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Shared Prosperity Group Shared Prosperity Group

Giving methodology

Last Updated: October 2026

Overview

Shared Prosperity Group's (SPG) "structural generosity" giving program is a new approach that directly, sustainably, and structurally links wealth creation in the for-profit sector to high-impact social needs that markets do not profitably and/or reliably address. Its goal is to raise the economic floor and reduce wealth disparity, strengthening a healthier, more resilient, and more diverse economic system in the United States and abroad, starting with nonprofits based in Oregon and widening outward as the firm grows, without sparking contentious political fights, relying on tax-code changes, or adding burdens on investors.

The program is a permanent feature of the business, written directly into SPG's operating agreement, and is designed to move beyond token, performative philanthropy by making generosity part of the firm's core infrastructure. Each month, SPG contributes 10% of its monthly gross revenue, calculated on a cash basis, to The SPG Structural Generosity Fund (a donor-advised fund) at Charityvest, funded solely by SPG, not client assets.

SPG independently recommends grant amounts, timing, and recipients from the fund. Any input from clients or prospects is optional and nonbinding, and they have no authority to select recipients. SPG neither requests nor accepts charitable contributions from clients or prospects. The giving doesn't affect client service, fees, returns, investment recommendations, or portfolio management, nor does it create tax deductions for clients.

Governance and oversight

All giving decisions are managed internally:

  • The Director of Charitable Giving is responsible for sourcing, diligence, and disbursement.
  • The Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) is responsible for executive oversight, compliance, and SPG’s generosity architecture.
  • Charityvest is the independent sponsor of The SPG Structural Generosity Fund.
  • Charityvest is an independent, unaffiliated third-party sponsor for its donor-advised fund, and SPG receives no compensation for this relationship. Contributions to Charityvest are irrevocable and subject to Charityvest's exclusive legal control.
  • All giving is documented on sharedprosperitygroup.com with receipts held internally for no less than six years.

Areas of focus

Clients are surveyed for their giving preferences across six broad cause domains. SPG aggregates these surveys to inspire its giving decisions. Until sufficient scale is reached, SPG starts with nonprofits based in Oregon and retains discretion to choose one to two recipients per domain or less, prioritizing strategic fit. As the firm grows, giving widens outward from Oregon, and SPG will eventually cover virtually all areas of philanthropy in each grant cycle:

Health & Well-Being

  • Clinical Care & Behavioral Health – Nonprofits in this space provide essential medical and addiction recovery services to vulnerable populations who often slip through the cracks of commercial healthcare models.
  • Family, Disability, Aging & Caregiving – These organizations support families caring for vulnerable individuals, ensuring safe and dignified assistance that remains affordable.
  • Public Health, Biosecurity & Health Systems – Nonprofits here work to prevent outbreaks and keep emergency clinics operational to address systemic health risks before they escalate.
  • Nutrition & Healthy Living – These groups ensure people can access nutritious food and build healthy habits, particularly in under-resourced areas where commercial grocers rarely operate.
  • Palliative, End-of-Life & Serious Illness Support – These organizations provide compassionate comfort for serious illnesses and help families navigate difficult choices during medical transitions.

Environmental Sustainability & Animal Welfare

  • Climate Mitigation, Adaptation & Resilience – Nonprofits in this sector work to cut pollution and protect communities from extreme weather, addressing global environmental costs that industries aren't always incentivized to internalize.
  • Conservation, Biodiversity & Restoration – These groups protect wild places and repair damaged ecosystems to preserve natural resources for future generations.
  • Pollution, Toxics & Circular Economy – These organizations fight for cleaner environments and robust recycling, addressing the harmful byproducts of manufacturing and consumption.
  • Sustainable Food, Land, Water & Oceans – Nonprofits here promote sustainable agriculture and resource management to protect nature, correcting imbalances where short-term exploitation outpaces long-term conservation.
  • Animal Welfare & Human-Animal Coexistence – These organizations protect animals from harm and foster safe coexistence, providing advocacy and care for populations that cannot self-advocate.

Education, Knowledge & Culture

  • Early Learning, K-12 & Learning Recovery – Nonprofits in this area help children build strong educational foundations and catch up academically to ensure equitable access to opportunity.
  • Workforce, Skills & Economic Mobility Education – These groups teach vital career skills to help people earn more, serving individuals who might be priced out of private vocational training.
  • Research, Science & Innovation – These organizations fund foundational discoveries and new tools to solve complex problems, taking on early-stage risks that don't typically fit standard venture capital timelines.
  • Digital Literacy, Media & Information Ecosystems – Nonprofits here help people navigate technology safely and identify misinformation, countering the algorithmic incentives of platforms that thrive on sensational engagement.
  • Arts, Culture, Heritage & Creative Production – These groups champion artists and protect cultural history to ensure the arts remain accessible to the wider public.

