As we have been in the spirit of giving with the holidays and have just begun a new year full of hopes and dreams, I sat with one of the most preeminent philanthropists on the New York society scene, Jean Shafiroff.
Jean Shafiroff is widely respected in the world of New York philanthropy. She recently hosted a holiday luncheon to benefit The New York City Mission Society at the restaurant Omar at Vaucluse, and took the time to respond to our questions.
I respect people, animals, nature, the environment, and cultural and educational institutions. By helping all of these groups, we move society forward. We must show our regard for all beings and for our planet by recognizing our privilege and taking compassionate effective action.
Some causes are more ongoing and cannot be defined by a single unfortunate event or period. Certain causes move me to make philanthropy a lifelong commitment. They include ending poverty, championing women’s rights, and protecting animal welfare. In regards to ending poverty, I’m particularly interested in curbing homelessness and making quality healthcare a priority for all people.
There are countless charities doing great work---all with excellent staff members and volunteers. That being said, here are some of the organizations I strongly support and admire: Southampton Hospital, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, United Negro College Fund, NYC Mission Society, New York Women’s Foundation, French Heritage Society, Southampton Animal Shelter, Couture Council of the Museum of F.I.T., the Jewish Board, Global Strays, Surgeons of Hope, and others.
Working in a hospital and on Wall Street meant a lot of exposure to powerful industries at a young age. These fields greatly impact American society and I quickly gained a lot of insight into how they operate.
I did not forget these experiences when I became a wife and mother. As I raised my daughters, I became involved with the organizations related to their studies and interests.
That was when I got a closer look at the non-profit world and began considering how I could assist them with my time, resources and financial knowledge. Once my daughters became more self-sufficient, I had more time to increase my philanthropic commitments. I saw a lot of need in the world and knew that I had an obligation to do my share to help out.
Make no mistake—you should give to charities whether you feel greatly moved or not. But the gifts that will mean the most—and the charity-donor relationships that will last a lifetime—are almost always inspired by passion. Passion is what inspired my philanthropic career and what inspired me to write my book. I wish that I had “Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life By What You Give” when I first started my journey in philanthropy. It would have been very helpful!
People come to New York City from around the globe to find their fortune and live their version of the American Dream. And once they find that fortune, there is the reasonable expectation that they will give back to society. You could say that philanthropy is ingrained in New York culture.
And with New York City serving as a symbol for the American dream, philanthropy is really ingrained in American culture at large. Philanthropy began in the United States when our country began and New York City was key to that original story. Our city is an affluent one. For generations, New York City has been a place of getting things done.
New Yorkers are hard workers. We see great need all around us and we are doers. Many of us who have the resources respond with our time, money, and knowledge. We reach out because our city is one that encourages people to act. As the saying goes, “To those who have great wealth comes great responsibility.”
Soliciting donations of course requires designing a strategy and implementing it. Keeping donors happy is certainly a part of that strategy. In the case of galas, the event itself is an incentive. Donors want to attend a quality event. Thus, a good chair must make every effort to ensure that the event will be successful. Probably the most difficult role is the fundraising aspect because there are so many factors involved.
Many people hate to fundraise. But to be a good chair, you must be able to bring in funds. You must be committed, proactive, methodical, and prepared to follow through on your promises.
As a rule, a charity event’s expenses should never be more than a third of all the money brought in. Of course, the event must be made entertaining to keep the attendees’ interest and encourage them to donate. Achieving that balance will determine just how successful the fundraising effort is.
This time of year, there are many opportunities to feed the hungry and to see people happy sitting down to a nutritious meal. The results are largely what make philanthropic work very rewarding. It is also rewarding to see the appreciation. When others appreciate your work, you want to do more and more to help out!
I think it is fair to say that when we give, we feel good. When we give, we get!
When I am all dressed up to go out, I feel good. I am confident and ready to have a good time. Sometimes the gowns I wear to charity galas are a little like costumes, but this is part of the fun of dressing up.
Since the beginning of time, both men and women have enjoyed wearing beautiful clothing and ornaments. Over the years, my style has definitely evolved. I probably spend too much money on my love of fashion, but I do rein in my spending a bit. I do repeat my outfits and often say, “It is chic to repeat.” I also hope to donate my gown collection to a museum one day. For me, fashion is a passion. I do not expect this to ever change.
I love making television and radio appearances and expect to do more. The promotion of philanthropy on a global scale is particular interest to me. I have traveled with and supported groups that have worked in nations like Nicaragua, Costa Rica, St Lucia and Cambodia. Many of the charities that I support do work all across the world.
During my travels I have observed that there is a great need for different countries and their people to embrace philanthropy on a large scale. Many governments around the world would like to see their people more involved with philanthropy. And many of these people would like to have more involvement. I absolutely want to be a part of helping these groups move forward.
