challenge

In June, I posted a blog regarding the challenge given by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, called The Giving Pledge. In it, Gates and Buffet challenged the nation's billionaires to pledge to give away at least 50% of their fortunes to charity, either at death or while still living.

Buffet reports that roughly half of the people approached to participate have agreed to do so thus far. Great results and we're barely two months into the challenge! The number one reason most high capacity donors share for not giving...no one asked. If this doesn't motivate you as a leader of your church or non-profit ministry to begin asking, what will? Go for it. You have nothing to lose...except a lot of charitable dollars. By the way, lots of other non-profits out there are asking - remember that you are competing for these contributions.

As of this writing, 40 have signed on with a pledge! You can view the list of donors here. You'll recognize many of the names - T. Boone Pickens (oil), Larry Ellison (software), George Lucas (E.T, Star Wars) and David Rockefeller. If you click on a name on the donor list, you can read a letter each has written regarding their pledge.