Philanthropy Is About People

Helping People is the Key!

Philanthropy is about people. Make sure that you have defined the specific people to be helped by your project.

People want to help other people. It is as simple as that. Nobody wants to contribute to a poorly framed project that says “Let’s save the world’s poor.” What does it mean? Who are they? The problem seems overwhelming and unsolvable.

But if I come to you and say we have a village in Africa that needs mosquito netting to reduce the risk of malaria, now we have real people, with a real problem. It can be solved, and we know who will be helped if we do it!

Give Lots of People an Opportunity to Help

One of the most powerful things we can do in our philanthropy is to give others a chance to participate. Help other people to help other people!

The change that will come into their hearts as they contribute in meaningful ways is one of the most important things you can do to save the planet! The key here is to make their opportunity to help as direct and personal as possible.

When we organized our event to take the children to Disneyland, we invited each donor to come to Disneyland with us and to spend the day with the child they sponsored. Every year, we now have 350 adults who come to help 350 children.

Some of these adults have started similar programs in different regions. Our philanthropy is multiplying because we make sure that many people get a chance to participate in the gift of giving.

All We Need Is Someone to Say “Go!”

One of the most powerful things we can do as philanthropists—and if you have read this far, I know you are one—is to give the go sign to important and urgent projects.

When the 2004 tsunami hit Indonesia, Thailand, India, and several island nations in the Indian Ocean, we immediately dispatched an emergency paramedic team to India. We told them, “Get on the plane; we are sending you the money right now!”

Then we went out to ask for donations. We keep an emergency fund set aside for just such occasions. We then take targeted donations to replenish the fund so we can help out the next time around.

We raised so much money for the medical team that we ended up buying two fishing boats to help restore the local economy as well. People will absolutely open their pocketbooks if you have a well-framed project that helps real people and if you have already given the go sign!

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