When Kip Bollin reflects on his childhood, his earliest thoughts about philanthropy came from his parents.
As teachers, they saw themselves as being of service to others. It was a core value they lived by and,
whenever possible, they would give a little extra.
“My parents made an annual pledge to our church each year,” says Kip. “Occasionally, we would go to friends’ churches and the plate would be passed. Every time, my dad gave something. When I asked him why, ‘You always put something in the plate,’ is what he said. If you can swing it, you should do it.”
After graduating from college and transitioning into the workforce, Kip began his personal journey with philanthropy. At the time, he felt compelled to get involved but did not feel he could contribute monetarily in a significant way.
That was when he joined the associate board of the Free Clinic, known today as Circle Health Services. Of the experience, he notes, “It was a great introduction to philanthropy as an adult. I was able to contribute financially in small ways, but I also gave my time, energy, and enthusiasm to support a place that just took care of people. And I enjoyed helping with something unrelated to my day job.”
Philanthropy with United Way
Kip has carried a commitment to philanthropy throughout his career and is currently Partner in Charge of the Cleveland office at Thompson Hine, a long-time United Way partner. In addition to supporting the firm’s workplace campaign, Kip serves on United Way’s board of directors, is a member of the Philanthropist Society, and co-chair of the Humanitarian society.”
“I had always given to United Way through Thompson Hine’s campaign, but it was attending an annual meeting that inspired me to become more involved. There I learned about the shift to focusing more on the causes of poverty, in addition to addressing the more acute needs. The mission couldn’t be more important,” explains Kip.
To him, it felt like United Way understood the needs of the community and was willing to do something different to create sustainable change. He joined the board shortly after that meeting.
As a lawyer, Kip is particularly interested in United Way’s work with the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland to provide representation to families in housing court. Housing stability is a significant issue in the community. Kip believes the impact of unplanned moves on a child’s learning makes stable housing an especially pressing concern. Right to Counsel – Cleveland, in his opinion, has produced phenomenal results.
“United Way is an organization offering a terrific return on investment,” says Kip. “Cleveland has thousands of charitable organizations and if one catches your heart, that’s the one for you. But if you have a willingness to make a difference and ability to do so, I don’t think you can do better than United Way. They will make the most of your contribution in a way that thoughtfully invests in breaking the cycle of poverty.”
When asked how he defines philanthropy, Kip believes it is an outlook people adopt. While a philanthropist is someone who helps others, the word philanthropy evokes the idea of wealthy people. However, to him, philanthropy is a mindset and behavior that anyone can adopt.
Some of the best philanthropists are people who routinely give at smaller levels. It is not about money, but a capacity and willingness to give. In a post-pandemic world, Kip feels it is more important than ever for people to get involved in their communities. Having to work from home and maintain one’s distance has created a sense of detachment that he believes is not good for individuals or society.
Supporting nonprofits facilitates connection and it helps to fill gaps. In an ever-changing landscape of funding, there is less money available to provide relief for people who need it. Nonprofits like United Way help to fill that gap.
For anyone hoping to increase their connection and prioritize philanthropy in their life, Kip encourages them to identify what is important to them and then seek out a cause or organization that aligns with that and makes a meaningful contribution. When asked what makes a contribution meaningful, Kip answers, “It’s a subjective question and the answer will be bounded by your priorities and capacity to give. When an organization is important to me, I think about what size of a contribution would make me proud. That’s what I give.”
In addition to United Way of Greater Cleveland, Kip serves as Vice Chair of Cleveland Leadership Center and sits on Great Lakes Theater’s board of directors.
