Jean Shafiroff on Making an Impact Through Philanthropy

Philanthropist, author, and television host Jean Shafiroff has dedicated her life to giving back—supporting causes that range from health care and women’s rights to animal welfare and the arts. She has become one of the most recognized figures in modern philanthropy, serving on numerous charity boards and chairing countless fundraisers that have made a lasting impact on both local and global communities.

Jean believes that giving isn’t limited to those with great wealth—it’s about time, compassion, knowledge, and commitment. She has made it her mission to inspire others to get involved, whether through volunteering, donating, and finding a cause that resonates.

Jean spoke about how her early experiences shaped her dedication to helping others, her advice for aspiring philanthropists, the upcoming projects she is working on, and the importance of giving back to the communities we call home.

Can you discuss your background and how and when you knew you wanted to make a difference and get involved in philanthropy?

JS: At a very young age, I was encouraged to get involved in helping those in need by both my teachers and parents. I attended 12 years of Catholic school on Long Island where the nuns taught us the importance of helping the less fortunate. Both my parents were good role models, too. My father was a schoolteacher, and my mother was a stay-at-home mom. They instilled in me good values. My higher education, travel experiences, and then work experience were also key in encouraging me to become a philanthropist.

After high school, I continued my education at Columbia University where I earned a BS in Physical Therapy and then an MBA in Finance from the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University. My education played a key role in the philanthropic work I do because it taught me valuable skills that I would need to become a leader, organizer and volunteer fundraiser in philanthropy. In between college and graduate school, I worked for one year as a physical therapist at the inner-city hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City. There I worked with patients who lived at or below the poverty level and who also had serious illnesses. This experience made me see first-hand all the suffering that existed in this world.

I then decided to go to graduate school to pursue higher education. After earning an MBA in Finance, I worked on Wall Street as an investment banker for a number of years where I learned a great deal about business. Soon, I realized I had to do more with my life to help those who truly suffered. I gradually got involved with different charities by volunteering, donating resources, and serving on the board of directors of a few different charities. Then, I started to volunteer at my daughters’ schools.

Today I serve on 7 charity boards, one honorary board and two advisory boards. Some are charities with a regional scope while others are international in their influence. Each year, I chair about 8 to 9 charity galas. I also host and underwrite many large cocktail parties in my homes and elsewhere for various different charities. In addition, I host a TV show on philanthropy called Successful Philanthropy. Philanthropy is my life’s mission. It is greatly fulfilling. I plan to stay involved with it all my life.

What do you think is the biggest factor in philanthropic success for both yourself and others who pursue philanthropy?

JS: Hard work, integrity, and truly wanting to be of help to a cause are key to being successful with philanthropy. As a philanthropist you will want to help make a difference. You will want to give your time, knowledge, and resources to charities that are well run, who follow their mission statements, and who keep low overhead. 

The galas are nice but rather useless if their expenses are too high. We have seen a plethora of charity events taking place on the East End and beyond. Sadly, not all of these events make enough money to warrant them. No one wants to pay $500 or $1,000 for a ticket to attend a gala and find out that most of their donation was used to pay for the event. Of course, choosing a charity that appreciates what you are doing for them is important as well. With over 2 million charities in the United States, we all have choices.   

Can you talk about some of the organizations you are involved with and why they are so important to you?

JS: As stated earlier, I serve on many charity boards—some are international while others are more regional in their scope. Specifically, on the East End, I believe it is important to support health care for all and so I serve on the board of the Southampton Hospital Foundation. I am a former chair and honoree of their annual gala to raise funds for the Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. I have been committed to the Stony Brook Southampton Hospital as a long-term donor and volunteer fundraiser, and I remain committed to help them.      

