Just as every individual is unique, so are the inspirations, motivations and preferred methods of giving of every donor.
For Dallice Tylee – a member of The Community Foundation’s Ambassadors’ Council, as well as the foundation’s investment and grants committees – establishing her own Pay It Forward program was a means to give more.
“Since 2007, I’ve been giving away 5% of the gross commission earned on any real estate transaction,” explained Tylee, owner of Silver Fern Homes specializing in Northern Colorado and Boulder real estate. “At the end of each year, I send a letter to my clients and tell them exactly how much the amount is, and I invite them to help decide where the money goes. Included with the letter is a list of local 501(c)(3) organizations from which my clients can choose one or more…or they can suggest a new or additional nonprofit that’s not on the list.
“For a long time, I was writing individual checks to my favorite nonprofits. But then I began making donations online to The Community Foundation. The website felt safe to me, and I’ve since learned how well run it is. The foundation also has a much better sense than I do about where my donations are most needed. They know the issues and do the research, and they are best-equipped to direct my year-end donations for maximum impact.”
Tylee, originally from New Zealand, purposefully coordinates her giving with the winter months and holidays to help meet the seasonal increase in demand for services from local nonprofits.
“My business comes mostly from referrals,” said Tylee, who holds a private pilot license in addition to her numerous professional designations. “People love the Pay It Forward program, and I think it might be one reason why my referrals are strong. It’s a win-win.”
“Because of my job, I’m out in the community a lot and I meet a wide variety of people,” Tylee continued. “What I’ve learned is that – while Boulder has a lot of fairly privileged people, including those who are buying and selling real estate – we have enormous unseen and unmet needs. A lot of my clients and my peers, we just assume there’s not a huge need in Boulder, but there is.”
So Tylee is committed to making a difference in our community. “In the last presidential election campaign, smaller donors with less to give carried the day…they believed their donations could make a difference and, collectively, they did. It’s not necessarily the top 5% or so of the population that makes the biggest impact.”
Indeed, a 2008 study – “The Wired Wealthy” – showed that, while donors who give $1,000-$10,000 represent roughly 1% of the donor population, their collective giving represents more than one-third of dollars going to charitable causes.
Last year, Tylee donated approximately $9,000 to local nonprofits, $4,000 of which went to the foundation.
“Bottom line, give what you can and know that it counts,” said Tylee whose Pay It Forward program puts her words into action.
