEO, New England Patriots and The Kraft Group

Charles Bronfman and Jeff Solomon′s new book crackles with compelling portraits of social change. Aspiring leaders will return to these stories again and again to find both inspiration and practical advice for their own journeys.
Susan Wolf Ditkoff, partner and cohead, philanthropy practice, The Bridgespan Group

Charles Bronfman has been involved in the charitable world for his entire life. His knowledge combined with his passion creates effective giving. Philanthropists will find his insights not only interesting, but helpful, as they move forward on their own path of giving.
Bernie Marcus, chairman, The Marcus Foundation, and cofounder, The Home Depot

Charles Bronfman and Jeff Solomon have followed upon their first collaboration with another thoughtful articulation of the tried–and true rules of successful social entrepreneurship. At once accessible and engaging, The Art of Doing Good is a font of well–reasoned counsel for aspiring nonprofiteers.
Adam Meyerson, president, Philanthropy Roundtable

I knew from the beginning that I was going to enjoy and gain great information from The Art of Doing Good, and I looked forward to the content as I read from page to page. In this book I found affirmation and confirmation of what it takes to bring good ideas to full potential and to realize full value and sustainability that benefits, respects, and improves the quality of life for whoever will be affected. This book is a treasure trove for all of us who are eager to give back in meaningful and sustainable ways. Both the ideas and the people who have created them add to the joy of doing good and are enriching my life. Thank you, Charles and Jeff!
Roselyne Chroman Swig, community activist