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Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World
Gold Medal Winner; Philanthropy, Charities, and Nonprofits; 2012 Axiom Business Book Awards Giving 2.0 is the ultimate resource for anyone navigating the seemingly infinite ways one can give. The future of philanthropy is far more than just writing a check, and Giving 2.0 shows how individuals of every age and income level can harness the power of technology, collaboration, innovation, advocacy, and social entrepreneurship to take their giving to the next level and beyond. Major gifts may dominate headlines, but the majority of giving still comes from individual households―ordinary people with extraordinary generosity. Even in 2009, at a time of deep recession, individual giving averaged almost $2,000 per household and drove 82% of the $300 billion donated that same year. Based on her vast experience as a philanthropist, academic, volunteer, and social innovator, Arrillaga-Andreessen shares the most effective techniques she herself pilots and studies and a vast portfolio of lessons learned during her lifetime of giving. Featuring dozens of stories on innovative and powerful methods of how individuals give time, money, and expertise―whether volunteering and fundraising, leveraging technology and social media, starting a giving circle, fund, foundation, or advocacy group, or aspiring to create greater social impact― Giving 2.0 shows readers how they can renew, improve, and expand their giving and reach their fullest potential. A practical, entertaining, and inspiring call to action, Giving 2.0 is an indispensable tool for anyone passionate about creating change in our world.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2011
28 people are currently reading
1016 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 30, 2021
Useful and practical guide; quick read. Occasionally tone-deaf, but I don't think that the author's gigantic privilege prevents her from offering good advice on how to give with intention—although perhaps the information on how to set up a family foundation is a little less applicable than what kind of questions I should ask myself or a nonprofit before I make a contribution.
Loved her wide-eyed 2011 excitement about the information available on the internet. Is she maybe married to someone who is a big deal in Silicon Valley, do you think?
Loved her wide-eyed 2011 excitement about the information available on the internet. Is she maybe married to someone who is a big deal in Silicon Valley, do you think?
January 24, 2012
Note: I received this book because my nonprofit blog is on Alltop.
I wanted to like it. I always want to like a book, but I couldn't like this one. It's a nonfiction book meant to inform fundraising in a connected/social media age. But the tone was too dry and lacked inspiration, though anecdotes about the history of giving Arrillaga-Andreessen's family were interesting. Often, though, the personal stories came off to me more as a resume-building exercise; a way of listing bona fides rather than providing any illumination or illustration.
Most distressing to me was the organization: dense text with list after list occasionally broken up by the Giving 2.0 logo which is meant to draw you to the website to learn more. I found going back and forth impeded my understanding because I then had to re-insert myself into the narrative. And the information on the website seemed loosely connected to what I was reading, rather than providing a more incisive explanation or expanding on the topic.
In the end, though I picked up the book often, I could not get myself to finish it - not when there are so many other books competing for my attention.
I wanted to like it. I always want to like a book, but I couldn't like this one. It's a nonfiction book meant to inform fundraising in a connected/social media age. But the tone was too dry and lacked inspiration, though anecdotes about the history of giving Arrillaga-Andreessen's family were interesting. Often, though, the personal stories came off to me more as a resume-building exercise; a way of listing bona fides rather than providing any illumination or illustration.
Most distressing to me was the organization: dense text with list after list occasionally broken up by the Giving 2.0 logo which is meant to draw you to the website to learn more. I found going back and forth impeded my understanding because I then had to re-insert myself into the narrative. And the information on the website seemed loosely connected to what I was reading, rather than providing a more incisive explanation or expanding on the topic.
In the end, though I picked up the book often, I could not get myself to finish it - not when there are so many other books competing for my attention.
February 12, 2018
Wow, this book went way more in depth than I had expected it would. Very interesting though.
I definitely want to contribute to an organization and/or volunteer in the future when I am more established in my life. I learned a lot by reading this book!
p. 71- Tithe: donating 10% of your monthly income to charity --> This can add up to a lot of money, but I think this could be manageable if worked into the budget!
To Look Into:
-Center for Education and Human Development (CINDE)
-Women Moving Millions
-Philanthropy Workshop
"We all have a responsibility to do what we can to help eradicate these problems, whether they're in our backyard or thousands of miles away. We're in this world together, and we can all make a bigger contribution to its prosperity. So turn your concern into action and your sympathy into passion, and start now -- start learning, connecting, collaborating, and engaging. Your only limitation is your vision. So imagine what a better world might look like and start taking steps to make it a beautiful reality. Be ambitious, be bold, be innovative. You can make tomorrow better -- and you can start doing so today."
