Aspire to Give® — A New Year, A Renewed Calling

What’s your immediate reaction when you hear the words “Aspire to Give”?

For many people over the last few years, these three simple words have stirred something powerful — an inner spark of hope, goodness, and possibility. They awaken something deep in us: the uplifting sense that life becomes richer when we reach beyond ourselves to give, serve, and contribute.

This opening blog marks the beginning of a new year and a new chapter for Aspire to Give® — a chapter rooted in a remarkable journey of discovery that began not in textbooks or boardrooms, but in the lived experiences of everyday people longing to make life meaningful.

Where the Journey Began 

My immersion into the meaning of generosity began during my time as Philanthropist in Residence at Auburn University’s Cary Center — an opportunity that unfolded just as COVID-19 was reshaping the world.

At the same time, I was nearing the close of a 20+-year career in financial services, enriched by insights gained through the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy^® program at The American College.

What I witnessed through clients, friends, family, and colleagues was stunningly consistent:

The aspiration to give is embedded in every human being.

Not everyone sees themselves as a “philanthropist” — in fact, most people don’t. The word feels reserved for the wealthy or the elite. Yet in the real world, giving happens every day in quiet, meaningful ways:

-Parents giving time, energy, and love

-Neighbors helping neighbors

-Volunteers serving communities

-Friends lifting each other up

-Believers supporting their faith traditions

Most people already give to something greater than themselves. They just don’t call it “philanthropy.”

During the pandemic years, I created a program called the Aspirational Philanthropist Learning Series^®. While its message was hopeful, something significant became clear: everyday people resonated deeply with the heart of generosity but not with the label of “philanthropist.” The language didn’t fit their life experience.

What they needed was something relatable, practical, and rooted in everyday life.

From Aspiration to Action: The Birth of the Pivot to Purpose Learning Series^® and the Life Transition by Design^TM Programs

As I reflected on this gap, a pivotal insight emerged: The aspiration to give and purpose are inseparable. Most adults reach a point, possibly early in adult life, or mostly later, when they're embedded aspiration to give blossoms, not just in “success” but significance. They want their choices to matter. They want their lives to mean something. 

This realization sparked the transformation of the original curriculum into a practical, highly relatable learning series now known as the Pivot to Purpose Learning Series®.

From this series, a master program offering was birthed: Life Transition by Design™. This unifying framework equips individuals to navigate intentionally the choices, challenges, and changes that arise at life’s crossroads. Whether transitioning from high school, shifting careers, recovering from loss, or approaching the sunset of life, Life Transition by Design™ provides a repeatable, purpose-centered pathway for moving forward with clarity and confidence.