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Lisa M. Dietlin
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Lisa M. Dietlin is President and CEO of Lisa M. Dietlin and Associates, Inc. Ms. Dietlin serves her clients as a philanthropic agent, assisting entrepreneurial individuals and nonprofit organizations in developing transformational philanthropic strategies. Through expert advice and structured counsel, Lisa M. Dietlin and Associates, Inc. is quickly becoming the prime model for philanthropic leadership throughout the country.

Ms. Dietlin is a much sought after guest for many television and radio programs. In 2010 she began working on bringing philanthropic issues to the public via NBC 5 Chicago. In 2007 Lisa was named Charity Contributor to CBS 2 Chicago and appeared regularly to share information and ideas regarding how everyone can be involved in charitable work. She has also been featured on National Public Radio, Oprah & Friends Radio and WGN as well as WCIU in Chicago and FOX News. She is frequently quoted in many national publications including USA Today, Marketwatch, Reuters and The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Lisa and her team have been working on a television program showcasing acts of philanthropy and generosity. It is a positively focused daily show about those individuals, businesses, groups and organizations that are making a difference through the world of giving. Stay tuned for more details.

Ms. Dietlin’s groundbreaking research on entrepreneurs and their philanthropic giving patterns has been quoted in several subsequent research studies in the United States and Canada, as well as The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Further, her research on donor giving through the World Wide Web has been published in a number of periodicals and newsletters including initially The Chronicle of Higher Education. In August 2009 Lisa published her first book titled, Transformational Philanthropy: Entrepreneurs and Nonprofits. In November 2010 she published her second book Making A Difference: 365 Tips, Ideas and Stories to Change Your World. Her third book, Making a Difference: More Tips, Ideas and Stories to Change Your World was published in November 2011. Her fourth book, Making A Difference III: Still More Tips, Ideas and Stories to Change Your World was recently published in September 2012. All of her books are available for purchase on Amazon.com and Amazon Kindle.

Active in the development/fundraising arena since 1982, Lisa holds and has held several seats on nonprofit boards in where she contributes her extensive experience in strategic planning for development and fundraising. She is a frequent speaker on the subjects of entrepreneurial giving, major gifts fundraising and moves management, as well as board development.

Ms. Dietlin holds a Master’s Degree in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at North Park University, Chicago, Illinois, in its nonprofit management degree and certificate programs where she taught the “Capital Campaigns for Nonprofit Organizations” course she designed as well as the course entitled “Annual and Major Gifts Fundraising.”

Entries by Lisa M. Dietlin

Making a Difference: The World of Giving -- US Charitable Giving in 2012 Increases Again But Slowly

(1) Comments | Posted June 18, 2013 | 12:05 AM

Yes, it's that time of year again when the numbers for donations in the previous year are released and everyone is wondering what happened in 2012. Did Americans make more or less charitable donations to their favorite charitable causes? Will giving ever return to the levels seen in 2007 which...

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Making a Difference: The World of Giving on Father's Day

(0) Comments | Posted June 14, 2013 | 12:30 PM

Father's Day festivities tend to be a familiar sight throughout the United States, as families gather to enjoy a barbecue at the park or cheer on their favorite baseball team. While giving the traditional card and gift, usually a tie or set of golf balls, is a nice gesture, these...

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Making A Difference: The World of Giving - Child Abuse Prevention Month

(0) Comments | Posted April 22, 2013 | 2:54 PM

Child abuse is a topic many find challenging to discuss or even think about, but it's necessary, especially with the alarming statistics reported annually in this country. According to the Children's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 3.4 million reports of child abuse...

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Making a Difference: The World of Giving - April Is Autism Awareness Month

(3) Comments | Posted April 15, 2013 | 4:15 PM

Did you know that autism is the fastest-growing developmental disorder but is also the most underfunded? This April marks Autism Awareness Month, an entire month devoted to raising awareness about this disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one in...

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Making a Difference: The World of Giving - Remember Your Charitable Donations Still Count in this Year's Tax Return

(0) Comments | Posted April 3, 2013 | 9:38 PM

It's tax return filing time! As many of us scurry to gather our receipts and recollect the donations we made in 2012, there is a chorus of folks who say that the predicted elimination of the deductibility of charitable donations will result in fewer people giving or people...

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Making A Difference: The World of Giving - National Day of Courage on Rosa Parks' Birthday

(6) Comments | Posted January 30, 2013 | 10:57 AM

Courage is an underutilized value in today's world. In my opinion, many people are guided more by fear than courage, thinking about what could happen or might happen in a negative way versus what should happen in a positive way. For me and at my company, "courage" is...

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Making A Difference: The World of Giving - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: A Day of Service and the President's Inauguration

(4) Comments | Posted January 16, 2013 | 8:53 AM

As most of us know, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a nonviolent, civil rights activist prominently known for his work with the African-American civil rights movement who gave the now famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Even though he was assassinated in 1968, his life and work are remembered...

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Making a Difference: The World of Giving - The Holidays and Theft

(1) Comments | Posted December 13, 2012 | 4:29 PM

A big issue at this time of year is theft. The holiday season is a time when we become very busy and distracted leaving ourselves often vulnerable to seemingly random acts of violence and theft. Did you know December is Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month because of the increase...

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Making A Difference: The World of Giving -- Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday... Giving Tuesday?

(2) Comments | Posted November 28, 2012 | 12:04 PM

The holiday gift-giving season generally starts after Thanksgiving as we watch the advertisements offering the best deals on popular toys, electronics, furniture, clothing -- you name it. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday are supposed to be the Holy Grail of deal-finding days, but the latest phenomenon looks...

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Making a Difference: The World of Giving -- Thanksgiving, a Verb

(2) Comments | Posted November 19, 2012 | 10:27 AM

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action." W.J. Cameron

Many of us think of Thanksgiving as a day spent with family, eating a great meal and watching football. I believe that thinking needs to be changed! Thanksgiving should ignite a sense of gratitude for all that one has and...

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Making a Difference: The World of Giving -- Veterans Day Is More Than a Mattress Sale

(2) Comments | Posted November 12, 2012 | 11:58 AM

Many often confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day or even Labor Day. Some may view these holidays simply as another day off, especially if they are employed by the government and thus meaning a three-day weekend. Others might even think about shopping and all the sales including the infamous mattress...

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Making a Difference: The World of Giving -- "50 STATES FOR GOOD" Announces Those Organizations Doing the Most Good

(4) Comments | Posted November 8, 2012 | 10:02 AM

Today, the well-known company, Tom's of Maine, announced the winners of its fourth annual "50 States For Good: Growing Good Works One Community at a Time" contest. Back in May, Tom's of Maine began accepting nominations for nonprofit organizations in each state. Then the field was narrowed down by a...

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Making A Difference: The World of Giving -- Helping After a National Disaster Such As Hurricane Sandy

(2) Comments | Posted November 1, 2012 | 3:07 PM

With more than eight million U.S Homes without power and 55 people dead, Hurricane or "Frankenstorm" Sandy is definitely leaving its mark on America. Just as President Obama said in his address on Tuesday to all of the victims of this disaster, "America is with you" and we are. Many...

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Making a Difference: Philanthropy Is Not Only Pink, It's Everywhere

(0) Comments | Posted October 22, 2012 | 12:51 PM

Pink is everywhere this month. There are pink ribbons, pink lights on buildings and yes, even NFL players wearing pink shoes. It seems those nonprofits working in the breast cancer arena own the month of October and the color pink.

But did you also know October is National Bullying Prevention...

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Making A Difference. The World of Giving -- Food Is Joy, Sustenance and a Great Way to Give!

(4) Comments | Posted September 11, 2012 | 11:21 AM

Last month was Julia Childs' 100th birthday. There were lots of terrific articles, broadcasts and stories about the impact this amazing woman had on the way America cooks, eats and considers food. The New York Times noted that "It was Child -- not single-handedly, but close -- who...

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Making A Difference: The World of Giving - How to Help Hurricane Isaac Victims

(0) Comments | Posted August 30, 2012 | 8:27 AM

Right now we don't know the magnitude of the devastation from Hurricane Isaac. We do know it has come ashore twice and is very slow moving. While the levees are holding, it is the overall flooding that is of concern now. Many people are wondering what they can do to...

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Making a Difference: August Is an Important Time for Protecting Our Children

(0) Comments | Posted August 15, 2012 | 3:16 PM

The final weeks of August. Great weather. Days at the beach or at the park. Last picnics and barbecues before the weather turns. And getting ready for school.

It's that last part -- preparing for school -- that is a big part of why August is Immunization Awareness Month. It's...

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Making a Difference: The World of Giving -- More Inspiration Right After the Olympics

(0) Comments | Posted August 9, 2012 | 8:34 AM

This week the London Olympics will draw to a close. But that's not truly the end of the thrills, achievements and inspirational stories until the next Games. Because two weeks after the close of the Summer Games, from August 29th to September 9th at the same London venues, comes the...

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Making A Difference: The World of Giving -- The Olympics as Inspiration

(1) Comments | Posted July 30, 2012 | 9:31 AM

If you're like me, and lots of other people, you're completely enthralled with the Olympic Games happening right now in London. I find them amazing with many inspirational stories, aspirational athletes, tremendous accomplishments and huge excitement!

It might surprise you to learn that behind many of our athletes are people...

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Making A Difference: The World of Giving July is National Parks and Recreation Month

(1) Comments | Posted July 24, 2012 | 9:07 AM

Summer. We're all outside more. Beaches. Picnics. Hiking. Travelling. It's easy to take "the great outdoors" for granted - everything from the smallest town park to the Grand Canyon.

But we shouldn't. The national parks, city parks, local parks haven't always been there, and may not be in the future....

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