Philanthropy for All of Us

Organization: Success with Purpose

At a recent Success with Purpose event, the room was already buzzing before the program began. Nonprofit leaders were introducing themselves to business professionals. Volunteers were comparing the causes they cared about. Community leaders who might never have crossed paths anywhere else were exchanging ideas, making introductions, and asking a simple question:

"How can I help?"

Hearing those conversations unfold, I was reminded why we started Success with Purpose. Orange County does not lack generous people, capable leaders, or nonprofit organizations doing extraordinary work. We saw a different challenge: too often, the people who want to contribute and the organizations that need their experience, skills, connections, and resources do not find one another.

That disconnect is the problem we're working to solve.

Over the past three years, we've seen a growing desire for meaningful civic engagement. Nonprofit leaders tell us they need more than donations. They need board members, mentors, strategic thinkers, skilled volunteers, and people willing to open doors. At the same time, we meet professionals, entrepreneurs, students, and community members who genuinely want to give back but aren't sure where to begin or how their talents can make the greatest difference.

Too many people still think philanthropy is reserved for those with extraordinary wealth.

We believe otherwise.

Philanthropy is for All of Us.

Every person has something meaningful to contribute—whether it's time, professional expertise, leadership, relationships, creativity, or financial resources. Our mission is to help people recognize those gifts and use them to strengthen Orange County.

Rather than creating another fundraising campaign or volunteer database, we chose a different approach. We bring nonprofit leaders and the broader community together in one room. Each quarter, more than 130 nonprofit leaders, volunteers, business professionals, philanthropists, and community members gather to learn, connect, and discover opportunities to serve.

I often say, "The magic is in the room."

The gathering itself is only the beginning. The real value is what happens when one conversation continues after everyone goes home.

Conversations like these are difficult to measure, but the broader results tell an encouraging story. Our Giving Circle has grown to more than 100 members, awarded $95,000 in grants to 32 Orange County nonprofits, and inspired nearly 100 volunteers to become more actively engaged in serving our community. More importantly, nonprofits are building new relationships, and participants are discovering that giving back is accessible to everyone.

As our community grows, another trend has emerged. People aren’t simply asking where they could volunteer; they want to know how to apply their professional skills in meaningful ways. Nonprofits, in turn, are seeking expertise in finance, marketing, governance, technology, operations, and strategic planning.

That insight inspired The Purpose Bridge, our newest initiative where leaders, skills, and nonprofit missions come together. The Purpose Bridge helps increase awareness, visibility, and opportunities for purpose-driven professionals and nonprofits to discover one another, build relationships, and fulfill their passion and mission.
Like any early-stage initiative, we've encountered challenges. Our quarterly gatherings are beginning to outgrow their meeting space. Many Orange County residents and nonprofits still aren't aware that this community exists. And as we grow, we're committed to preserving what makes Success with Purpose special: authentic relationships built on trust rather than transactions.

Those challenges also point to our future. We need a larger stage to welcome more people into the conversation. We need greater awareness so more nonprofits and community members can participate. And we want to continue refining The Purpose Bridge so it can become a model that other communities adapt to strengthen their own nonprofit ecosystems.

Our vision extends beyond growing Success with Purpose.

We want to help build a culture where giving back becomes part of everyday life.

Imagine an Orange County where every person understands they have something valuable to contribute. Where nonprofit organizations have greater access to the leadership and expertise they need to thrive. Where business leaders, families, students, and neighbors see service not as an occasional act, but as a shared responsibility.

We know we're still early in this journey. But we've already learned something important: when we create intentional opportunities and bring people together around a shared purpose, extraordinary things begin to happen, and new possibilities emerge.

For us, that is philanthropy as vision. It is not defined only by the size of a gift. It is defined by participation, connection, and the willingness to use what we have to make someone else's life - and our community - stronger.
That's why we believe: Philanthropy is for All of Us. Success with Purpose is working to make this vision a lived reality across Orange County.