The New Philanthropist

Charles Handy, listed as one of the world’s top ten gurus, has a new book out.

The New Philanthrapists documents the lives of 23 individuals and their contribution to, you guessed it, philanthropy.

Certainly, philanthropy is experiencing something of a renaissance. It may be to do with the unprecedented wealth that has been generated over the last ten years. In the UK alone, there are approximately 450,000 millionaires. These are people with cash assets of more than a million and don’t include the countless more sitting on millions in their properties.

Handy has built his career on spotting the signs of the times. He has discerned that these new millionaires are becoming increasingly engaged in making a social return. After they have achieved great wealth, they want to use it. In the words of one leading industrialist ‘I don’t want to be the richest man in the graveyard!’

These individuals are different from the traditional donor. Scarily, they want to be involved. This is sending shivers through the voluntary sector. I mean, who do these people think they are - telling us professional charity types how to do our job?

These individuals talk not of donations, but of investments. They want to see deliverable outcomes, measurable results, a tangible difference. Again, this is new for the sector. Again, many charities would prefer to run for the hills.

Charities have been used to taking people’s money, spending it and then sending a report a few months later. That won’t do. The New Philanthropists don’t just have big wallets but sharp minds. They want to see what value for money really looks life. Most importantly, they want to know that their hard earned cash will not be squandered in office refurbishments or water coolers or whatever.

Before we scoff and dismiss these individuals as conscience appeasing capitalists, seeking atonement for their years of exploitation, we would do well to thing again.

Individuals such as Gordon Roddick, Ram Gidamool and Tony Adams are not just seriously rich. They are serious about seeing social transformation. They are increasingly seeking partnership with those in the voluntary sector.

The sector must rise to this challenge. Most importantly, we must inspire this group of individuals with a vision of what can be accomplished through them and with them.

The new philanthropists are good news for our sector. Their financial and human capital must be harnessed to add ever greater effectiveness to our work.

Faith in Progress

Robert Louis Stevenson summed up how many of us feel when he wrote; ‘The world is so big and I am so small, I do not like it at all, at all.’

The world faces a giddying array of problems. At times they seem to dwarf hope, intimidate courage and undermine action.

I work in International Development. One of the great challenges we face is convincing partners, supporters and stakeholders that progress and real accomplishment is possible. We need not be on the losing side.

The Make Poverty History coalition was a testament to that. Hundreds of organisations, hundreds of thousands of individuals energised and enthused with a freshly articulated vision.

Inspiring confidence that we can make a serious dent to poverty is critical. Every generation has to re-discover this idealism. Every generation has to decide how highly it values changing the world.

However sympathetic people are to cause, if they are not convinced that progress can and will be made, their support will not be forthcoming. And without that belief, the chances doing something extraordinary vanish.

A pre-cursor to change is a credible and intelligent vision that harnesses the latent hope inside every human heart. Development agencies have a special role to play in that. Their mission is to be David, fighting against a mighty Goliath, undeterred and confident of success despite the odds.

I was recently involved in a competitive application for a seven figure sum of money with 20 other charities. The private donor wanted to fund 3 or 4 charities. They wanted to be presented with clear value propositions which under-girded the proposals that each charity submitted. 8 charities were invited to make a presentation following the proposal phase.

In the end, only two charities got the funds. Only two had been able to inspire, to articulate with conviction the case for support. I was delighted that our presentation was one of the two successful bids.

It reminded me though that people are willing to be convinced. There is a no law that dictates that injustice and poverty need always be with us. Perhaps more than other, development agencies need to promote a faith in progress in order to change the world.

ENDS

To buy or not to buy

We are all embroiled in retail. And I mean all of us. No one can opt out. From the moment we existed, we became a consumer.

But something has changed. Like never before, we are all connected. What our generation eats, buys, wears and even cheers on a Saturday afternoon hails from a foreign land.

A global work force is deployed in the search to manufacture products at a price that will meet our insatiable desire to consume. This unfettered desire is a threat to our future but may also hold the key to a brighter tomorrow.

Bono’s new Product (Red) is a case in point. It aims to harness consumer power not undermine it. A percentage of the profits generated by its branded items (now including trade-mark Bono wrap arounds, mobile phones, shoes, clothes and credit cards) go to fight AIDS in Africa www.joinred.com. The products aim to rival any on the market. They aim to win you as a consumer (and as a compassionate, enlightened human being.)

Bono makes one emphatic point: as consumers, we have a powerful choice. We have an opportunity. What we collectively choose to buy or not to buy can change the course of history. International development organisations are increasingly waking up to this. Their message has changed. They are not just interested in your one off donation; they are interested in challenging your lifestyle.

I’m not just talking about boycotting blacklisted apparel companies or confectionary conglomerates. I’m thinking about more penetrative, positive choices.

Increasingly consumers can choose an ethical alternative: from your ISPs to your holidays abroad, from the wine you drink to the food you eat, from where you invest your savings to the clothes you wear.

When we go out today, there are choices we can make which can make this world stronger, safer, fairer.

We have to decide though: will we use our power?


ENDS