The Catalogue for Philanthropy was created in 1997 by a collaboration of leading foundations, corporations and donors, to promote philanthropy through donor education. We were independently incorporated in 2002. In our first decade, we examined every aspect of philanthropy’s presentation to the public and gradually developed our own set of teaching instruments specifically designed for donors. The cornerstone of our program is still this printed Catalogue, but our website; www.cfp-ma.org, is being revised to open up a whole new range of educational and practical resources—primarily for donors and grantmakers, but also for strategists within fields, the media, scholars, students, and anyone else interested in philanthropy, especially in Massachusetts. We believe philanthropy itself has entered a paradigm-shift, which we are working to guide in donor-friendly directions, to promote philanthropy in perpetuity.

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HOW TO USE THIS CATALOGUE

one -- Learn about philanthropy

“Private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of life” is more about opportunity than obligation. Anyone can be a philanthropist—not just the rich helping the poor. All it takes are values, desire to do some good, and initiative. In philanthropy, benefactors express and define who they are as human beings. Beneficiaries are empowered. For both, it is self-developing and enhances quality of life. The Catalogue offers many examples.

two -- Learn about Massachusetts charities

The Catalogue provides an organized overview of Massachusetts philanthropy as it actually works— illustrated in this publication and on our website, which now presents 850 excellent charities, competitively selected from all fields of activity, all across the Commonwealth. We focus on those with budgets below $3 million because they represent 93% of all charities, and are largely invisible to the public (they can’t afford broad visibility). Many are national leaders in their fields. We hope you will be inspired.

three -- Find three charities you would enjoy supporting

Try it out with your family. Whoever you are, whatever your interests, there are charities just like you that you will enjoy supporting. To help you find them, we sort them into basic fields—e.g., Nature, Culture, Human Services—which subdivide into more specialized groups. As you identify your favorite fields, ask yourself what kinds of activities and organizations would you most enjoy supporting, and how would you like to be involved—as donor, advisor, volunteer, member, or even as trustee?

four -- Enjoy supporting them

Go ahead—take the plunge. Send them a gift by mail or Internet, either directly or through us using our Giving Form at the back of this publication. Tell them you found them through the Catalogue. They will be glad and grateful for your interest, and will help you get to know them better. We will, too. Good luck, and thanks!

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MISSION

To strengthen the culture of philanthropy—its vocabulary, conceptualization, rhetoric, infrastructure and modes of operation—through donor education and the creation of donor-friendly tools to promote charitable giving.