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.