Giving Compass' Take:

• Kris Putnam-Walkerly from Putnam Consulting Group discusses ways to become inspired, enthusiastic and fall back in love with your philanthropic journey. 

• How can donors implement these steps in practice? Which one would be most important to you?

• Here's info about a course to better your philanthropy or philanthropic organization.

When you first entered the world of philanthropy, did you begin each new day with a sense of excitement? Were you driven by all the possibilities to effect change that you saw on the horizon? When a new project crossed your desk, did the challenge fill you with joy?

Fast-forward to now. Do you wake up excited for your day’s work — or unenthusiastic? Are you driven by possibility — or compelled by deadlines and tired bureaucracy? As challenges arise, do you still feel joy — or only dread?

Renew the spark that set you on this path.

Here are 5 steps you can take to rekindle your love of philanthropy:

  1. Get up from your desk and go outside.
  2. Buck the bureaucracy.
  3. Gather inspiration from your hero.
  4. Take lots of notes.
  5. Ask yourself one very important question: “If I could do my philanthropic work all over again, what would I do differently?”

Read the full article about bringing the joy back to your philanthropy at Putnam Consulting Group.