Jeffrey Solomon’s and Charles Bronfman’s newly released book, The Art of Giving: Where the Soul Meets a Business Plan, has elicited significant response around the philanthropic community. On his blog, Tactical Philanthropy, Sean Stannard-Stockton hosts both a guest post from Solomon and Bronfman along with an excerpt from the newly released book. Most fascinating is the discussion taking place in the comments sections of the various posts where many in the nonprofit world have offered their thoughts.

What follows are two excerpts from Solomon and Bronfman and one from Social Velocity. And perhaps, in your own community, you can open up a discussion on motivation and perception. You will probably be surprised at the response.

excerpted from Tactical Philanthropy blog:

“Determining one’s motivations for giving, although essential, is largely an exercise in self-reflection layered with an element of trial and error. On the other hand, figuring out how to connect those motivations with strategic outcomes is a more complex task, requiring copious amounts of data, outside expertise, resources, and in most cases, partners, both in funding and thought. We’ve dedicated a lot of time debating how to best guide others down this winding pathway, and have developed a number of strategic questions which can catalyze the thinking of aspiring funders as they prepare to attack their chosen issues in manageable, bite-size nuggets.”

excerpted from the book:

“When you give, you get, and we believe you need to focus on what it is that you are getting for what you give. We argue that what you get in philanthropy is nourishment for that portion of the body that is so sacred it cannot be found in any book of anatomy: the soul, where all that is best in us resides. It is simultaneously the innermost self and the one so external it seems somehow eternal – which makes it the natural connection point for our philanthropy, for we give to improve the world in a lasting way and to leave it with our stamp.”

excerpted from Social Velocity:

“… I think that there is an increasing focus by philanthropists on the second motivation (social ROI), as opposed to a past focus on individual ROI. Because of the past philanthropic focus on individual gain, the resulting nonprofit fundraising activities have centered on activities that provided donors an individual ROI, for example capital campaigns that promise a new building with a donor’s name emblazoned on it, or events that provide networking and exclusive activities, or “thank you” gifts. As social ROI becomes more of an interest to philanthropists, smart nonprofits will focus on creating their logic models and demonstrating impact.”