What if charitable giving opens you up to a new world of purpose and meaning you didn't know you had access to?

In this episode, John Bromley shares how he helps donors navigate and participate comfortably in the giving world as a "charity banker." John is the founder and CEO of Charitable Impact, Canada's first fully online donor-advised fund, which has facilitated over $1.5 billion in charitable donations since its inception in 2011. Growing up in a family deeply engaged in philanthropy, John was inspired by his father, renowned charity lawyer Blake Bromley, to pursue a career in creating impact. He began in corporate finance with PwC and RBC Capital Markets before transitioning to the charitable sector in his mid-to-late twenties, where he recognized the need for a simpler, more effective giving platform. John's innovative approach has earned him recognition as a TEDx speaker, a "Forty Under 40" honoree, and recipient of the CEO Community Leadership Award. Committed to cultivating generosity, John continues to empower individuals and organizations to make meaningful change through philanthropy. Beyond his professional achievements, he is a dedicated community leader, soccer coach, and proud father of two.

John reveals the relationship that transformed him: his father Blake Bromley, one of the global pioneers of charity law and finance in Canada, who taught John everything he needed to know to become a charity banker not through formal education but through osmosis during car rides to sports games every weekend, where John thought he was tuning out boring workplace talk but was actually absorbing years of expertise that no textbook could teach, leading to John's realization in his late twenties that his dad possessed unique knowledge that became the foundation for Charitable Impact and John's ability to help donors go from thinking about $200,000 gifts to creating private foundations with $15 million.

[00:05:00] I'm a Charity Banker

Acts like private banker to donors (individuals or organizations)
Gives access to knowledge about how to go about giving
Brings tools and team members to help
Founder and CEO of Charitable Impact (donor-advised fund)

[00:05:40] How a Charity Bank Works

People give money in, get tax receipt right away
Can determine how to use those charity dollars to create impact they want
Role is entrepreneur who founded it, gives vision and mission
There because people with great hearts, minds, deep wallets never had anywhere to go for neutral advice

[00:06:40] Inspired by Seeing Others Become Inspired

Charitable giving opens people to new world of purpose and meaning
About investing time, talent, and money into things you care most about
Having impact with your time, talent, and money
Coached soccer for years, grateful for opportunity to do it

[00:07:40] Getting More Out Than You Put In

Really good donors get more out of it than they think they put in
First time doing anything, you're not gonna be whiz kid
Takes time and focus
People who learn to have joy and gratitude become best donors

[00:10:40] Making Intentional Giving Part of Everyday Life

Vision at Charitable Impact: make intentional giving part of everyday life
Quantum of money isn't as important
Type of cause they choose isn't important to him
Like banker shouldn't care what specific stocks someone chooses

[00:11:40] From Sporadic to Intentional Giver

Inspired when someone goes from not being giver to proactive giver
From only reacting to being asked for money to building giving into their life
Whether using time, talents, and/or money
Like fitness banker trying to get people off couch

[00:14:00] Be Open to Help

Blessed to have had many encounters with people who had material impact
If talking to younger self: you've gotta be open to help and feedback
Don't have to accept it all, but have to listen to it
One person stands out head and shoulders above everyone else

[00:14:40] Didn't Recognize Until Almost 30

Key mentor in his life was his father
Didn't recognize dad played that role until almost 30
Not just because dad was good dad who loved and nurtured him
Where do you learn what you need to know to become a charity banker?

[00:15:20] One of Two Serious Pioneers

Father was one of arguably two serious pioneers of charity law and finance in Canada
In charity nerd community (very small), dad is known globally
He's one of global experts in the space
Here he is, just my dad

[00:16:00] The Career Change Conversation

Graduated university, started in corporate finance and investment banking
Left after several years, not being culture fit
Started interacting with dad about changing career mid-to-late twenties
Accidental pathway led to realizing dad knows stuff you can't read online

[00:17:20] Learning from Osmosis

Played ton of sports growing up, every weekend dad took him to games
Dad yapping about charity stuff going on in his workplace
John thinking: in one ear out the next, boring
Now realise: how much did I learn from osmosis?

[00:19:20] The $15 Million Superpower

Dad's superpower: donor comes in thinking $50-100K, maybe $200K
Two months later, leaving with private foundation with $15 million in it
Rooted in relationship development and expertise
John has had few scenarios where this happened

[00:20:20] Seeing Beyond the Barriers

People come in wanting to make giving part of how family does things
Starting with what sounds like relatively low money
Shifting how they think about it, making large structured contributions
Growth mindset in philanthropic advisory space

[00:22:40] Increasing Access to Participation

Mission: increase access to participation in and benefit people feel from giving