Hi friends,
As we transition into autumn, we’re enjoying the slight chill in the morning air and welcoming the shorter and rainier days in Portland.
The midterms are fast approaching, so we’re reminding ourselves (and you!) about ways to take action for democracy to preserve our collective sense of hope.
Check out our annual Impact Report for 2025! We kept it radical by centering our heroes (Varda, Milk, Darcelle, and more) and updating our Modernist Impact Metrics: for Investing Sustainably, we asked what if ExxonMobil mimicked Modernist by allocating 83% of their investments towards Environmental, Social, and Governance factors (aka ESG)?!
Dreaming hope into action,
Team Modernist
investing insights
So many Planning Explainers!
On ModernistUniversity.com we nerded out about how to structure charitable bequests within an estate plan. We explain common ways to give at death, how to consider tax efficiency, and fun FAQs like why we only recommend opening Donor Advised Funds at a community foundation.
Click here for how to build giving into your estate plan!
We also updated our Modernist Cybersecurity Toolkit to include a new section on Identity Theft, and updated guidance from the Department of Labor for keeping your retirement plan secure. While cybersecurity is often thought of as an IT issue, we know it is important for us to maintain and an essential part of your planner’s fiduciary responsibility!
Structure Your Wealth Around Your Values
In a midterm election year, giving is one way to act on our hope. In 2026, we’re shining a light on the power of giving non-deductible gifts to 501(c)(4)s.
We aim to give ourselves permission to skip deductible gifts moving our money to supporting policy change and legislative efforts. Note, 47’s recent “Big Brutal Tax Bill” reduced many people’s ability to deduct gifts, so ask your tax preparer to clarify what you can actually deduct.
Read more of our thoughts on generosity in an election year, including a few suggestions for change-maker orgs to support.
Need a reminder on the difference between a 501(c)3 and 501(c)4? Here you go!
from the team
Our 2025 Impact Report is here!
Each year we translate our impact data using “Modernist metrics”, like measuring our volunteer hours by the number of times we’d need to watch Agnès Varda’s genius documentary (and Georgia’s favorite) The Gleaners & I.
Just like in previous years, each metric is paired with an action you can take to join us in this work.
modernist takes it outside
Georgia joined a fabulous panel at an Oregon Humanities Tough Shit event, where panelists posed big questions (see pic above) facing Portlanders.
Georgia asked: “Are we really willing to pay for the messy shit we say we care about?” Not just paying in money (aka taxes), but also time, skills, relationships, and energy?
Since she had that question on her mind, Georgia brought it to Farnoosh for another episode of the So Money podcast.
They asked: Are American progressives becoming anti-tax? And if so, is it really about the money or is it about whether we trust our institutions to spend it well?
fund your heroes
Wondering how American anti-government sentiment has grown in 2025? Check out Southern Poverty Law Center’s annual The Year in Hate & Extremism.
Horrified and wondering what you can do? Read their Afterword, which provides nine peaceful ways you can take action and counter hate.
Want to help the fund these heroes doing this critical work? Consider making a gift to SPLC’s 501(c)3 or to the SPLC Action Fund their 501(c)4.
Good News
A true Generosity Hero, Dolly Parton started her Imagination Library in 1995 in her home county in East Tennessee to foster a love of reading among preschool kids and their families in the area. Each month kids in the program receive a free book in the mail, and 31 years in, over 300,000,000 books have been gifted!
This intentional and structured act of generosity reminds us to always ask, and especially now: what would Dolly do?
a Song That is Really About worker solidarity
Dolly also leaves an incredible sixty-year legacy of worker solidarity. She was a proud union member and a lifelong advocate for working people. Her 1980 hit “9 to 5” gave voice to the frustrations of underpaid, overworked women.
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
9 to 5, yeah, they got you where they want you
There's a better life and you think about it, don't you?