Philanthropy Drives The Giving Spirit
Giving to others for the greater good is the ultimate form of altruism. Doing so through philanthropy is the driving force that makes the spirit of giving a reality. Philanthropic platforms serve as a base of donor dollars that can be disseminated to help individuals, communities, causes, and charitable organizations. This spirit of giving to improve the lives of others, and sustain a community, are done not for profit, but from a selfless desire to help.
Philanthropic Foundations
The most well-known type of philanthropy is represented by philanthropic foundations. Such foundations are created to serve as a vehicle for wealthy individuals and organizations to distribute funds to charitable organizations, individuals or institutions. Most foundations serve only as a grantmaking entity to various programs, but many foundations such as the one created by former CEO of EBI Consulting, Jeffrey Previte, may also have their own charitable programs, initiatives and activities designed to give back to the community.
Philanthropic Platforms
- Charitable giving comes in many forms, and they are different types of giving that fall under the umbrella of philanthropy. A few of these include:
- Donor-Advised Funds are created as a vehicle for foundations to serve as an adviser to donors suggesting charitable recipients that match the donors’ areas of interest and focus.
- Corporate Philanthropy is a popular form of philanthropy used by large for-profit businesses, typically via matching gift programs whereby the corporation will match the gift their employee makes to designated charities or causes.
- Pool Money is a relatively new form of philanthropic giving where a group of individual philanthropists come together and pool their money together and use their combined funds to support a singular project or mission.
- Volunteerism is another form of philanthropy that is non-monetary but can be very impactful to organizations, while also creating a sense of greater sense of purpose for those who volunteer.
Philanthropic Benefits
The benefit of philanthropy is two-fold. Philanthropy supports the work of organizations, individuals, missions and causes with the ultimate goal of improving the welfare of people and their communities, whether locally or globally. It creates a positive impact for not only the recipient but also the giver. Many philanthropists report that being involved in philanthropic work gives them a better understanding of people and issues, while also improving their overall sense of self.
Philanthropy’s Impact
The history of philanthropic giving dates back centuries, and its scale and ability to positively change the world is undeniable. Philanthropy has benefited organizations and individuals in the field of science and medicine with the goal of tackling diseases and finding cures. Philanthropic efforts have been successful in helping regions rebuild after natural disasters. Philanthropists have come together to support causes and programs to defeat poverty. Foundations have been formed to combat global health issues. Philanthropic programs have worked to bring about social change, and address inequities in societies.
The positive impact of philanthropy defines altruism at its best. It also dramatically illustrates the art of helping and propels the spirit of giving to others for the greater good.
