'tis the szn of gratitude, giving & galas

Everyone can be a philanthropist

Author

This Investor Life
November 30, 2024

Gratitude for all the highs & lows of 2024

Gratitude is the secret mindset hack that no one talks about nearly enough, it is the gateway to true wellness, an inner luxury that nourishes both the body and the soul. In moments of stillness, when we pause to reflect on the abundance in our lives—whether it’s the simple joy of a warm cup of tea, the serenity of nature or the hustle & bustle of city life, the laughter of a loved one or the comfort of home—we are reminded of the richness that already surrounds us.

This sense of appreciation becomes a gentle form of self-care, elevating our well-being. Cultivating a mindset of gratitude leads to hope for the future. Fear + hope cannot coexist. By focusing on the present moment we tend to find ourselves less anxious about the future and more grateful for what we have, finding peace in the allowing that quiet contentment to be the ultimate luxury. Once you get to this stage of managing your mind with gratefulness you will find [peace and hope] that no matter what you are going through (loss of a job, loss of loved ones, betrayal) that no one can shake you.

Blanket Snuggle Up GIF by MOODMAN

Giphy

I found that once I began to manage my mind the physical things I did for self-care such as going to the spa, going on a bike ride or going to a pilates class was MORE effective - not less. I also found that I wasn’t worried about being less successful, in fact I wanted to achieve MORE because I realized my perspective and experience could amplify the voices of my clients that are doing tremendous good.

Gratitude Exercise

Looking for a way to increase your gratitude? End each day with saying 10 things you are thankful for (even and especially if you do not feel like it)

examples: being thankful for a particular work call, waking up in the morning, a smooth commute, for obstacles that give you the opportunity to practice patience & family related moments.

Giving: Everyone can be a Philanthropist

In 2018, I took a class at Stanford University called Giving 2.0. It was based on the book by Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen “Giving 2.0” (no affiliate link- just a recommendation)

In the class, we learned how to analyze a charity from a data driven approach but also learned to encourage the world at large to be philanthropists. One of the main messages from the class emphasized that no matter your age, income level or place of birth everyone can give back in some way whether that be time, talent, or treasure.

In the next edition, I will expand upon venture philanthropy with some quotes from a venture capitalist and a private equity investor on why it is important.

Please remember that Giving Tuesday is coming up on December 3rd.

There are many worthy charities that have donor matching on this day so your gift is even more impactful. Recommendations below:

Horizons for Youth (free private school education for inner city kids- 100% high school graduation rate!)

Catholic Charities - gave the most during the Hurricane 2024 Season to families in need regardless of religion

The Power of Donor Advised Funds (DAF’s)

I was recently quoted in this Fortune Article on the power of donor advised funds and giving back. The worlds wealthiest people not only have foundations but they put quite a lot into donor advised funds- making their money work even when it comes to donating.

I have been a HUGE fan of donor advised funds for as long as I can remember (thank you parents + grandparents for the lessons on stewardship). From 2019-2023, I served on the advisory board for the Catholic Community Foundation of Los Angeles, the fastest growing community foundation in the United States with over $500M AUM in under 5 years and managing nearly $1B in donor advised funds (you don’t have to be Catholic to have a DAF there). A DAF (known term, short for donor advised funds) is THE most effective way to give. On average the returns can be as much as 40% and that increases the amount you can give back to charities and the community at large.

Donor Advised Funds when managed by a community foundation make your giving incredibly easy. Gone are the days of trying to track down donor receipts or figuring out if your non-profit is still a non-profit. DAF’s streamline all your giving by letting others handle the details for your, think of a community foundation staff member as your personal concierge + gatekeeper to charitable giving.

Recommended Community Foundations to check out (based on personal experience)

Catholic Community Foundation of Los Angeles (on average returns were 40%- do not have to be Catholic to have a DAF there, served on advisory board)

Remember just because you can do it yourself does not mean you should.

Work smarter, not harder.

Gala SZN

We are in the throes of gala + ball season.

Here are a few gala recommendations for the season and next season. Stay tuned for my recommendations on balls to attend in Europe.

December 2024 - February 2025

5 Not to be Missed Balls + Galas in 2025 (based on personal experience)

  1. White Cross Ball (typically early November and a White Tie Event) (if you are interested in attending, please let me know and I can likely secure an invitation if before July)

  2. New York City Ballet Fall Fashion Gala (mid-October)

  3. Vienna Opera Ball

  4. Royal Ascot (tickets available here)

  5. Paris Opera Opening Ball (early October)

Met Gala Fashion GIF by E!

Gif by eonline on Giphy

If you need any further recommendations on charities, please do not hesitate to reach out. I’ve given to dozens over the last decade.

Headline Roundup

Mephisto - Suddenly Cool from the WSJ (a personal favorite of mine as I’ve been wearing these since 2004 - the comfort is unmatched for walking around Europe)

Stay Tuned for our Next Issue including where to spend if you need to allocate before the end of the year, where fund managers are allocating in Q1 2025 + deal flow.

Thank you for reading! - If you loved this, please share with a friend or two via this shareable link

Remember to Dare Greatly, your Dream is Necessary - when you don’t dare greatly, you rob the world of your light.

Ciao,

Elena

p.s. I love getting to know you all; please feel free to send me a note at any time.

This Investor Life Newsletter is read by family offices, hedge fund managers, private equity fund managers, venture capitalists, family office lawyers, CEOs of Fortune 50 companies, board members, and CEOs of multi-generational family businesses.

Follow me on Instagram or LinkedIn

/