To answer the question “what is a philanthropist ?”, We have to start with a negative story. Over the course of time, many people have realized that mankind repeatedly was moving towards self-destruction. With all the achievements and technological progress, amazing inventions and social development, we are still far from being a perfect civilization. We do face lots of issues in all spheres of our existence, starting from the healthcare services and finishing with poverty and racism. One day it hits you that you are not going to live forever. None of us is. But there is a chance to change this world, to embrace it, to give better future for the next generations. You can do it. Today. If you are questioning life and the way it works, if you are willing to help those in need, you have a perfect chance to make a difference.

Philanthropy is a great place to start

So, what is a philanthropist? Internet search gives us a long list of names of people known as philanthropists. What is so special about their work? Why are their names engraved in the vastness of the Internet and thousands of people’s hearts? A philanthropist is someone who follows the ideas of philanthropy which is the love of all the human beings, care for the humanity and public well-being. In other words, this kind of person is the one who puts other people’s interests on top of the list and is working so make their lives better. His goal is to add quality and comfort to people’s existence. This person will donate millions of dollars, if he happens to have them, raise funds to solve the most burning social problems and give people necessary support and help.

Philanthropy has a long history and many forms

Philanthropy takes its origin from the ancient times, and today it exists in its modern form with lots of charity and non-profit organizations, as well as volunteer programs and pro bono consulting. History has great examples of famous people, and especially those in IT sphere, who have donated huge amounts of money to charity, saving lives and giving hope. Speaking about those IT geniuses, there is some modern high-tech sectors which have their second careers in philanthropy. Wealthy individuals in IT, show business and cinematography, showed some amazing examples of kindness and love for the people. It is easy to make donations today. There are so many organizations and foundations responsible for helping others in different spheres. Sometimes it takes you several clicks to donate your money to those in need. And you don’t necessarily have to have a million dollars. Little help also helps. Of course, it is necessary to do some research before making donations or doing any work for free. You need to make sure that your actions will have some positive impact. But what is most important is your motives, your desire to change the world, your attitude and your views. Being a philanthropist is a state of your soul, it is caring about others without any expectation to get something in return. It is not only donating some money or offering financial support. It also is volunteering, contributing to the development of the local communities, teaching the kids from poor families, raising the level of literacy and social awareness of the greatest issues of the mankind.

What-Is-Philanthropist

What is a philanthropist doing differently?

Someone might think that one person can’t change the world. It might be true. But one person can change the way people see this world and encourage them for stepping out of their comfort zone and making things which will shape this world and make it a better place.

Philanthropists have a special way of thinking; their minds are always busy trying to find the best solutions and help others. While charities help people deal with consequences of some issues, philanthropy is focused on developing some tools which will help those people solve their problems. They do their best to find the cause of their problems and develop the strategy to eliminate it.  This is a key difference between philanthropy and charity. However, those two terms are often overlapping.

How do I become a philanthropist?

You might ask this question after successfully answering “What is a philanthropist?”. Well, it is not a profession or specialty you can get at college. It is something inside that will push you towards people, it is the love and care for all of them. Sometimes all you need is open your eyes. Open your eyes and see the world through the eyes of a hopeless parent who is ready to give his life to save the life of his kid, but it still is not enough to pay the hospital bills. Open your eyes and see the world through the eyes of a hungry kid in dirty rags who have never seen anything but the poverty of his village. Open your eyes and your heart. That is when you will realize that your presence in this world is not accidental. You can mold it, change it, and make people more humane and happier.