A New Kind of Philanthropy

Some people say there is a right and wrong way to do philanthropy. For example, proponents of “effective altruism” argue that every dollar given to a charitable cause should have maximum impact. If, for instance, the goal is to save human lives at the least cost, then all philanthropic dollars should be devoted to saving lives in developing countries and none should be spent in the United States.

Similarly, some people assert that charitable gifts should focus on the root causes of problems, rather than the symptoms. A story often cited is babies floating down a river. One person pulls the babies out of the river, thereby saving each one. Another person goes upstream to determine why the babies are floating down the river in the first place!

All of us are and can be philanthropists. You don’t have to be wealthy to be a philanthropist. While I agree that philanthropists should be thoughtful about their giving, one size does not fit all. Supporting a food pantry doesn’t get to the root of systemic hunger, but it can provide much-needed food for families that need it immediately. We’re very fortunate in this country that people have many diverse interests and passions. When people want to help others, they often follow their passions, and that’s a good thing.

At the Barton Institute, we have the great opportunity to work with generous people and organizations who support their passions every day.

How wonderful it is that so many generous people have so many different philanthropic passions!

Warmly,

David Miller
Chief Executive Officer
The Barton Institute for Community Action

 
Basmala Ahmad