Who will be the next great philanthropist?
It’s happening again. The oldest living generations of philanthropists are dying. The recent losses of Dolly Parton (80) and Gloria Steinem (90) and the passing of CNN founder Ted Turner (87) earlier this year are some of the most notable recent examples.
Each had their passions into which they fueled funds and focus: Parton into literacy with Imagination Library, Steinem into women’s and minority rights with Gloria’s Foundation, and Turner into the environment with the Turner Foundation.
Others, such as Doris Fisher, the co-founder of the Gap stores (94), philanthropist Wilma “Billie” Tisch (98), and banking billionaire T. Denny Sanford (90) – who gave away $4 billion in his lifetime and changed rural healthcare – are no less impactful.
It’s interesting to consider that the oldest, Tisch, was born into an immigrant family in 1924, immediately after women got the vote and just before the Great Depression. The youngest, Parton, was born in 1946, just after World War II, into abject poverty. Rich, poor or middle class, all came from a world today’s young people would likely not recognize.
Of course, they were preceded by other generations of great givers. John D Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie and Julius Rosenwald (who spent his Sears fortune funding the development of other 1,000 schools for black children), among them.
So, with this as with every shift, it’s worth considering the state of our philanthropic landscape. Nearly every recent survey shows that the percentage of Americans who donate money and/or volunteer is dropping; these numbers have been on decline for a long time. Therefore, while we celebrate the philanthropists who give so much, we must also celebrate the everyday philanthropists, too – those who give smaller amounts, because the “system” of philanthropy and generosity requires all of us to join in.
As we celebrate the impacts of these lions of giving, it’s clear that to assure that philanthropy remains a catalyst for our communities, our task is to learn from and be inspired by them – and then encourage younger generations. Here are three of many ways we can do that:
- Teach Philanthropic Literacy – Whether in DCF programs such as Youth Philanthropy Boards in high school and Next Gen giving circles for young professionals, through nonprofits such as Junior Achievement, or at home or a place of worship taught as a value, teaching younger people how they can be philanthropists is critical.
- Value “Time, Treasure & Talent” – While not everyone is a millionaire, our civil society is founded on the idea that everyone can contribute, be it financial, by volunteering or lending talents to support a nonprofit’s success.
- Convene & Connect – Steinem was famous for bringing women of all ages and backgrounds to meet in her home to talk about societal challenges and make connections. Striving to open doors for others is key.
And one more (for now): Parton was famous for her personal appearances and videos expressing thanks to those in communities that opened her libraries, an inspiration to us to remember to say “thank you” to those who make a difference in our world.
So, we thank you for all you do to make the DCF, Delaware and the world a better place.
-Stuart Comstock-Gay