'If this world were mine'
Hi, hey, hello–I’m taking you back.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve written about the Gospel of Wealth, a beautiful moment in time with my mango lady, and shared a story about how an experience back in 2007 changed my Dad’s perspective on giving forever. But today I thought we’d go back to the very beginning, a very good place to start.
This new adventure of mine began sometime last fall. I was attending a Q&A about this prize I wanted to apply for and as the discussion unfolded, one particular insight from the moderator struck me deeply: in addition to the prize itself, you’ll receive a $1,000 bonus to give to someone else who’s doing something great in their community. Suddenly, winning wasn’t just about my achievement, it became an opportunity to extend the reach of recognition to another deserving individual. I immediately began to think of names of people who I’d be excited to share this win with–a long list materialized in my mind. I felt driven to create a way to acknowledge their dedication – an action reminiscent of the encouragement I sought when I first launched Smile On Me.
When I was just starting with Smile On Me, securing funding was so tough, primarily because of our lack of official 501(c)(3) status, which made government funding inaccessible. Instead, I relied on the generosity of friends and family. During this time, I became hesitant to continually lean on loved ones for support, as I recognized the burden it placed on them. In 2017 a stroke of luck occurred when I received a $1,000 donation from a brand and I was over the moon! This was the largest donation I received at the time and I honestly couldn’t believe it. It was our saving grace, because without it I don’t think Smile On Me would’ve survived beyond 2017.
This donation not only helped us bring our first event to life but it made me feel validated and gave me the momentum to keep going.
So, as I mulled over potential recipients for this $1,000 bonus (even though I hadn't won the prize or even applied yet), a personal project idea began to take shape. That very evening, after bombarding my husband with yet another new idea, Everyday Ribbons was born! My aim was simple: to honor everyday people by supporting their passion projects from the outset.
Unfortunately, I didn’t end up winning the prize. But I didn’t allow that disappointment to discourage my desire for this space. Although it has evolved from its original concept, I am grateful to be navigating the path of philanthropy. My focus has shifted; instead of solely investing in others' passion projects as I initially envisioned, I am now dedicated to igniting the philanthropic spirit within everyone.
⭐️ My goal is to equip individuals with the tools and insights to uncover their inner philanthropists and determine the type of impact they want to make on the world.
My new philanthropic group aims to do just that and I’m so excited to get started. Here’s the work-in-progress mission for my philanthropic group:
Helping everyday people make a meaningful impact through strategic generosity; providing expert guidance to help ensure your gifts reach their full potential, and make a tangible difference in the causes you care about.
Like most entrepreneurs, my first clients were family members. I have been working on best practices to help them discover what kind of giver/donor they are and after a few brainstorming sessions, my sister thought a persona quiz would be a good entry point (because everyone loves a quiz)! Think of the famous Myers-Briggs quiz or Enneagram—but for aspiring donors.
If you’re interested in discovering your donor persona, click below to take the quiz!
Inspired by Seinfeld characters (my absolute favorite show), this short quiz will reveal whether you align more with Jerry, Elaine, George, or Kramer. No worries if you haven't seen the show; it's not a requirement (though I highly recommend it—it's even on Netflix!). Regardless, you'll still uncover whether you lean towards being a passive, social, strategic, or spur-of-the-moment donor. Afterward, feel free to share your feedback and results with me! I'd love to know about your experience and whether you agree with your results.
—you’ll notice I use the word ‘so’ quite often. you’ll also most likely notice bad grammar and the overuse of commas and punctuation in my writing—so yea