About Community-Based Philanthropy

Philanthropy: According to Webster’s, the disposition or effort to promote the happiness and well-being of one’s fellow people; practical benevolence. The word "philanthropy" traces back to the Greek phil-anthropos: loving humankind. So philanthropy is not about privileged elite patronizing those of lesser means. It is about our collective aspiration for well-being.

Social change philanthropy (or ