Our guest Ms. Jill Alcott Baskin, is the CEO of Alcott & Partners, Inc., who has more than 23 years of development and event management experience that combines both institutional and independent work in the not-for-profit and corporate arenas.  Our subject this week is "Charity for the 21st century, how you can enrich your own life and improve society by participating in philanthropic activities.

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During the past few years, the role of philanthropy and the non-profit sector has become more prominent and widespread, owing in part to the high profile of Irish rock singer Bono's campaign to cancel Third World debt to developed nations; Bill Clinton's Global Initiative; the Gates Foundation's massive resources and ambitions, such as its campaigns to eradicate malaria and river blindness; and billionaire investor and Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett's donation in 2006 of $31 billion to the Gates Foundation.

A seasoned fundraising, non-profit marketing and special events professional, Ms. Alcott Baskin opened Alcott & Partners, Inc. in 2001.  Alcott & Partners, Inc. (API) is a consultant company that specializes in developing customized, goal-oriented fundraising campaigns and events for local, national and international non-profit organizations and corporations. 
Her diverse clientele includes: the Atlantic Salmon Federation; World Wildlife Fund; American Tap Dance Foundation; Coalition for the Homeless; Save Our Everglades Campaign; Save Our Everglades Foundation; Gay Men’s Health Crisis; 1998 Goodwill Games for Turner Sports; Lois Bronz Children’s Center; Lower Eastside Service Center and the Angelica Patient Assistance Program (to benefit the Coler-Goldwater Hospital); Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs, among others.  In addition, Ms. Alcott Baskin volunteers on the Development Committee of the Maritime Aquarium and is a global business career mentor via the Emlyon Business School in Lyons, France.

Some of her proudest professional accomplishments include eight year’s of work for the Wildlife Conservation Society where she spearheaded the re-opening events of the Central Park Zoo, the launch of the Society’s Junior Committee and Corporate Entertainment Program; and its first ever LIVE Jazz Festival in cooperation with CD 101.9 radio. 

Other impressive achievements include strategizing major events for the League of Conservation Voters where she increased revenues by 30 percent, the World Wildlife Fund where she spearheaded a New York based major gifts campaign that raised more than $1 million; the American Tap Dance Foundation where she has helped increase gala revenues seventeen-fold over a 7 year period; and, the Atlantic Salmon Federation where she spearheaded a program that tripled annual revenues over a five year period.

Jill Alcott Baskin, a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University was raised in Larchmont, New York and now resides in Norwalk, CT with her husband. Ms. Baskin website is www.alcottpartners.com/bio .