I definitely want to contribute to an organization and/or volunteer in the future when I am more established in my life. I learned a lot by reading this book!
p. 71- Tithe: donating 10% of your monthly income to charity --> This can add up to a lot of money, but I think this could be manageable if worked into the budget!
To Look Into:
-Center for Education and Human Development (CINDE)
-Women Moving Millions
-Philanthropy Workshop
"We all have a responsibility to do what we can to help eradicate these problems, whether they're in our backyard or thousands of miles away. We're in this world together, and we can all make a bigger contribution to its prosperity. So turn your concern into action and your sympathy into passion, and start now -- start learning, connecting, collaborating, and engaging. Your only limitation is your vision. So imagine what a better world might look like and start taking steps to make it a beautiful reality. Be ambitious, be bold, be innovative. You can make tomorrow better -- and you can start doing so today."
June 22, 2025
I had been lugging this book around through a variety of moves and FINALLY got to it. While it is a wee bit dated (2013) it is still a good soup to nuts resource on philanthropic giving. She shares several resources, case studies, and perspectives, and even has a glossary for the newly initiated. It is a great testament--by a thoughtful guide-- to the myriad ways available to support the philanthropic sector. She deftly describes what challenges and opportunities one might encounter, and guides folks on how to create their giving strategies. I especially appreciated her lists of questions to ask when volunteering or joining a board. Her stance on giving unrestricted gifts needs to be broadcast loud and clear.
January 25, 2021
More informative than I thought, but there are a few issues that I have with this book. The author never addresses her inherent privilege and the unique perspective that comes with having enormous wealth. Therefore, much of this book is not applicable/usable for average people such as myself. However, I did find that the detail she goes into in certain chapters was quite useful and now I have a roadmap for how to form my giving strategy. The writing also wasn't great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2024
Transform your giving
Giving is one of those activities we do regularly sometimes without much thought. However to be truly impactful we need a framework to guide. The author articulates steps you should take whenever you decide to give money your time or any resources you have.
Giving is one of those activities we do regularly sometimes without much thought. However to be truly impactful we need a framework to guide. The author articulates steps you should take whenever you decide to give money your time or any resources you have.
abandoned
July 19, 2019I went a year without picking this up :/
I wanted to like this, but I have so much clutter. I’m putting this into one of my local little free libraries, hopefully it will find a place (or many) where it can make a more meaningful impact rather than being perceived as clutter.
I wanted to like this, but I have so much clutter. I’m putting this into one of my local little free libraries, hopefully it will find a place (or many) where it can make a more meaningful impact rather than being perceived as clutter.
May 20, 2020
I liked the subject matter. I appreciated the depth of the author's knowledge.
It seemed more addressed to those with more money and time than I currently have. It was more technical than I need at this time.
It seemed more addressed to those with more money and time than I currently have. It was more technical than I need at this time.
September 28, 2017
An exhaustive list of tips on how to give your wealth efficiently.
February 6, 2020
Lots of interesting questions and examples. Interesting introspections on how the philanthropic world works.
I would have liked to read a bit more about motivations and international focus.
I would have liked to read a bit more about motivations and international focus.
May 26, 2013
This book is a practical guide for thinking about philanthropy; but don't expect it to give you any answers. Giving 2.0 gives you the questions that you need to answer for yourself.
Things I really liked about this book:
- Each chapter ends with a super-practical summary (e.g. "What to ask yourself when you are getting ready to volunteer", "What to ask when you are considering a board position")
- She stresses the concept of a "giving journal" as a way for you to figure out how you want to be donating your time and money, and to reflect on the successes and failures. She includes in the appendix the questions you can focus on.
Things to be aware of if you read the book:
- She's a professional philanthropist, not a writer. It's a good book, but not as compelling at times as I'd hoped.
- Not all of the advice applies to you. It's clear that the majority of the book tries to include almost everyone -- from people donating $30/year to people donating $30 million -- but sometimes it breaks down. I'm sure you get better responses when cold-calling people in the non-profit world if your last name is Arrillaga-Andreessen, just saying. :)
Things I really liked about this book:
- Each chapter ends with a super-practical summary (e.g. "What to ask yourself when you are getting ready to volunteer", "What to ask when you are considering a board position")
- She stresses the concept of a "giving journal" as a way for you to figure out how you want to be donating your time and money, and to reflect on the successes and failures. She includes in the appendix the questions you can focus on.
