Creating a Strategic Philanthropic Plan

The Aristocrat and the Phone Book

Luis Carlos de Noronha Cabral de Camara came from Portuguese nobility. His sizable estate included a 12-room apartment in central Lisbon, a house near the northern town of Guimaraes, a couple of healthy bank accounts, a luxury car, and two motorbikes. Luis was unmarried, childless, and had no living relatives. He was also a bit of a loner. So, when it came time to draw up his will, he chose 70 names from the Lisbon phone book at random.  About twenty years later, his very surprised heirs learned of their inheritance, which amounted to several thousand euros each. Had the aristocrat not included them in his will, his fortune would have passed to the Portuguese state, which Luis had determined had “robbed him” enough during his lifetime.

We haven’t met anyone quite like Luis. In fact, his random approach, although charitable, is counterintuitive to Foundation work, so we probably never will. Our goal is to help people create and execute meaningful Strategic Philanthropic Plans that will have an impact during and after their lifetimes.

Four Ways to Create Your Strategic Philanthropic Plan

There are four ways to start or advance your plan through The Cape Cod Foundation: create your own charitable fund, donate to an existing fund that aligns with your charitable goals, support the Foundation’s Civic Leadership Initiatives, or take a multi-pronged approach. Learn more through the links below. Each one gives you the opportunity to increase the impact of your Annual Giving and to create a Planned Gift, also known as a Legacy Gift, that will continue to support the community after you are gone. READ OUR CURRENT SERIES