I think it's safe to assume that we can all agree that philanthropy is good. However, what each and every one of us deem to be 'good' may be up for interpretation-- I will not be discussing that in this blogpost. Instead, I will be blogging about what I believe, is rarely given thought while discussing philanthropic work: motivation.
People find themselves donating their time/efforts/money for a multitude of reasons. Some donate because it makes them feel good, others because they feel a moral obligation to do so, and the rest because it's what everyone else seems to be doing. Regardless of the reasons that one aspires to partake in philanthropic endeavors, the outcome always seems to be the same: the world gets just a little bit better. However, for the group of individuals whom choose to donate because it makes them feel like better people, how long does this feeling last for? And once this feeling dissipates, assuming that it eventually will, what then? Is this when another act of philanthropy ought to ensue?
This is something that I always found quite puzzling. Like all others in this class, I agree that philanthropy is good... in fact, it's great. But how often do we take a step back and try to analyze why people are choosing to donate? Instead, we blindly appreciate the outcome without ever questioning the motivation behind it. Although it would be entirely difficult to decipher each and every reason for each and every philanthropic deed, I think it would be interesting to try to evaluate and pinpoint the reasoning behind each individual's acts of generosity. We all need to be motivated by something and once we locate our source of motivation, I believe it shines throughout the choices we make in our everyday lives.
This topic has been on my mind ever since I won the tweet of the week contest. Mostly because I am trying to locate my own source of motivation, which I hope will point me in the direction of an organization to donate to. Also by identifying my source of motivation, I hope to further solidify myself as a well-developed woman who is spirited in her beliefs.
It'd be great if you guys could comment with some feedback regarding what motivates you guys. Who knows? Maybe you can help pinpoint my source of motivation.
I think what motivates me to give, as well as probably a lot of others, is that I feel a certain level of empathy towards others who are in need or are suffering. While I do agree that people give because it makes them feel good, because they feel they have an obligation to do so, or because it is the trend, I give because they have empathy towards the people they are helping.
ReplyDeleteI give because I can put myself in their shoes. I can imagine myself being poor or without water or in need of some service. It would mean the world to me if somewhere helped me out. So, I think what motivates me is empathy. Not because it makes me feel good or because I have a moral obligation to give, I think I give because it is the right thing to do.
It is a little weird to say that other people's need and suffering is what motivates me, but I think that is what it comes down to. So, as far as picking a non-profit and finding out what motivates you, I say you should give to whatever cause or organization makes you feel the most empathy towards them or, simply, what organization makes you care the most about helping other people and their cause for a better society.
After reading your blog post, I began looking into what motivates some very wealthy people to donate. There are a number of inspirational stories to be found, including a woman who, with a fortune she had amassed through the creation of a software programming company in the 1960's, went on to build a specialized school for students with autism. She was motivated to donate her time and financial resources to this cause after her son was diagnosed as autistic. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19876134)
ReplyDeleteI read a second article that articulated a similar point, on a smaller scale. I particularly enjoyed this bit, " For example, an elderly man said that he supports a butterfly conservation charity because: "When I was a boy I collected butterflies and I'm trying to give back, if you like, the damage that I did, so to speak. In those days you were encouraged to kill butterflies and collect them, so that's an important one". His use of the adjective "important" is quite telling: he doesn't claim that butterfly conservation is of the greatest significance or in the most urgent need in any universal sense, rather it is because of his particular personal history." (http://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2011/sep/15/personal-taste-drives-charitable-giving)
Both articles, in my opinion, speak to the importance of a personal connection between the donor and the philanthropic efforts they choose to support.
Personally, I believe that philanthropy will be most effective when the donor has a personal tie or emotional connection to the cause being support by the non-profit organization. This is, perhaps, why I feel strongly about donating on a local level versus a global level. My roots are firmly planted in my hometown, and while the needs of the local community may seem trivial when compared to the needs of the world at large, my heart tells me that it is important to give back on a local level. I am motivated by my desire to see my community, and the people within it, thrive.
Even just narrowing the focus to local philanthropy can still leave a daunting number of possibilities. There are after-school programs, domestic violence shelters, organizations that offer an array of mental health services, non-profit health clinics, food banks, and more. I would suggest taking a look at your personal life experiences and finding a cause that speaks to you on an emotional level, and deciding from there.
This is not to say that philanthropy should be a completely emotional act. There needs to be some amount of reason involved so that money is not donated and subsequently wasted by an inefficient organization. After finding a cause that speaks to you, I would suggest doing the appropriate research and finding reputable non-profit that supports that cause in some fashion.
For me, giving back is something that I enjoy to do because I love to see others succeed. I used to coach my younger brother's CYO basketball team when I was in high school. I would be at all the practices helping the players work on their skills and teamwork, while creating a fun, joking and safe environment for the kids. I developed a relationship with each group of kids that I worked with every year, and even though I personally wouldn't be playing in the games when the team won it was like I was out there with them. Yes I got a little bit of joy out of it, but it wasn't for me, it was to see that other people were having such a great time, and I helped create that in some way.
