Kris Putnam-Walkerly - Delusional Altruism

Lara A. Kalafatis, Chair, Cleveland Clinic Philanthropy Institute

Kris Putnam-Walkerly brings her visionary gift of change-making philanthropy forward in this book. Not only does she identify many of the common mistaken notions of giving that are found in all types of donors and organizations, but she also clearly shows how to redeem the act of giving with seven strong strategies that lead to better impact.

Tamara Fynan, Executive Director, Community Engagement & Philanthropy, The J.M. Smucker Company

We all know the expression, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” My years of experience of working with all kinds of donors show that good intentions are not enough, and HOW is probably more important in giving than WHAT. This book is very important because it holds a mirror to donors' common mistakes and gives them a chance to improve and achieve bigger impact.

Maria Chertok, Director, Charities Aid Foundation, Russia

This is a thought-provoking book full of straight talk and practical advice for philanthropists of all shapes and sizes. Putnam's questions and ideas will push funders to think differently about everything—from strategy to mind-sets to time management.

Kristi Kimball, Executive Director, Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation

My father, cofounder of the Sheraton Hotel Chain, told me that the greatest pleasure his money ever gave him was in giving it away. But he also warned about having a full heart and an empty head; philanthropy done badly could make matters worse. Kris Putnam-Walkerly's book is the perfect answer to the problem my father foresaw.

Mitzi Perdue, Philanthropist & Founder, Win This Fight, Stop Human Trafficking

This book will be that voice in my head that says, “You can change the world. You just need to do it differently,” and then shows me the way!

Peter Long, Senior Vice President, Blue Shield of California

In her latest book, Delusional Altruism , Kris Putnam-Walkerly identifies several key elements to transformational giving alongside the delusions every thoughtful donor should avoid. Readers will gain clear direction on why we all must eliminate the delusions that limit our impact and sharpen our focus to truly transform through our philanthropy.

Wendy H. Steele, Chief Executive, Impact100

Putnam-Walkerly weaves years of successfully guiding leading philanthropists with a straightforward and honest assessment of the field to give us a breath of fresh air in her latest offering, Delusional Altruism: Why Philanthropists Fail to Achieve Change and What They Can Do to Transform Giving . If you're a time-tested pro or thoughtful newcomer, Kris's insights and perspective will help you move from simple charity to high-impact giving!

Jed Emerson, Blended Value

Delusional Altruism is a guide book for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of how to create the biggest impact with their philanthropic investments. Kris Putnam-Walkerly writes with an insider knowledge of the philanthropy world, analyzing our missteps and offering practical tips for examining our grantmaking practices and making simple changes to further our reach and create positive, systemic changes in our world.

Dolores E. Roybal, Executive Director, Con Alma Health Foundation, New Mexico

We all want to change the world, but sometimes our thinking gets in our way. For philanthropists, clouded thinking can hold you back from helping society in big and important ways. In Delusional Altruism , Kris Putnam-Walkerly shows you how to sidestep faulty thinking, so your resources create the greatest impact possible. I highly recommend this book!

Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of WHEN and DRIVE

All philanthropists can support transformational change—but not without some support of their own! Delusional Altruism is a great guidebook to help avoid unnecessary pitfalls on the path to achieve impact. Through her years of experience working with foundations and donors and her passion for making the world a better place, Kris Putnam-Walkerly provides a candid and credible look at why how we give is just as important as what we give.

Kathleen P. Enright, President & CEO, Council on Foundations

Kris Putnam-Walkerly offers insightful observations of the typical misunderstandings that donors and foundations have when they give, as well as useful tools for philanthropists to reflect upon their mind-sets and actions. As a philanthropy practitioner, I can tell the ideas and wisdom shared in her book come from extensive first-hand experiences in the field and continuous reflections. Delusional Altruism is definitely worth reading for those who want to make their giving more impactful!

Yanni Peng, CEO, Narada Foundation and Chair, China Social Enterprise and Impact Investment Forum.

I once thought giving away money was easy. I learned the hard way I was wrong. As Kris Putnam-Walkerly makes abundantly clear, we can easily trip over our own good intentions. In Delusional Altruism , she identifies the ways we often fool ourselves—at times not even recognizing what we are doing—and then goes on to offer practical advice and guidance on how to transform our giving and increase our impact. Whether you are an experienced philanthropist or just getting started, this should be on your reading list.

Henry L. Berman, CEO, Exponent Philanthropy

In Delusional Altruism , Kris Putnam-Walkerly helps us understand that when philanthropists unintentionally restrain ourselves—through fear, a scarcity mentality, or simply asking the wrong questions—we also hold back the change we can make in the world.

Benjamin Bellegy, Executive Director, WINGS—Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support

A thought-provoking and insightful look at smart giving. Kris scrutinizes the pitfalls that hinder traditional philanthropy, making a compelling case for a more strategic form of 21st-century giving. This is essential reading for anyone who wants to really make an impact.

Emma Turner, Director, Barclays Private Bank Philanthropy Service

It's always a worthwhile endeavor for philanthropists to look at how they can get better with their giving, and Kris Putnam-Walkerly's new book helps them do just that. Her honest assessment of seven Delusional Altruism practices is a must-read for all philanthropists, and her seven strategies for “Transformational Giving” can help all of us get out of our own way and make the greatest impact we can with our gifts.

David Biemesderfer, President & CEO, United Philanthropy Forum

KRIS PUTNAM - WALKERLY, MSW

Copyright © 2020 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.

Published simultaneously in Canada.

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