Today, there are more than 700 community foundations in urban and rural communities across the United States. With more than $50 billion in combined assets, they distribute an estimated $4.2 billion each year to worthy nonprofits.

In the U.S., nonprofit microfinance organizations help low-income people start businesses, create jobs, alleviate poverty and improve their opportunities.

Nearly one in six Coloradans experienced hunger at some point in 2012 - more than 840,000 people. What can you do? Read this and find out.

In the philanthropic universe, there are many ways to give. The fastest-growing tool in this arena is the widely acclaimed donor-advised fund.

Any objective person recognizes the urgent need for philanthropy, as it may be our last hope of addressing these and other crises — and time is of the essence.

Being fully "engaged" at work profoundly influences an employee's willingness to learn and perform, and has real impact on a company's bottom line.

Many people buy into myths about giving — myths that undermine their willingness to give (or give more) to worthy causes.

The world's major religions actively promote philanthropy by encouraging charitable actions that address such pressing issues as income inequality, hunger, homelessness, climate change, discrimination and injustice.

"It is not reasonable to expect communities to be business-friendly, if businesses are not community-friendly."

Whether you give throughout the year or wait until the end of the year, here are some guidelines for effective philanthropy.

Should philanthropy be instinctive or strategic? A thought-provoking story for Thanksgiving.

In 2012, crowdfunding supported more than 1 million global campaigns. The amount raised was $2.7 billion, an increase of 81 percent from the year before.

The philanthropic community continues to debate whether donor-advised funds or private foundations are better giving vehicles for major donors.

Any discussion of philanthropy usually focuses on how a giver can help others. But growing scientific evidence demonstrates that acts of philanthropy strongly benefit the giver as well.

Many entrepreneurs think of philanthropy as something to consider way off in the future when their businesses are mature and profitable. There is a better approach.

The philanthropic response to three recent human disasters varied widely, raising intriguing questions about what motivates people to respond with charity in the face of tragedy.

What would it be like if charitable law required foundations to invest all of their assets in ways consistent with their charitable missions?

Bruce DeBoskey explores ways to make sure that you as a donor make good choices for your philanthropic dollars and time.

Philanthropists from families, foundations and businesses are asking, "Can't we accomplish more by working collectively instead of in silos?"

With $41 trillion expected to pass by inheritance to NextGen heirs in the coming decades, people are asking, "What's going to happen to that wealth?"

Companies must pay close attention to their investments in corporate-citizenship initiatives, not only to help their reputation for acting responsibly among consumers but also to help the bottom line.

Generous, thoughtful, focused philanthropy ... will help create and solidify the legacy of our generation.

Americans will spend an average of $750 per person on gifts for family, friends and colleagues in this upcoming holiday season, an increase of 4 percent over 2011. Do the math.

More than ever, investors are pondering, "Am I destroying with my left hand what my right hand is trying to save?"

The emotional component of philanthropy is the "secret sauce" of giving that enables philanthropists to achieve greater outcomes.