S1E67 - Phyllis Costanza on Deuteronomy 16:20 – “Just Ends and Just Means, Together”

Mark is delighted to welcome Phyllis Costanza, Head of UBS in Society and CEO of the UBS Optimus Foundation, to the podcast today. In her role, Phyllis applies an investment-based approach which makes it simpler for clients and their families to manage their philanthropy in order to tackle some of the world's most pressing social and environmental issues. Mark’s African Mission Healthcare is one of the only 5% of charities that applied to work with Phyllis’ organization to have been approved, and he feels truly blessed that they are in partnership together. The passage Phyllis has chosen to discuss today is Deuteronomy 16:20. Phyllis begins by sharing her summary of the passage and the meaning it holds for her, which leads to an extensive analysis of the different theories regarding the repetition of the word ‘justice’ within it. Paired with this discussion is their exploration of how this passage resonates with Phyllis’ work with Optimus and the rigorous selection process they use when considering charities and in guiding philanthropists. Woven throughout is the notion that philanthropy done with love will always be the most successful and that the potential exists for actually making situations worse when love and rigor are absent. Phyllis also shares her lessons about mankind which reveal precisely who make up the most generous donors, and she offers details regarding the challenge of having to reject charities for the sake of upholding her organization’s rigorous selection process. Episode Highlights: Phyllis’ summary of the passage and the meaning it holds for her The different theories on why the word ‘justice’ is mentioned twice How this passage resonates with Phyllis’ work at Optimus Rigor in forming philanthropic decisions ‘Spray and pray’ How Optimus educates and guides philanthropists Phyllis’ example of philanthropy which actually made a situation far worse The dangers of a ‘the one with the pesos has the say-so’s’ attitude in philanthropy The rigor that Optimus applies when approving cha