Publisher’s Letter

I am sure by now that you have noticed the copy of our inaugural issue of Sophisticated Giving, our Charity Register for 2023, enclosed with this issue of Sophisticated Living. Since we bought the Nashville franchise just over two years ago, we have been encouraged to publish Sophisticated Giving, as it has been very well received in the other Sophisticated Living markets. The not-for-profit world has been a big part of our lives since we moved to Nashville 20 years ago. Since we now cover fundraising events in our Society Section of Sophisticated Living, we thought that the time had come to give it a whirl.

Melissa and I have always known Nashville to be a very caring and giving community. When I was a private wealth advisor, I learned that Nashville was one of the top ten cities in the country for per capita giving. But, since working on Sophisticated Giving, we have been amazed by what we have seen happening in Nashville’s philanthropic community. Through my travels recruiting participants for the publication, I have met many outstanding individuals dedicating their lives to so many worthwhile causes. The diversity of Nashville’s charities is wide and far-ranging— from the arts, addressing disease and mental health, mentoring and educating, preservation of parks, nature, and historical sites, fighting hunger, providing housing, battling human trafficking to servicing veteran’s needs.

Creating Sophisticated Giving has been immensely gratifying. Working on both publications simultaneously has been challenging for us but helping to tell the stories of these 50 special not-for-profits, we wouldn’t have it any other way. We look forward to doing it again next year.

I always enjoy selling Sophisticated Living; however, I have loved selling Sophisticated Giving. So, I hope you take a little time to look through the charity listings and admire the breadth and depth of the fantastic philanthropic world of Nashville, and perhaps find one or more new causes that speak to your heart and wallet.

Dave Mahanes, Publisher dave@slmag.net