About the Smarter Giving Guy
Ed Long, The Smarter Giving Guy
The Smarter Giving Guy is a nom de web for Ed Long, a nationally-known nonprofit founder, attorney and frequent writer and speaker on legal and consumer protection issues.
Ed’s 40+ years of experience include
- founding and leading nonprofit charities,
- managing a 50-person law office,
- helping nonprofit and public agencies raise millions of dollars,
- working with corporate and foundation grant-makers and
- speaking before diverse audiences.
His skills, experience and energy put him in a strong position to train and help others to focus their philanthropy and to evaluate and select charities.
A 1967 graduate of LeMoyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., where he earned a B.S. in Business, Ed is a 1970 graduate of The Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He graduated number three in his class and served as an editor of the law review.
He spent 23+ years with a major International law firm, and opened and managed its Los Angeles office from 1982 through 1993. At the end of 1993, he left big law firm practice to become an elder law attorney (helping older adults and families plan for and deal with elder care, legal and financial issues).
In 1996, Ed shut down his private elder law practice and, with his wife Pat, co-founded Healthcare and Elder Law Programs Corporation (aka “H.E.L.P.”), a unique nonprofit provider of information and advice to older adults and families on care, legal, financial and consumer protection matters. Ed and Pat retired from the H.E.L.P. staff in May 2008.
Ed was a co-founder of KEEP-SAFE Coalition, a nonprofit group that unites community and social service, law enforcement, financial and related service professionals to combat financial abuse and protect older adults.
Ed is president and a co-founder of Caring House, a nonprofit home (now in development) focused on end-of-life needs of those who are dying, and support for their families and loved ones. He also serves as a member of the bioethics committees at Torrance Memorial Medical Center and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance. He has served as a trustee with the Palos Verdes Library District and as a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Commission for Older Adults.
Ed started the Smarter Giving program in 2009, to help people make the most effective use of their donated money and volunteer hours. In addition to frequent public speaking, he offers private advice to individuals, families, foundations and other organizations.
About this Site
This site provides general information, not specific advice on individual matters. Persons wanting specific advice on the matters discussed should contact an advisor experienced in those matters. Each posting is based on California and Federal law and programs in effect on the date of posting. Nothing on this website creates an attorney-client or other professional relationship. The Smarter Giving Guy does not prepare legal documents, give legal advice or otherwise provide legal services. We urge our clients to retain an attorney or attorneys to advise them on legal issues.
Don’t forget: Philanthropy is terrific, but first take care of yourself and those who depend on you.