Brenda B. Asare, President and CEO of Alford Group, proudly supports the Generosity Commission’s report released this week. As the current Chair of The Giving Institute, she champions the everyday donor, whose importance the report emphasizes.
The Giving USA Foundation launched the Generosity Commission in 2021 with the goal of conducting a rigorous analysis of generosity in America today. The report compiles commissioned academic research, input from philanthropy experts and interviews with everyday people. Released this past Tuesday, it presents findings and recommendations that go further and deeper than the foundation’s more commonly referenced annual report: Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy.
“When we speak of generosity, let’s talk about time, talent, treasure, testimony and network.”
The report seeks to explain the decline in donors in recent years, citing economic precarity, changing tax benefits, declining religiosity and trust in institutions, social isolation and demographic shifts. The Generosity Commission then urges the sector to consider volunteerism and mutual aid in a new definition of generosity. Asare is especially passionate about facilitating that shift.
“We are expanding the definition of generosity to be more than just money,” she says. “It’s a much more expansive definition of bettering humanity. When we speak of generosity, let’s talk about time, talent, treasure, testimony and network.”
Some of these concepts are very difficult to measure, especially in comparison to tax-deductible monetary donations, which Giving USA trace through federal data on 501(c)(3)’s. Much of the Generosity Commission’s report focuses on collecting and analyzing data on informal modes of generosity like political activism, person-to-person giving and community care.
Asare, along with the other sector experts on the commission, sees the report as an entry point for an ongoing conversation. A reorientation of the formal structures of philanthropy requires open-minded action from nonprofit leaders, scholars, donors and volunteers. Some of the trends outlined in the commission’s report appear to be permanent, while others are a reversible symptom of the current political and economic climate. Nevertheless, the landscape is shifting, and Asare believes we must all shift with it.
As for the near future, Asare is optimistic about the impact of her coming year of leadership: “This exploration of generosity is a chance for each us to take action and embrace an abundance mindset,” she says, “As we look at the condition of the country, there is opportunity for more inclusivity and for disrupting the traditional constructs of philanthropy,”
Alford Group offers holistic consultancy services to strengthen a nonprofit’s ability to thrive in an ever-changing world. Over 45 years, the team of consultants has advanced the mission and impact of over 3,000 clients across the country with custom, agile solutions and a curated team. Alford Group is Black-owned, female-led and committed to equity in every aspect of our business. Together, we’re building a world where possibilities are endless and reflect the best of who we are as humans.
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The Generosity Commission is an independent project of Giving USA Foundation™, whose mission is to advance research, education and public understanding of philanthropy. For more information on the Generosity Commission and to download the full report, visit their website.