Things to be aware of if you read the book:
- She's a professional philanthropist, not a writer. It's a good book, but not as compelling at times as I'd hoped.
- Not all of the advice applies to you. It's clear that the majority of the book tries to include almost everyone -- from people donating $30/year to people donating $30 million -- but sometimes it breaks down. I'm sure you get better responses when cold-calling people in the non-profit world if your last name is Arrillaga-Andreessen, just saying. :)
December 22, 2012
This is a good book not only for a reader who wants to think strategically about personal giving, but also for a leader of a non-profit who wants to think strategically about how to more effectively secure funding for accomplishing the organization’s mission. The best parts are the “Making It Happen” bullet points at the end of each chapter. The narrative feels a little choppy and overloaded with examples, but the bullet points mean that each chapter ends with focus on practical application. Since I’m someone who often asks, “What does that word really mean in this context?” I appreciated Appendix IV: “Jargon Buster.”
September 4, 2016
An exploration of expanding charitable giving by volunteering, serving on nonprofit boards, and connecting with others. It examines how the internet has changed philanthropy by increasing transparency, making research easier, and fostering communication about charities through blogs and social media. The book includes a lot of useful questions to ask charities you're considering giving to, volunteering for, or serving on a board for. It also includes questions to ask yourself to find the right charity and forms of giving for yourself. There are also activities for families to get involved in philanthropy.
August 11, 2016
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book and honestly thought I'd find it pretentious. Yes, it addresses the type of giving that I'm certainly not equipped to do, but I found the concepts pertinent to all types of giving, from money to volunteering. Granted, some of the illustrative stories got a little tiring as you read about people who were just trying to figure out what to do with their extra income, but overall an interesting read for those involved in organizing volunteers and recruiting donors as well as those able to give.
July 24, 2015
I picked this book up after hearing Ms. Andreessen interviewed on the radio. It took me about a year to read as I just picked it up now and then. It is nonfiction, so it was tedious at times. It also was written for those who might want to start a nonprofit and who have a lot more disposable income. However, I do want to give intelligently and did find the bullet points at the end of each chapter educational.
February 14, 2013
La nueva era de la "filantropía", definida como cualquier acto (pequeño o grande) que una persona pueda realizar en pro del beneficio común. Ayuda a minimizar la equivocada idea de que un filántropo es una persona que puede donar grandes cantidades de dinero. En la era del internet, un filántropo puede ser cualquiera.
December 28, 2011
I couldn't get far enough to write a decent review. I think I have a philosophical problem with the approach of the author. This reads more like a socialism framework then anything that resembles effective helping.
October 23, 2012
This book provided some useful ideas about how to engage more purposefully in philanthropic activities. However, it was a bit dry; I would have enjoyed more real-world examples and stories of practical philanthropy. The author's tone came across as somewhat boastful, which I found off-putting.
May 4, 2012
Interesting personal stories, limited new ideas or perspectives. A useful list of questions at the end of each chapter, but I don't think philanthropists of a larger scale will focus their giving so narrowly.
Currently reading
May 7, 2012I think it is deeply insightful and touches on a subject that is at the core of our humanity. Laura is an amazing writer and having grown up with Laura, I can say that she has always practiced what she preaches! She is an amazing woman and I am grateful to her for writing this book!
March 5, 2015
Read this in conjunction with taking her online class through Stanford's free online learning. Each can stand alone (the class and the book), but once I went through the class, the book was unnecessary.
August 18, 2015
Interesting to read Laura's resume particularly since her family has shaped the Bay Area in many ways through their giving. It is billed as a way to help others in their giving, however, and I just didn't get that out of this book.
April 7, 2012
Wow, fantastic reference book about how to plan your philanthropic giving.
July 30, 2012
Great insights, especially for those who want to help nonprofits get smarter and more efficient about fund-raising.
November 17, 2014
Great book if you want to be smarter in your philanthropic giving. As a nonprofit professional myself, I leaned a little bit about what donors look for, which was helpful.
April 15, 2015
I listened to it...likely would have been a better experience if I had read it
Read
June 23, 2016One of the great reads on culture of giving and the importance of more compassionate and positive world
August 8, 2018
Espouses a mildly annoying chirpy and optimistic neoliberal worldview, but I found myself inspired nonetheless
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews