#130: The Art of Giving ft. Monica Merante

In this episode, Alex sits down with Monica Merante — Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®, Senior Director of Philanthropic Services at CNYCF, and one of Central New York's most thoughtful voices on generosity and legacy — for a conversation that is warm, grounding, and quietly profound.Monica has spent over a decade at the Central New York Community Foundation helping donors build legacies that last — connecting families to causes that reflect their deepest values and teaching the next generation what it means to give with purpose. And after just one conversation with her, it's easy to understand why people trust her with something as personal as that.This episode isn't about charity in the traditional sense. It's about intention. Identity. And the kind of generosity that goes far beyond writing a check. It's about asking yourself what you actually stand for and building something that reflects that long after you're gone.💬 Topics we cover:- What philanthropy actually means and why it starts with values, not dollars- How families can use giving as a tool to pass down purpose, not just wealth- What holds people back from giving more intentionally and how to move through it- The role community foundations play in connecting people to lasting impact- What legacy really looks like when it's built with intention- How anyone — at any giving level — can start living a more generous life right nowThis one is warm. It's wise. And it might just shift the way you think about what you're building — and what you're leaving behind. If you've ever felt called to do more, give more, or simply mean more with the resources you have — this conversation is exactly where to start.New episodes drop every Monday. Ready to Cultivate? Hit Subscribe.Learn more about CNYCFConnect with Monica on LinkedIn Apply⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to be a guest on CultivateConnect with Alex Canavan, the host of Cultivate on her ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Cultivate with Alex Canavan on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Diam Media Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