Time, Talent, Treasure: A Simple Framework for Giving

When clients tell me they want to be more generous but don't feel like they have much extra to give, I like to remind them that generosity isn't only about writing a check. There are really three ways to give back, and most people are already doing at least one of them without thinking of it as philanthropy at all.

Time

Time might be the most personal thing any of us has to give, mostly because once it's spent, there's no getting it back. For some people, that means something hands-on: mentoring a young person, serving meals, or spending an afternoon at a shelter. For others, it looks a little less visible: stocking a food pantry, staffing a fundraiser, or helping behind the scenes at an event. Both count. A smaller group of clients take this further and dedicate real, ongoing time to running a private foundation, which brings its own kind of commitment alongside the financial piece.

Talent

This is the pillar people forget about most often, and that's a shame, because it's often the one that matters most to the organization on the receiving end. A physician who offers free clinic hours. Someone who manages money professionally and volunteers to oversee a nonprofit's endowment. A coach who mentors kids through a sport they love. What makes this kind of giving valuable isn't just the time it takes. It's that the skill itself is often something the organization couldn't afford to bring in any other way.

Treasure

This is the one most people think of first, and it's usually where the conversation starts and stops. Cash is the obvious form, but treasure can just as easily mean property, securities, art, or other assets. For clients who have set up a private foundation, the options widen further: grants, scholarships, program-related loans, and other ways to put resources to work. There's no single right rhythm to this kind of giving, either. Some people give on a set schedule. Others respond as needs come up. Both are valid ways to be generous with what you have.

What I like about thinking of giving this way is that it takes the pressure off any one form. Not everyone has significant assets to give right now, but almost everyone has time or a skill worth sharing. And for the people who do have all three to work with, the real question isn't which one to choose. It's how to combine them in a way that actually fits their life.

If any of this sounds like you, whether you're weighing a bigger commitment like a foundation or just wondering how to make the giving you already do feel more intentional, I'd love to talk it through. It's one of my favorite conversations to have with clients, and there's no wrong place to start.