ReplyDeleteI think that our motivations come in part from how we were raised. I know I was always told to treat others how you want to be treated, and that putting yourself in other people's shoes can make a big difference. I know that if I was ever in a tough situation, I would want to know that somebody was out there to help me. In turn, I want to help others so that they can better themselves. This situation came up when I was tutoring elementary and middle school children. I never had a problem with elementary school and middle school, but I know that if I did have one, I would have liked to know that there was somebody out there that would help me. Even if I may think I won't need help one day, I still help others because right now they do, and it is the right thing to do.
I know that if I can take a little bit of time out of my day to make somebody else's better, than it is much more than worth it. If I get a benefit out of helping others, then that is just an additional benefit. Now I don't see this as an obligation, but more of just the kind of thing that should be done. I'm not going to go around telling others what they should and shouldn't do, everyone is entitled to do what they want to with their time. I will say that if we spend time helping others, then there will be less people that don't have anybody to turn to in their time of need, and that is a great world to live in.
After reading this, I couldn't help to think about being passionate. To me motivation and passion go hand in hand. They are both a type of determination that makes a person want to accomplish a goal. Being passionate can motivate anyone to fulfilling anything they choose. Then I started thinking about why people are donating and tried to analyze the reasons and motivations behind it. I came up with five possible reasons on what motivates people to donate:
ReplyDelete1. because it makes them feel good
2. because they know what they stand for
3. because they think its the right thing to do
4. because they want to change the world
5. because of a personal experience
Motivations behind donating are not limited to these five reasons. However then I began to think does it matter what the reason is? All of these reasons produce a good outcome. People are choosing to make a difference in the world despite the motivation behind it. It would definitely be interesting to pinpoint why each person choose to donate. But everyone who chooses to do so is helping the world become a better place, maybe that's the underlying motivation behind everyones' reason. Motivations are constantly changing and people can be motivated towards one or more causes at the same time.
I know for me my motivations to donate are constantly changing mostly based on personal experience and knowing what I stand for. For example in high school I met a woman with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). We became close and I hated seeing her with this disease, she was such a great person and had a family to take care of. So I helped organize walks and fundraisers to raise awareness and find a cure. Another time was when a child soldier came to speak at my school. He told us about his life, what he had to do as a child soldier and what war was like. Hearing this from a child was extremely heartbreaking and scary. I've never held a gun and this little boy has killed people. After that each month I donated to help child soldiers in Africa. My motivation came from personal interactions with those who needed help. However at other times its not through personal experiences. Knowing what I stand for motivates me to help those in need. I can stand for many different things but it helps me focus on specific causes.
I agree with Charles that empathy plays a major role. For me, it's probably the underlying core motivation for why I donate at all. When I'm empathetic it ignites a spark in me that needs to help these people. I can't grasp how there are people in this world who have little or nothing when there are people in this world who have everything. People can't choose where they are born or the environment they are born into. It's up to those who can help to help these people in need. Despite whatever their motivations might be bottom line is they are helping people, an issue, or a cause. I think that's a good enough reason because it all works toward the same goal of making this world a better place to live.
I find this entire dialogue incredibly interesting. In my Vision of Philanthropy Paper, I actually talk quite a bit about what motivates me to give. What particularly strikes me is the fact that the motivation to give must be strong enough that it outweighs another desire that a person may have. While writing the paper, I spent quite a bit of time thinking about Hannah Salwen and how she was motivated to give after seeing a homeless person at the same instant a late-model Mercedes pulled up next to her father's car. I think that kind of unfairness is precisely what motivates me to give. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, it requires two things that are completely in contrast (and unfairly so) for me to recognize something as unfair or unequal. It's not so much that we don't recognize that we should give, but the fact that it is only when we see unfairness and inequality that we realize that something is off, and that something must be done to fix it.
ReplyDeleteI wish people were more motivated to give without seeing unfairness or inequality, but I think that feelings of sympathy and pity and empathy (all motivators to give) come about primarily when we see something that we want to change, or something that drives us to want to help.
Like Sharon, I have found my motivation to give is similar to Hannah Salwen's. I am inspired by the idea that I live of a life of relative excess, and my time and money could be more useful in another person's life. Giving back brings me back to reality. Often times, I get swallowed into this materialistic world solely thinking of the next gadget, article of clothing, or fun activity I am going to treat myself to. My commitment to philanthropy makes me realize what is and what is not truly necessary. Yes, I am used to a certain standard of living, so I definitely allow myself to indulge to a certain extent, but my motivation to give provides me with a limit.
