Are You Growing Philanthropy?
Hello Everyone,
I hope this finds you well today. How is it March already? Yikes! I feel like I lost February, but I am loving the warmer weather we have had in the Midwest. Since Spring is about renewal, I thought this month I would share a refresher about philanthropy. I wrote this simple article on philanthropy, below, after a few requests to revisit philanthropy as a fundamental principle. As you read it, I want to be sure that you hear my heart and that of our company very clearly. We believe, with everything in us, that society is transformed as individual people express their love of mankind and find their potential in that process. When each person is empowered to discover their greatest contributions through philanthropy, we transform the world around us and everyone wins.
Warmest Regards,
Jamie
Are You Growing Philanthropists
Jamie D. Levy
What is Philanthropy?
I began intentionally asking and seeking an answer to that question 20 years ago. If you ask the average person, you will hear answers ranging from the latest mutual fund to the study of some guy named Phil. The media associates philanthropy with giving of money by rich people, when in fact (depending on whose research we use) approximately 50-60% of all financial giving by individuals comes from those making $100,000 or less on a yearly basis. Even further, as families make less in the USA, they actually give higher percentages of their income, more than doubling and tripling the national average. This is all good information, but are we any closer to knowing what philanthropy really is?
Literally, philanthropy means love of man . It comes from the Greek root word philos, meaning to love. Anthro comes from the Greek word humanity or man. Philanthropy simply means to love humanity. Love of humankind.
Where does philanthropy originate and should we care?
We definitely should care. God himself is love. I believe God provided for the first philanthropic act in creating humanity. I believe philanthropy has existed since creation, yet many people barely have a grasp on what the word even means, much less understand it’s potential to transform our society. When we begin to see philanthropy for its truth, love of man as first expressed by our creator himself, I believe we begin to get a glimpse of how powerful philanthropy can be.
What does it look like?
Philanthropy is expressed through 3 pillars in society:
1. Giving of/releasing treasure
2. Giving of our giftedness and wisdom through our time (physical volunteering, sharing, giving insights, learning, etc.)
3. Giving of our passion/ spirit standing in the gap for what we believe and share value in through advocacy, which drives how we volunteer and give (advocacy comes from the word to intercede or to stand in the gap for something of higher value)
Does it matter that we barely understand philanthropy’s value and impact?
Yes, it does matter. Philanthropy is a vehicle for translating and creating value in society and providing a means to engage in that value. It enables renewal and empowers a society to engage in vision, passion and freedom. As one develops a true lens of what philanthropy is and begins to look through it, everything changes. Our focus in community is understood to be about the creation of meaning, value and opportunity for society to engage with its passions and values. Organizations should challenge us to find that place of greatest meaning in our lives as we seek how we can live out being a part of philanthropy living our ability to love humanity. To know the world and to choose to love the world is one of the greatest choices we make.
Does this impact your organization?
I should, smile. When we fully understand philanthropy and its application, the not-for-profit becomes the engine for this transformational vehicle of philanthropy. It becomes a conduit that catalyzes people to find complete meaning in their passions. Philanthropy is transformational and our challenge is to find how we are led to transform. So often in society we promote one aspect of philanthropy over another. That may be realized through overstretched volunteerism, or a focus only on stewardship and giving. After hearing from literally thousands and thousands of donors and volunteers, I have learned one thing for sure. When we don’t focus on the holistic meaning of philanthropy, we miss our place of greatest impact through love of man. The not-for profit sector is the engine to create real philanthropists that are true to philanthropy. When we engage people to discover and learn how to use all three pillars of philanthropy in realizing their shared beliefs, passions and values, we transform the world. That is what true philanthropists do.
I leave you with this--Is your organization growing true philanthropists?
