Dear Friends and Colleagues:
It has been a productive and busy start to 2010 at the
Center on Wealth and Philanthropy. In addition to the
release of our two original research projects,
Migration of Wealth in New Jersey and the
Impact
on
Wealth and Philanthropy and the
Center on
Wealth and Philanthropy Giving Model: Forecast for
2009 - both described in previously released
newsletters, I wanted to share with you some other
recent reports and articles.
I recently co-authored a book with Keith Whitaker,
Wealth and the Will of God, which was published
by Indiana University Press. The book looks at some of
the spiritual resources of the Christian tradition than can
aid serious reflection on wealth and giving.
I have also included an article that I am pleased to find
presents a well-balanced account of my research and
thoughts. I was surprised by the space the newsletter
granted for the story, not to mention the large photo of my
younger brother.
This newsletter includes my chapter on religious
discernment in the new book edited by David H.
Smith, Religious Giving: For the Love of God,
about discernment as a guide for wealth
holders in
the allocation of their wealth. Discernment, the
process to engage donors in the very personal
learning journey to assess their own values, has the
promise to make the early twenty-first century the first
era in which the conscientious allocation of
extraordinary wealth for the care of others
becomes an ordinary path of financial spirituality. It is
a subject in which I have extensively researched and
written and I hope it provides some useful
context in your day-to-day activities.
Finally, as a senior advisor to the Wealth and
Giving Forum, I am including an invitation to all our
newsletter readers to attend A Celebration of
Philanthropy and Personal Transformation being
held on May 20th in New York City. The program will
include stories from individual givers, nonprofit
leaders, and those who benefit from the generosity of
others.
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback
and appreciate the time you devote to reading about
the Center's ongoing work.
Cordially yours,
Paul G. Schervish