ReplyDeleteThis value is often and easily tested in my daily life. For example, this weekend I was in a restaurant, and a women came up to me and explained that she was a few dollars short and couldn't afford the meal she had already ordered. She went on to explain that it was her only meal of the day and she would really appreciate anything I could do to help. I looked in my wallet and saw the 4 dollars I had set aside for cab fare home later that night, and promptly took it out and handed it to her. Yes, I would be cold and frustrated trying to make a bus back to campus later on, but how does that need really compare to hers? And maybe she was lying and didn't actually need those few dollars in that moment, but for her to swallow her pride and ask is enough for me to know that my tiny donation would make a difference in at least her moral and hopefully her well-being. It's sad that the circumstances that this woman was in exist, but moments like the one I mentioned keep me motivated to give. Unfortunately, there are constant reminders of the inequality that is so prevalent in Binghamton, but they definitely have a positive impact on my feelings of obligation to give back.
Personally, my motivation to donate comes from one of my core values, which is family. My sister was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes more than 10 years ago. Although this is not a deadly disease, it is an extremely serious one and alters the day-to-day health of my sister. In addition, this illness is a huge change in lifestyle for not only the person that it affects, but also for the people that associate themselves with that individual.
ReplyDeleteThe diagnosis of my sister with this disease motivates me to give back time and money to JDRF, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. I volunteer every year at the work, in addition to raising money to my sister's "team"- Paige's Posse. One year, I raised almost $1,000 from family and friends. Additionally, I got my friends involved and they too volunteer at the walks annually.
Although my motivation is specific, I believe that each individual has a personal experience in which they choose to donate. Whether it comes from an illness that affects a family member or friend, or noticing the needs of one's community.
Like Sharon said, this discussion made me immediately think of my Vision of Philanthropy paper. My motivation to give is similar to what Juliette and Sharon talked about, wanting to use my resources to help those who can't help themselves, because not everyone has the same amount of opportunity or representation. My resource sharing does include money and goods, but the facet that I focused on is my time, and more importantly, my voice.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge animal lover, and my paper focuses on the fact that while even the very poorest and most disenfranchised humans may not have a loud political or social voice, they still have a literal voice to speak up for themselves, while animals lack even that. I've had pets and been involved with animals my whole life, and as I prepare to apply to veterinary school the range of species I work with has broadened, and the interaction I've had with animals has deepened. I've become increasingly aware of the fact that most animals have distinct personalities and varying emotions. And as a biologist, studying evolution has made me realize that, in one sense, no creature is "more evolved" than any other. We all occupy different parts of the ecosystem and have different functions. We are all related and share a common ancestor. However, humans have assumed an arrogance about their position as the "most evolved" life form, and have begun systematically eradicating other beings, whether intentionally or unintentionally, directly or indirectly.
Animals (aside from some talented birds and sign-language-proficient apes) cannot talk, so I choose to stand up for those who most literally cannot speak for themselves. Murder, genocide, homelessness are recognized as horrible for human victims, and I believe they should also be recognized as a universal plight of all living creatures.
A movie that really encompasses what I believe is a documentary called Earthlings. It covers a lot of the faces of animal exploitation around the world. It’s free to watch on www.earthlings.com. I highly recommend everyone watch it. Human charity is of course a huge priority for me as well, but I like to take the time to advocate for the animals that can’t advocate for themselves.
When talking about motivation, especially in this sense, I think it always relates back to your core values. What motivates people in everyday life is what they believe is right and wrong and their moral compass in terms of what has to do be done. Finding your motivation has to come from knowing your core values. Why are things important to you? What is the most important problem that has to be tackled? If you think about it, motivation is really easy to identify, core values on the other hand are really difficult. If philanthropy isn't right on your radar of the most important things in your life, than obviously your motivation won't be as high as maybe doing your paper due today, or studying for a test in a really hard class.
ReplyDeleteMy motivation comes directly from what I think is right and wrong. And I believe that's everyone. If you think there is something that is the right thing to do, then you do it. You may question it, because what people think is right is very different, and you may even feel a little bad after doing based on other people's belief, but you were motivated to do something because you thought it was the right thing to do at the time.
And everything in this world has to do with perspective. The way you see the world dictates how you want to change the world, and it dictates what you think is wrong and right, and it ultimately commands your motivations. And perspective is constantly changing, which means your values are constantly changing, which makes finding your motivation sort of difficult sometimes.
How I found my motivation? Recently, I sat down and thought hard about everything I considered wrong and right in the world--I've obviously spent a lot of time in my dorm room alone. And the longer and harder I thought about it, the easier it was to pinpoint what I wanted to do with my life, and what motivated my actions. It is hard to explain, but what motivates me is knowing that there are a lot of ignorant people in the world, and it is up to me, not to get mad or upset, but to inform people an do the best I can to do little things to defend the causes I believe in the most: the food insecurity in Binghamton is terrible, the racist institution we call education makes me cringe, and the criminalization of blacks and Latinos needs to stop. What motivates me is my want to see an end to all these things.
-Chelsea Desruisseaux