One thing to keep in mind about philanthropy (learned while doing an MBA marketing project for a class which split into teams working for “charitable” organizations, so we learned from each other’s projects as well) is that as the economy tanks, philanthropy gets tighter, the arts get fewer and lower donations, etc., etc. This is a dicey way to form a foundation to make a business/income/non-profit grow (i.e., it would be more risky perhaps than you may be projecting, so do keep that in mind).

Your philanthropy sounds a bit like Debbie’s and hers reminded me of someone else’s. It was a vignette in a management book that discussed how these women in villages in India needed less than $25 to start their own businesses, but were having trouble getting them. This entrepreneur/philanthropist started looking specifically for these women in order to make small business loans to them, not for income so much as to give them seed money and to allow them the dignity of repaying their loans rather than taking a hand-out. The story very much impressed me.

With two kids and a ton of work responsibility It’s my guess you are already “building those relationships that build dreams”. A good dad is a “dream builder” or some call him a “vision caster”.

Keep up the good work Dad.

Have you thought of some examples of how you can “build relationships that build dreams”? That might point you to other ‘stuff’ that you NEED to Be/Do/Have [now, I'm doing the 'Kiyosakiesque' thing!]