Are You Similar To My Definition Of Philanthropy?

When most millennials were asked what they think of when they hear the word philanthropy, they said, “rich,” “money,” “fancy galas,” “elitist,” and “old white men” (TED, 2016), however, when millennials who are philanthropy beneficiaries were asked the same question, they said, “caring,” “human beings,” “loving,” “sharing,” and “helping others” (TED, 2016). As I thought about the word philanthropy myself, my initial thoughts were, “kindness,” “giving,” and “helping others,” which are very similar to the views that the millennial beneficiaries have of philanthropy. At first, I thought that this alignment could be due to simply being a fundraising minor and knowing the real meaning of philanthropy, but as I analyzed my response further, I realized that I am a beneficiary of philanthropy myself, which could have played a role in my interpretation of philanthropy. So, overall, I think that the combination of my academic background in fundraising, as well as being a scholarship recipient, has allowed me to associate philanthropy in a more accurate and positive light.

Many people believe that it takes a lot of money to be a philanthropist and/or that it refers only to the act of giving money (TED, 2016). This is simply not the case, as discussed in class, people can give time, talent, and treasure, and in varying amounts (Jenkins, 2018). So, I think that my stake in re-examining philanthropy is to try and break down these misconceptions and get people to see that the true meaning of philanthropy is the “love of mankind” (TED, 2016). In order to do so, I will encourage others to join me in using something that they are passionate about (sports, arts, science, etc.) and find some way, be it through donating your time, talent, or money, to use it to help people have a better