Jim Collins

“Give Smart is a great gift to the world. By asking questions—the right questions—Tierney and Fleishman guide, advise, challenge, and, as with all great teachers, push us to find our own best answers. If you want your philanthropy to be useful—changing lives, solving intractable problems, making society work better—then engage deeply with this book!”

Melinda Gates

“One of the most exciting and important parts of my job as a philanthropist is learning. Over the years, Bill and I have learned so much from the authors of this book, and we are thrilled to see that wisdom collected in Give Smart so that everybody can benefit from it the way we have.”

Helene Gayle

“Having been on ‘both sides of the check,’ first working in philanthropy and now as a recipient of philanthropic dollars, I found Give Smart a must read. The relationship between grantmakers and nonprofit organizations is a delicate dance, one that—when done well—can achieve incredible social good. Not only does this book provide a practical guide for those who want to achieve high impact philanthropy, it also helps nonprofits understand the aspirations and expectations of the donor. Don’t begin, or continue, your philanthropy without reading it.”

Paul Brest

“Giving away money is easy, but making a real difference is hard work. Give Smart addresses these challenges head-on and provides a strong analytic framework and practical advice for effective philanthropy—replete with compelling examples. Written by two leaders in the field, this is a must-read for the new philanthropist and a valuable resource for old hands as well.”

John C. Whitehead

“Give Smart is must reading for all philanthropists, large or small. It’s written by two people with long experience, and it will make your gifts go farther.”

Pierre Omidyar

“As Pam and I continue to learn through our own giving, the challenges in creating positive social impact are many and complex. Give Smart provides thoughtful guidance on how to build an effective and personal approach to philanthropy, illustrated through real-world examples, proven methodologies, and insightful commentary. We highly recommend Give Smart to anyone who wants to make a difference, whether in their local community or around the world.”

Publishers Weekly, March 21, 2011

“An interesting and well-considered guide to go to before you give.”

PhilanthropyRoundtable.org, March 31, 2011

“A superb guide for donors who want to be as smart in their giving as they have been in business.”

Alliance Magazine, June 2011

“A very readable, motivating introductory guide to engaged giving…. With its storytelling approach this will be a book that many donors will read.”

Thomas J. Tierney is the cofounder and chairman of The Bridgespan Group, a non-profit consulting firm serving the non-profit sector and its founders. Prior to founding Bridgespan, Mr. Tierney served as managing partner worldwide of Bain & Company from June 1992 to January 2000. Joel L. Fleishman is professor of Law and Public Policy at Duke University. The author of The Foundation, he has served as president of the Atlantic Philanthropic Service Company, the U.S. affiliate of Atlantic Philanthropies.