What is Philanthropy?
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What is Philanthropy?
Anyone can be a philanthropist and make a difference in our community, but what is philanthropy?
In the 5th century BCE, Greek playwright Aeschylus coined the term “philanthropy”, which, in Greek means “love for humanity.” Today, philanthropy is thought of as generosity and often takes the shape of donations of money, time, and efforts that benefit society. Philanthropists take many different forms, from large corporations to individuals, who give toward charitable causes and worthy initiatives. Philanthropy involves charitable giving but is much more than just donations.
Philanthropy overall is an effort that a group or individual makes based on a selfless, or altruistic, desire to improve human welfare.
What are the benefits of being a philanthropist?
Many philanthropists are driven by their desire to help others and assist with solving social problems.
Scientific evidence shows that philanthropy benefits both the giver and the receiver’s well-being. Philanthropy may contribute to:
Greater overall happiness
Lower stress levels
Better physical health
Heightened sense of connection to others
Contributions may be given altruistically or for tax breaks, or a combination of the two. Oftentimes, large charitable contributions are considered for a tax deduction in the year the contribution is made.
How does the Keweenaw AREA Community Foundation promote philanthropy?
Our mission is to support and strengthen our community while also assisting individuals in achieving their philanthropic goals. We support community members in their endeavors toward being more charitable by providing many different vehicles for giving; from time to financial assets to legacy gifts, we work to help put these gifts to work supporting the community we all love.
Learn More
Interested in learning more about KCF’s efforts and how you can become a philanthropist? Check out our website and follow our blog to learn more about how you can benefit our community!
Upcoming Informational Blog: How to Become a Philanthropist