In the bustling world of business and philanthropy, where opportunities to contribute abound, the decision to say yes to a new commitment often hinges on emotional impulse. Piya Saliba, CEO of Fountain Capital, based in Beverly Hills, California, and a dedicated volunteer with the Nalin and Naseeb Foundation and the Cedars-Sinai NICU Parent Council, believes that approach is flawed. She has developed a set of four questions to help individuals determine whether a cause is the right fit for them at a given time.
Saliba's first question is deceptively simple: what do I actually bring? She argues that while caring about an issue is important, it is not enough. "I have sat in rooms where everyone cared and nobody could say what they were there to do," she says. "Caring gets you in the door. It does not tell you what to do once you are inside." She encourages people to identify their specific contributions—time, money, skills, networks, or personal stories—and to name them clearly. Her own background, split between Indonesia and Singapore and exposed to both a family furniture business and the arts, taught her that different people bring different kinds of value to a room.
The second question addresses cost: what will this cost, and where? Saliba notes that the most challenging cost is rarely financial; it is attention. "You can budget money," she says. "You cannot budget attention the same way. It leaks out of whatever you are not looking at." She advises asking which part of life will quietly shrink to accommodate the new commitment—whether it is sleep, a hobby, family time, or a slower version of work. Naming the cost in advance, she says, prevents it from arriving as a surprise months later.
Third, Saliba asks: does this fit what I already know? Her own commitments align closely with her personal experiences. Her work with the Cedars-Sinai NICU Parent Council draws on her own encounters with families in vulnerable moments, and her involvement with the Nalin and Naseeb Foundation reflects causes close to her heart. "I did not pick these because they were the biggest need out there," she says. "I picked them because I had something specific to offer, based on what I had already lived through or already knew." This question, she explains, filters out well-meaning but poorly matched commitments.
Finally, Saliba asks: can I keep showing up? She emphasizes sustainability over sporadic bursts of energy. Nonprofits rely on consistent support, and she would rather commit to less and maintain it than take on more and fade out. "Consistency is its own form of respect," she says. "It tells the people and the cause that you meant it." Saliba applies this principle to her own life, balancing her professional and volunteer commitments with her passion for the arts, including singing, acting, and dance.
For business leaders and philanthropists in Long Beach and beyond, Saliba's framework offers a practical approach to making meaningful contributions without overextending. By asking these four questions before saying yes, individuals can ensure their efforts are both effective and sustainable, ultimately creating a more significant impact in their communities.
