Nonprofits meet many community
needs that businesses and government do not. These needs range from education and health care to crime prevention.
Nonprofit religious organizations also provide important functions to
the community. Most of us benefit from the work of nonprofits throughout
our lives. It is important to support these programs to promote the common
good.
Most nonprofits depend on individual giving. Nonprofits may make some money
through their programs, but they often need donations to survive. Businesses
donate to nonprofits, and the government may give them money as well. But
the majority of nonprofit donations are from individuals. The success of
nonprofits depends on the generosity of people just like you.
The act of giving to charitable causes is known as philanthropy.
A philanthropist is a person who donates time, talent
and treasure and takes action to support the common good. Perhaps
the greatest benefit of philanthropy is that it creates a positive
impact. It can bring about very important changes. These changes
create positive life experiences for others.
Individual support
In 2003, financial donations to organizations exceeded $240 billion.
Most people would think that businesses or foundations gave the
majority of that amount. However, the opposite is actually true.
Individual donations made up 74.5 percent of it, or more than $179
billion. Source: Giving USA 2004.
The Common Good
“ How wonderful it is that nobody needs to wait a single
moment before starting to improve the world.” —Anne
Frank, German-Jewish teenager (1929-1945)
The “common good” is defined as conditions that benefit
all people in society. These conditions benefit everyone equally.
One example of such a condition is world peace. Another example of
a common good is a health care system that all people can afford.
Though the common good benefits everyone, it may not happen automatically.
People must cooperate to create the common good. When a common good
is maintained, its benefits are enjoyed by the entire society. Reducing
pollution, for example, enables all people to live in a healthier
environment.
One way in which philanthropy
helps others is through advocacy. To advocate is to speak up for something. Many nonprofits help
society by fighting for important
causes. A nonprofit may advocate for justice, for example. Through philanthropy,
youth have the power to promote many causes, from equality to world peace. Philanthropy
is a personal way to make the world a better place.
Throughout our history, Americans have
benefited from the generosity of many individuals. These individuals were
pioneers in donating their time and money:
Benjamin Franklin started
volunteer fire companies and lending libraries.
Clara Barton,
along with other nurses, tended wounded Civil War soldiers. Barton then
founded a volunteer assistance agency known as the Red Cross.
The contributions of these individuals continue to affect us today. Many people
now volunteer at libraries and fire departments. The Red Cross is an international
organization. What started as a donation turned into a commitment. The rest,
as they say, is history.
