By Daniel Peters, The Lovett and Ruth Peters Foundation

Giving is easy, but it’s harder to give effectively. That’s why I’m an enthusiastic member of ASF and The Philanthropy Roundtable. And that’s why I invite you to join both.

If you’re a member of neither organization, you can join both organizations for a discounted rate of $995 through April 15. Contact the staff at ASF or contact the staff at the Roundtable to learn more.

Your membership with ASF and the Roundtable will ensure you have everything you need to improve your philanthropy—from ASF’s unmatched tools and support, to the Roundtable’s insightful meetings, publications, and influential network of your peers. As president of The Lovett and Ruth Peters Foundation, I have truly benefited from my memberships with ASF and the Roundtable.

Let me explain, using personal examples.

ASF’s training programs are superb, and I’ve attended many. One such program talked about how to start a new foundation, and another was about IRS tax and expenditure issues, including the annual 990 reporting requirement. The most invaluable service to me is the ASF annual survey on compensation. I even found my accountant through ASF, and he’s exceptional.

All this is to say that, as a foundation with no additional staff, I find ASF to be a wonderful resource—precisely why I’ve always recommended ASF to other donors.

Let me turn briefly to The Philanthropy Roundtable—where I serve as a board member. I love the Roundtable because of the opportunity to network and learn from fellow entrepreneurs and philanthropists. I also appreciate the Roundtable’s K–12 education programs (our area of focus at the Peters Foundation). Let me just say that, if you can find a better program for philanthropists focused on reforming K–12 education, please let me know.

Through ASF and the Roundtable, you’ll discover new ideas and creative solutions to apply to your grantmaking, and the connections you make with your peers will help you for years to come. That’s been my experience. In fact, I shudder to think about what would have happened if I’d chosen to “go it alone.”

One other thing I should mention is that I like the staff at both organizations. In fact, I like them a lot. Both help me with any question—big or small—and with time always an issue, that’s important to me.

I’ve personally enjoyed and benefited from my memberships and hope you’ll join as well.

Daniel Peters is president of The Lovett and Ruth Peters Foundation in Cincinnati, OH, which focuses on improving the quality of K–12 education nationwide. He previously spent 17 years at Procter & Gamble, where he held a variety of executive positions in advertising, purchasing, and research and development. He is a board member and former chairman of The Philanthropy Roundtable and a member of other national and international boards.