I have also had a very long involvement as a past chair, honoree,  and volunteer fundraiser of the Southampton Animal Shelter and currently serve on their honorary board. For many years I have chaired galas for the Southampton History Museum, Ellen Hermanson Foundation, and the Southampton African American Museum. I have supported all of these organizations and have done quite a bit of fundraising for them. In addition, I also give to many other causes on the East End including the Southampton Arts Center, Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Fund, South Fork History Museum, and Parrish Art Museum, to name some of them. The Club we belong to in Southampton also has a Foundation to support local causes and we give to this Foundation as well. 

How do the organizations you’re involved with differ from one another and what do you like about being involved with so many different missions?

JS: My four areas of focus are rights of underserved populations, women’s rights, health care, and animal rights. In addition, I support the LGBTQ community and the arts. I serve on the boards of Southampton Hospital Foundation, New York Women’s Foundation, Mission Society of NYC, Casita Maria, Couture Council of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, French Heritage Society, Global Strays, and Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation Honorary Board. As a Catholic, I served on the Jewish Board for 28 years and now am an Honorary Trustee. I also serve on the Honorary Board of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County and most recently I joined the Advisory Board of Ballet Palm Beach.

What are your day-to-day responsibilities like and how do you keep up with your work?

JS: My day-to-day responsibilities vary depending on board meetings, etc. I work constantly, including on the weekends. Honestly, I enjoy the charity work I do and plan to do it for the rest of my life. 

What made you want to get involved with organizations on the East End specifically?

JS: When you live in a community or have a vacation home in a community it is key to support that community.

Can you highlight a few past missions or projects that have been important to you?

JS: Every time I chair a gala or host and underwrite a party for a charity, the mission is important to me. To date, I have chaired and hosted hundreds of events for different charities. Other projects that have been important to me include writing my books, my speaking engagements on philanthropy, and, of course, my TV show Successful Philanthropy. 

Do you have any upcoming projects you’d like to discuss?

JS: I am completing a book that I expect will be published this year. Then I hope to complete a second edition of my book, Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life by What You Give. After that, I would like to do a book about my love of fashion. 

Can you tell us about your book and what motivated you to write it?

JS: The main message of my book, Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life by What You Give, is that anyone can become a philanthropist. If you do not have large amounts of money to donate, you can become a philanthropist by giving your time and knowledge. Time and knowledge are very valuable resources. However, I do believe that those that have financial resources have an obligation to give financially. Another important message in my book is that giving is greatly rewarding. When we generously give to help others, we achieve great personal satisfaction. Giving is most often far more satisfying than receiving. The purpose of writing my book was to motivate others and then to serve as a guide for philanthropic work. 

Can you discuss your TV show and how it has helped you reach a wider audience to share your message?

JS: On my TV show Successful Philanthropy I have interviewed many different celebrities, politicians, fashion designers, executive directors of charities and billionaire philanthropists. My TV show gives others a platform to speak about their philanthropic work. The show is designed to motivate others so that they, too, will want to become involved in the giving process. 

What is the one piece of advice you’d give to anyone looking to get involved in philanthropy?

JS: It is impossible to give just one piece of advice. Start slowly with your charity work. Do your research and learn all you can about different charities that are of interest to you. Look for a well-run charity. Make sure its overhead is low. Choose a charity where there is a need and where your time and resources are appreciated. As a volunteer and donor, you should be treated with dignity and respect. Likewise, you must treat those who work at the charity, those they service, and your fellow volunteers with dignity and respect. Of course, donors must be treated well, too. Do not get discouraged. If one charity does not seem to be the right fit, look for another. There are thousands of well-run charities. Most are looking for good volunteers and for people who earnestly want to help. These principles are all spelled out in my book and apply to people of all ages. 

Did you ever imagine you’d be able to make the impact you have made so far?

JS: Never—but the impact has become worldwide which makes me feel good. I am honored to know that I have been able to influence others on a global level to become involved in the philanthropic process. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

JS: I keep exploring new opportunities and new charity boards. I love the boards I serve on and feel greatly privileged to do the philanthropic work I do. Sharing my enthusiasm and knowledge of philanthropy with others is something I plan to do for the rest of my life. 

To learn more about Jean and her philanthropic work, click here.