Financial Times: Wealth Advisor partners with Exquisite Safaris Philanthropic Travel

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Randall Manley, principal of Lodestar Private Asset Management in Alamo, California says that charitable giving is moving away from simply writing a blank cheque. "The idea of donors seeing where their dollars are going to work and the impact that can have is very important and will allow significantly more money to be raised in the future," he says, adding that it also serves as a way of educating the next generation about the value of philanthropy.

"It's also very helpful -a moral compass for kids from wealthy families." Mr Manley has set up a foundation called Make It Real, which will take private clients on cultural trips with a philanthropic mission.

Exquisite Safaris Philanthropic Travel, a luxury tour company that specialises in creating these bespoke trips, is working with Mr Manley to plan two trips for Lodestar and its clients -one to Appalachia in the US next year and one to Central America in 2010. Clients on the Appalachia trip will visit local music and arts events in Eastern Kentucky and work with disadvantaged children, producing documentaries through a programme run by Appalshop, a local non-profit organisation.

Exquisite Safaris Philanthropic Travel works with US non-profits and non-governmental organisations in developing countries, and also donates $250 per traveller to its humanitarian project partner wherever a trip takes place.

David Chamberlain, its founder, says that while "voluntourism" -volunteering while on holiday -is well established, philanthropic travel, involving a short visit to a project, but a longer -term relationship and commitment of funds from the traveller, is not.

"What non-profits tell us they need more than anything else is funds," he says.

"They need would-be donors to come to see them, vet the project, donate generously, tell their friends, family and professional networks, and develop a relationship.

All I ask is one morning or afternoon of their vacation."

That could come, for example, in a half-day visit during a luxury safari in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia to an NGO assisting rural communities decimated by HIV/AIDS, he says.

-Financial Times Tuesday November 25, 2008

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