JULY NEWSLETTER | On our 10th birthday, the Modernist Manifesto still guides us.
Today marks a very special milestone for Modernist: our 10th birthday! šš„³
A decade in, we know that by helping people structure their wealth around their progressive values, we can impact wealth inequality. We know folks want to make 3% donations for reparations at an asset sale (and $350,000 moved the first year we asked). We know our collective wealth (time, money, relationships, wellbeing, and skills) can resource our communitiesā resistance and creative solutions now and into the future.
Weāre sending a deep, loving thank you to our clients, allies, vendors, and our incredible team past and present. Weāre so proud of the last decade of care and growth and collective efforts, today more than ever.
In solidarity and kindness,
Georgia + Team Modernist
from the team:
Been a minute since youāve read our Manifesto? This document written at our founding ten years ago, guides all the work we do, from building client agendas, to scheduling our time, to guiding our strategic planning for the next 10 years+. Click the image to watch Georgiaās 2022 reading at Modernist HQ.
Or check out images from the text in our 2022 New Yearās calendar:
Song(s) That Are Really About Good Trouble
For this birthday edition, weāre sharing our Modernist Founding Inspiration playlist, filled with anthems that energized Georgia as she launched the firm back in 2015. Many of these have been featured in our past ten years of newsletters!
From the Team
Big changes from our team!
š± After nearly 6 years supporting Modernistās growth and our clients, Director of Client Experience & Associate Financial Planner Katia is off to new adventures, she says:
āServing you has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. While this chapter is ending, the warmth I feel for all of you stays with me. Thanks for allowing me to be part of your lives. Thanks for your trust, warmth, and the care youāve shown me in return.ā
š± Weāre also celebrating promotions for Alejandra and Bernard and the return of the fabulous Tracy Rogers! The newly bolstered team is ready to support our growth.
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We love connecting with mission-aligned CFPs as our Financial Planning team grows. If you know a radical, heart-centered, super-nerd planner we should meet, drop us a line to send them our way!
FUND YOUR HEROES
The time to give is NOW. As 47ās administration tries to deconstruct our systems of care, join us by creating a giving rule to shift from āanxious givingā to a feeling of permission and intention when you donate. At Modernist, we donate 3% of our revenue to impact racial wealth equality and encourage you to adopt this structure, too.
How Modernist does it: At the end of each month, we move 1% of revenue to a āSeeding Justiceā savings account for our annual fund contribution, we move another 1% to a savings account for spontaneous donations during the year, and the remaining 1% are set up as monthly ābillsā aka recurring donations from our checking account.
Kudos to our rad client who applied their ā3% donation for reparationsā rule to a recent inheritance! š
Looking for other ways to resist? Indivisible organizes virtual events and protests across the country, look up a gathering near you and make your voice heard!
FIGHT FOR THE ARTS
Credit: the fabulous Pattie Gonia, based on an illustration by Vasco Gargala
Oregon Humanities is taking DOGE to court! āļøšŖšØ Humanities councils around the country are joining forces to challenge the attack on their budgets. We are so so so proud of Portland law firm, Tonkin Torp, for their pro bono lawsuit to restore 2025 NEH funding.
ā”Write a letter to the editor of any Republican representativeās local paper, reminding them of the local economic benefit of these federal dollars.
ā”Thank any representative that is fighting DOGEās cuts to Congressional appropriations for the NEH, NEA, Head Start, Parks, etc.
ā”Start a recurring contribution to an impacted organization, even $5 per month helps their requests for greater foundation support while they navigate this moment.
ā”Take your estate planning and other legal work to the law firms fighting 47: weāre proud as hell that our downtown neighbors at Tonkin Torp and Perkins Coie are fighting the good fight.
š Everybody is an art person! š We love this wonderful, inclusive video from the Portland Art Museum that invites art people (aka everyone) to visit ā„ļøexpanded exhibition space opening November 2025!
A SONG THATāS REALLY ABOUT JOY
Isnāt it refreshing to ditch the algorithm and tune into public radio? We love local DJ Rev. Shinesā shows on KMHD, Portlandās local jazz station. You can find his shows on weekday mornings and weekend afternoons, or listen on demand.
ā”Reminder that public radio is for everyone (and is facing federal funding cuts too š), so tune in and donate monthly if you can! ā”