There are no caveats.

Some will argue that no one should advocate some ideal level of annual giving or some cultural giving norm. And they are entitled to their opinion.

But here’s my opinion: If you don’t keep score, in any game or aspect of your life – such as your weight, your tennis match score, your income and expenses, your investment portfolio, etc. – you’re not really playing, you’re just fooling around…

And if you don’t have a giving goal, and a giving plan, then how can you be sure that you have set aside the funds, in a liquid form, to make your gifts within your planned timeframe of one year?