Houston power-couple, and billionaire Giving Pledge members, John and Laura Arnold seem to be focusing their early retirement on philanthropy. However, instead of just looking at where to put their own money, they are intent to help individuals like themselves know more about where they can put their own charitable dollars. This is the inspiration behind the Giving Library, an innovative online library dedicated to providing information about hundreds of non-profit organizations through short format videos.
In an press release announcing the new library, the Arnold’s declared, “We have been blessed by the many opportunities afforded to us and feel it is our responsibility to invest in philanthropic efforts that create significant change within our lifetimes. We created the Giving Library to help philanthropists explore a large number of giving opportunities in one place and to help them make informed and impactful decisions.”
The Giving Library provides two ways to explore participating non-profits: short-format videos that provide a broad understanding of an organization’s work; and long-format video interviews to model an in-depth, face-to-face meeting between a donor and a non-profit. The long-format video interviews address each organization’s origins, objectives, success metrics, leverage points, effectiveness, possible misconceptions, accomplishments, challenges, future plans, and gaps.
Laura and John Arnold made public their dedication to philanthropy with the establishment of Laura and John Arnold Foundation in 2008 and the signing of Bill Gates’ and Warren Buffet’s Giving Pledge in 2010. The creation of the Giving Library project (a reportedly $4 million dollar initiative) is another step forward in their commitment to charitable giving. As reflected in their Philosophy of Philanthropy, the Arnolds seek to help other donors become as engaged, collaborative, and strategic about charitable giving. The Giving Library is a tool, but it also serves as a call to action for strategic, thoughtful philanthropy.
Non-profit organizations included in the Giving Library were evaluated to ensure that they are 501(c)(3) public charities. However, a non-profit organization’s participation in the Giving Library is not an endorsement by LJAF.