Philanthropy
Margaret May
Margaret May empowers others to create their public and private wealth legacy unique to their passion and purpose, inspiring them to make a difference in the world.
She began her focus on women's financial issues in 1990 with the publication of Money$ense for Women, and later founded The Institute for Women and Wealth. Today, her renowned workshop series, "The Life You Live is the Legacy You Leave," transcends traditional estate planning and empowers women to resolve existing psychological or emotional barriers that inhibit meaningful individual and family philanthropic giving.
May retired as a Senior Financial Advisor and Managing Principal of American Express Financial Advisors after a successful 18-year career. Her finance career began as Vice President of Development and Fundraising for Boston University, where she received her Bachelor and Masters degrees. She was an instructor in investment and money management at Florida Atlantic University's Continuing Education Department, and is Past President of the Treasure Coast Planned Giving Council. May is honored to serve as a member of the board for the National Committee on Planned Giving and the Boston University National Alumni Board.
Listed in Who's Who in Finance in America, May is a recipient of the Brandeis Women of the Year Award and the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches' Leadership Award. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity.
May is an accomplished author, philanthropic commentator and advisor, trainer, thought leader, and public speaker. Her financial expertise, experience in estate planning, philanthropic giving, and ability to speak from the heart allows her to bring a unique and inspirational message to her clients and audiences. Her latest book, co-authored with Niki Nicastro McCuistion, is Women, Wealth & Giving: The Virtuous Legacy of the Boom Generation, published by John Wiley & Sons in 2009. Her website is MargaretMay.com
What Is Your Philanthropic Footprint?
As maturing Baby Boomers, we know the world we’re passing on to the next generation is not what we inherited. Our GenXers will inherit a different world, a world we made. Do we pass on the selfish “me-me” values, or the idealistic “we-we” values?
Kitchen Table Values
Have you noticed that when adversity strikes in our life, we tend to reflect inward to find the strength and courage to carry on? We seem to know that deep inside our spirit is a reserve of moral fortitude waiting to rekindle our energy.
The Three Principles of Abundance
What’s important is how we spend our “dash”—that little line between the dates of birth and death which represents all the days lived on earth. It's not about the cars, house or the cash—but how we live and love. And stories are the ties that bind.
More Than Money Can Buy
Aristotle calls it eudemonia: well-being of the soul; Buddhism refers to it a nirvana: spiritual enlightenment. As the song laments, “Money makes the world go round,” but what about our happiness, well-being and enlightenment?
Finding the Right Charities
County music diva Kathy Mattea’s lyrics, “Standin’ knee deep in a river and dyin’ of thirst,” could well apply to the quagmire many people get into when they start their philanthropic quest.
Taking Off
The dragonfly myth I was most familiar with tells the story of the water beetle’s transformation into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings designed for flying and seeing the beauty of a whole new world.
