Giving Compass' Take:

• In this Medium post, Jim Scheinman — Founding Managing Partner of Maven Ventures — hopes to inspire fellow investors and entrepreneurs in making a difference through philanthropy.

• One main theme here is that giving back can take many forms, whether volunteering or starting a fund. What does your own strategy look like?

• If you need help getting started, try our free personal donations manager, Giving Planner.

During the holidays and season of giving, I’ve been reflecting on the special opportunities that we have as GPs in VC firms to support our portfolio founders as they embark on their journeys of community involvement and volunteerism. Many think VCs and founders should be singularly focused on work, and wait until they’re very successful and/or retired to meaningfully give back to their communities. I disagree.

Having something outside of our work to give our time, expertise, and money to is both healthy and helpful. Getting outside ourselves and helping others is not only important for our mental and physical health, but it also makes us more productive in our daily work lives.

Read the full article about what Silicon-Valley-style philanthropy looks like by Jim Scheinman at medium.com.