Economic Opportunity, Mobility & Security

  • Financial Inclusion, Consumer Finance & Wealth-Building – Nonprofits in this space promote fair banking and protect people from predatory fees, offering safe financial avenues for those marginalized by traditional banking institutions.
  • Entrepreneurship, Small Business & Local Economies – These organizations help founders build businesses that strengthen local communities, providing capital and guidance to entrepreneurs who are often overlooked by commercial lenders.
  • Good Jobs, Worker Power & Future of Work – These groups advocate for safe jobs and fair pay, ensuring that worker protections evolve alongside technological advancements in the labor market.
  • Housing, Homelessness Prevention & Community Development – Nonprofits here work to prevent homelessness and build affordable homes, stepping in where commercial real estate markets struggle to meet the basic need for shelter.
  • Safety Nets, Nonprofit Capacity & Social Infrastructure – These organizations maintain essential community support systems (like food banks) to provide absolute necessities to those in crisis.

Justice, Rights & Democracy

  • Civil Rights, Inclusion & Anti-Discrimination – Nonprofits in this sector fight for fair treatment and inclusion across all backgrounds to defend fundamental human rights.
  • Access to Justice & Legal Services – These groups help people understand their rights and secure representation, ensuring access to the legal system for those who can't afford private attorneys.
  • Justice System Reform & Community Safety – These organizations work to improve policing and prisons to make them fairer and more focused on rehabilitation.
  • Democracy, Governance & Accountability – Nonprofits here protect voting rights and demand transparent leadership to safeguard the civic processes that uphold a functioning society.
  • Digital Rights, Privacy & Civic Technology – These groups protect online privacy and build accessible civic tools to safeguard user data from unwarranted corporate or governmental surveillance.

Humanitarian Response & Peacebuilding

  • Rapid Humanitarian Relief – Nonprofits in this area deliver immediate food, water, and shelter following acute disasters where rapid commercial supply chains are disrupted or non-existent.
  • Refugees, Displacement & Protection – These organizations provide safety and legal support for displaced populations seeking to rebuild their lives after fleeing conflict.
  • Humanitarian Health, WASH & Service Delivery – These groups bring essential medical care and clean sanitation to communities in crisis to prevent secondary health disasters.
  • Recovery, Reconstruction, Development & Infrastructure – Nonprofits here rebuild homes and public systems after disasters, taking on the massive effort of helping shattered communities recover.
  • Peacebuilding, Conflict Prevention & Trauma Healing – These organizations mediate to prevent violence and support trauma healing, focusing on the human-centric work of restoring trust.

Selection process

Step 1: Sourcing

Candidates are identified through targeted research, referrals, and sector scans. In this early stage, priority is given to smaller Oregon nonprofits doing underfunded, high-leverage work with potential for systemic change.

Step 2: Qualification

Only U.S.-based organizations with valid 501(c)(3) status are eligible for funding. All recipients must be listed in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and are checked periodically.

SPG will cease funding any 501(c)(3) that:

  • Engages in partisan political activity, meaning supporting or opposing candidates or parties for public office (the IRS also enforces this).
  • Requires adherence to a religion or promotes one as a condition of aid.
  • Lacks transparency or fails to demonstrate measurable impact.
  • Uses unsustainable or dependency-based giving models.

Eligibility turns on an organization's charitable purpose and its compliance with the criteria above. SPG evaluates the substance and charitable merit of an organization's work, not the political temperature or public controversy that may surround its cause.

Step 3: Allocation

Recipients are reviewed regularly and giving is inspired by aggregate client survey data with practical considerations surrounding internal impact-ROI analysis and prevention of cause spotlighting bias. Initial allocations may be limited due to financial capacity, with the number of recipients expanding as the firm scales.

Step 4: Documentation

Each grant is logged with full public transparency and receipts are archived for a period of no less than six years.

Mission alignment

Organizations with the following characteristics are prioritized:

  • A focus on important but unprofitable problems that private markets aren’t effectively addressing.
  • Evidence-based interventions with clear, measurable results.
  • Interventions that do not rely on permanent subsidy and utilize clear beneficiary feedback loops in operations.

Legal and regulatory compliance

Compliance safeguards include:

  • Funding only IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Strict utilization of an independently sponsored donor-advised fund
  • Receipts and records are retained for a minimum of six years
  • Clear segregation between SPG operating revenue and client assets
  • Regular audit readiness and fiduciary documentation

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