Whether we’re aware of it or not, we all have a philanthropic autobiography*. That is, the many ways in which giving and receiving has shaped our lives - sometimes without us even noticing. Often, our giving priorities are shaped during our formative years, through the challenges we face in life, and by the examples set by others around us.
Young children famously ask many questions, but rarely do they ask, ‘Where did the money come from?’ It is not until we are older that we wonder who funded the familiar facilities, projects or amenities that are all too easily taken for granted, because they are ‘just there’ in the form of parks, museums, sports clubs and community groups, and cultural centres. Many educational institutes are enhanced by philanthropic investment, supporting significant research. Much medical research is powered by philanthropy. We are all beneficiaries of philanthropy, often without realising it. Sometimes, we wrongly assume that places and services are provided by the state, and indeed, some of them may be wholly or partially publicly funded. But this may not always have been the case. Many local libraries, for example, were built thanks to funding given by Andrew Carnegie. Most older hospitals were charitably run, before the advent of the NHS.
But philanthropy isn’t only about money. It encompasses the time and talents, as well as treasure that people give, in order to make things happen. If you’ve ever been shown around a site by a volunteer, sought support to manage a specific health condition or issue in your life, or enjoyed homemade cake at a community event, the likelihood is that you’ve benefitted from the voluntary action of others who have given freely of their time and skills. That’s philanthropy in action.
My own philanthropic journey started well before I was born. My parents, who were both polio survivors, met at a residential school for children with disabilities, which had originated as a philanthropic project. As adults, they were supported by a combination of employment and state benefits, but their income did not stretch to meeting the extensive costs of accessible family holidays. Luckily for us, someone had thought about that need, and made provision so that we could enjoy an affordable summer holiday in a wheelchair-friendly seaside hotel, or self-cater in an accessible bungalow or waterside apartment. Later on, I volunteered at one of the venues we’d stayed at, so that other people with disabilities could enjoy a week’s holiday.
Growing up, I was aware of our neighbouring Camphill Community, where people with intellectual disabilities, who might otherwise have been excluded from society, lived and worked together in a supported setting. Over the years, we got to know our neighbours better, and appreciated their practice of traditional crafts such as weaving, toy-making and baking. Camphill was - and still is - very much a part of the local community, thanks to the many people who have volunteered to support the community over the years. I’m proud to support them today.
As a teenager, I was lucky enough to be part of an international exchange programme with a school in India. This is when I learnt to fundraise - fast! - as we organised barn dances and car-washes and sold snacks to make our trip happen. I was touched by the support Team India enjoyed, both from within our school community and beyond as we reached out to our network. We were also blessed with funding from Trusts and Foundations, as well as institutional funders who supported the educational aims of our exchange programme. I realised that philanthropy doesn’t happen in a vacuum - the best philanthropy is relational. As Ken Burnett put it, fund-raising is friend-raising.
Fast-forward twenty years or so, and I sent my daughter off to enjoy a week of music-making at a summer camp for children and young people. Again, this project was made possible through philanthropic funding - money donated and left in wills specifically so that children could make music and memories together - a gift for their ‘here and now’ that also created meaningful impact.
Once we realise how much we have benefitted from others’ philanthropy - literally, their love of humanity - we can think about what we value most, and how we can best pass that passion on through our own philanthropic actions.
What have been the highlights of your philanthropic journey so far?
*Michael Moody writes about the concept of a philanthropic autobiography: Everybody’s Philanthropic Autobiography, Part II: How Do We Write It?