Strategic Giving Part I
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A Giving Framework From Tony Kalinowski
Year end appeals, emails and conversations can create what Tony Kalinowski calls “giving fatigue.” Instead of reacting to every request, he uses a clear, repeatable approach to make sure his generosity creates real impact.
This is how he does it.
1. Decide What You Actually Care About
He begins by asking himself “what it is that I really am strategically and philosophically aligned with.”
Then he goes a level deeper.
“What things in the world do I think need to be fixed or need to be corrected or could use some help in change.”
Practical steps
• Name two or three issues you care about most.
• Let those priorities drive where you consider giving.
• Say no to good causes that do not fit those priorities.
2. Separate Money From Time
Tony treats time as his scarcest resource.
He explains that money can be earned but time is different.
“When we give away our time, we’re giving away one of the most precious things that we have because we can never get that back.”
Practical steps
• Decide how much you will give financially each year and build a simple spreadsheet.
• Decide in advance how many hours you are willing to give and to how many organizations.
• Reserve time only for causes you are “really passionate about.
3. Look Closely at Leadership and Plans
For Tony, alignment is not enough. He says, “Understanding the leadership, that’s one thing that’s kind of critical.”
He wants to know what leaders believe, how they manage people and money, and whether they can execute. He shared a line from a charity leader that stuck with him.
“I don’t want a vision. I want a business plan.”
Practical steps
• Meet or at least speak directly with the leader.
• Ask how they measure progress and how money is used.
• Support leaders who can move from vision to “nuts and bolts.”
4. Test First, Then Scale
Tony rarely starts big. He watches for “fruit.”
“I sometimes will test the waters. I can think of the first individual I supported on a college campus. Maybe I started with a hundred dollars a month, you know, and now I’m up to maybe four or $500 a month, because he’s really shown that he can make a difference.”
Practical steps
• Start with a smaller monthly amount.
• Look for consistent communication and clear results.
• Increase support only after you see evidence of impact.
5. Give Time Where You Are, Money Where You Cannot Be
Tony is honest about where his presence does and does not make sense.
“Where I can be and where I know I am, that’s where I choose to put my time in.”
He spends time locally in St. Louis, mentoring men and supporting organizations like Legacy Builders and Father and Family Support Center. He sends money to places he cannot personally show up, like Haiti or college campuses.
Practical steps
• Invest time only in local settings where you can build relationships.
• Use financial giving to reach regions, causes, or age groups you cannot physically reach.
• Consider occasional trips or visits mainly to understand the work better