Charity Vs Philanthropy: 3 Facts That People Need To Know
In a world where something bad is likely to happen, a good deed goes a long way.
For years, people have given their time, effort, and money to help the less fortunate access basic needs.
It’s human nature to label stuff so we decided to call those that lent themselves to this effort humanitarians.
Oxford Languages defines a humanitarian as someone who is, “concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare.”
So where do the words Philanthropy and Charity fit in? Keep reading and you’ll find out.
* Charity and Philanthropy are not the same
If you ask a random person about the difference between charity and philanthropy, they might tell you that it’s the same thing.
It isn’t.
Charity is an immediate response to a crisis. It provides a short-term solution to a prevailing issue.
For example, the food and clothing that we ship to third-world countries is a form of charity.
Philanthropy is a strategic approach to permanently solve a prevailing issue. It focuses on implementing ideas and doing research for thorough problem-solving.
If someone decides to tackle the underlying cause of unemployment in a third-world country by providing workforce training and creating jobs, they are doing the job of a philanthropist.
Which one do you see yourself doing?
* Charity and Philanthropy are critical to Human Rights
This is pretty obvious, but if you understand how pertinent Charity and Philanthropy are to the UN’s goals, you’d have a greater appreciation for them.
To further its agenda, UN subsidiaries such as the UNDP offer grants to charities and philanthropic organizations to help them execute tasks that are in keeping with their goals.
Charity and philanthropy address every form of human rights violation. Charity looks to tackle the problems that the violations cause while philanthropy deals with the root cause of everything.
* Charity and Philanthropy are not only for the wealthy
Nothing happens without money. Even if you’re not the one spending it, someone else is!
However, being rich isn’t necessary to be an effective philanthropist or charity.
Giving a family in need some groceries is a charitable start and helping young boys in a dangerous community to commit to sports is an excellent way to get your philanthropic groove on!
It all starts with an idea and a little effort.
If you’re going to engage in Charity or philanthropy, be ready to commit to the bigger picture.
Be like Kwasi Asare.
Mr. Asare is a successful Ghanaian-American businessman that has devoted over 20 years of his life to philanthropy. As busy as he is, he finds time to invest in NGOs that are focused on eradicating poverty.
His latest partnership is with Ghana and US-based Non-Profit Organization, The Village Community Development Center (VCDC).
His appointment as their Chairman serves to strengthen his commitment to the wellbeing of others.
What can you do to make this world a better place? Finding a charity or philanthropic community will help you find the answer!
