Bill Dietel on philanthropy
Rappahannock resident foresees a ‘sea change’ in charitable giving, here and across country
Bill Dietel knows a thing or two about charitable giving. The longtime Rappahannock resident cut his teeth as principal of the private Emma Willard School in Troy, New York. Later, he was tapped to be president of the Rockefeller Brothers’ Fund. Following that, he formed Dietel Partners to advise philanthropists and philanthropic organizations.
Speaking about philanthropy on July 9 to the largest Rapp at Home Zoom gathering to date, Bill said he foresees a “sea change” in charitable giving in the decades to come, both nationally and in Rappahannock.
Nationally, he believes that donors will increasingly hold charitable organizations responsible to make investments consistent with their mission, for example, no more investments in oil and gas companies by environmental nonpro ts. He also sees nonpro ts being pushed to hire women and minorities for leadership roles.
In the future, more foundations will be created with a purposely limited lifespan — unlike those that go on in perpetuity. Bill cited Sears magnate Julius Rosenwald, whose Rosenwald Fund built schools for African American children in the South in the early 20th Century, as one of the greatest philanthropists and someone whose fund “spent every penny.”
Bill wasn’t surprised by Give Local Piedmont’s record-breaking 2020 day of giving, in spite of the economic downturn and the pandemic. He thinks Americans, in general, and folks in Rappahannock, in particular, are generous. Alexis de Tocqueville, the early 19th Century French political writer and historian, noted that Americans developed institutions for needs, rather than rely on government to handle those problems, as was the case in Europe.
Bill sees potential for increased nonpro t activity in Rappahannock. “Social Services won’t be able to handle drug and abuse situations without some help from the private sector,” he said. The county, “as a whole has only begun to tap the nancial capacity of its residents.” Bill is impressed “with how unusual we are for a rural community to have the number of nonpro ts that address many of the needs of such a community.”
Still, Bill sees a need for more government funding for local nonpro ts. Fire and Rescue organizations will have to be manned, in part at least, by professionals employed by the county. He’d like to see the county funding the Food Pantry to a greater extent.
Individuals do most of the charitable giving — nearly 70 percent of all giving in 2019, Bill said. Since many in his Zoom audience were involved with local nonpro ts, Bill advised “It’s simple to think that foundations are going to solve all a nonpro t’s problems,” he said. “No —it’s individuals. Go wherever there’s a pocket — deep or medium-sized pocket.”
Linda Dietel, Bill’s late wife, had a knack for fundraising. Bill recalled that she would host small gatherings, serve tea and apple pie, tell her guests what an organization needed, explain how she and Bill were going to help, and, nally, describe what her guests could do to assist. And the guests usually came through.
Bill believes there is “ful llment in sharing wealth.” Part of his pitch to donors is “I have an opportunity for you to do something with your life and your wealth.”
And, surprising some in his audience, he said about asking donors for money, “It’s fun!”