Philanthropy: More Than Charity, More Than Volunteering

Philanthropy is more than charity and much more than volunteering. It’s the choice to serve the public with a long-term vision for real change. True philanthropists don’t just give once in a while—they roll up their sleeves. They volunteer, donate, and stay involved, working strategically to tackle social challenges and make life better for everyone (Picket, 2025).

Philanthropy isn’t just about volunteering, but every act of volunteering is deeply philanthropic. It’s more than giving to the needy; it’s about empowering people—those who receive help and those who step up to give it.

Real philanthropy builds people up: leaders become stronger, and everyone learns to thrive as teammates. When you give, you offer more than resources; you share your skills, your character, and the best parts of yourself.

Let’s use basketball to illustrate the impact of philanthropy. The backcourt guards have different roles. The point guard takes joy in creating opportunities and helping others score. The shooting guard always looks for the open shot, focusing only on the basket. One is communal; the other, individual. Real philanthropy lives in the mindset of the point guard—focused on others first, always setting the play so everyone wins.

We should not confuse philanthropy with charity or volunteerism. Charity offers immediate relief, and volunteering gives valuable time, but philanthropy reaches deeper. It’s a long-term commitment to solving problems at their root, investing ideas, resources, and personal effort to create lasting change and empower communities to thrive.