By Josh Dukelow, gift planning officer Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
Nine-figure gifts from MacKenzie Scott or Arthur M. Blank often make headlines, and those donations are certainly newsworthy. But those eye-popping numbers can create a mistaken impression that “philanthropy” is something only ultra-wealthy people can do.
In fact, philanthropy is something we can all do. Perhaps you don’t have $100 million to give to charity but there are many other ways to be a philanthropist. After all, that word means “promoting the welfare of others.”
When you make your regular donation to your church, you are a philanthropist.
When you check-in on a neighbor after the storm passes, you are a philanthropist.
When you help watch neighborhood kids while their parents run errands, you are a philanthropist.
When you support a coworker raising funds through a 5k, you are a philanthropist.
These common activities may not seem like “philanthropy” as we traditionally think of it, but they are an essential part of our social support networks. We all rely on help from friends and family from time to time, and most of us can offer that help to people in need, too. It is not the amount you give, but the act of giving that makes you a philanthropist.
When you give clothing from the back of your closet to Goodwill, you are a philanthropist.
When you help weed and water the neighborhood garden, you are a philanthropist.
When you organize a meal train for the new mom down the street, you are a philanthropist.
When you give someone a ride to their medical appointment, you are a philanthropist.
Think about a time when you have needed help. Whom did you ask? Where did you turn? It may have been to friends or family, or perhaps it was your church or a local nonprofit organization.
How did you feel after getting help? Did you think about all the people who took small steps to make that help possible? Did you want to do your part to give back, to ensure the next person got the help they needed, too?
Philanthropy is not about what’s in your bank account, it’s about what’s in your heart. You don’t need millions of dollars to be a philanthropist. You only need a generous spirit and giving heart.
When you are there for someone in trouble, you are a philanthropist.
When you volunteer to coach the youth soccer team, you are a philanthropist.
When you let another driver merge into your lane of traffic, you are a philanthropist.
When it comes to philanthropy, the decision to give some of yourself to others is what’s important. The massive donations that make eye-catching headlines are only one piece of the puzzle. Don’t let the scale of someone else’s giving discourage you or make you feel like your donations don’t matter.
As we approach the end of the year, think about the many ways you give to others. At home, in your neighborhood, at work, at school, or anywhere else. The gifts you give make a difference to others. And the act of giving makes you a philanthropist.
If you’d like to partner with other individuals and organizations working to promote the welfare of others throughout metro Atlanta, visit cfgreateratlanta.org to learn how you can help promote equity and shared prosperity in our region.
This is sponsored content.
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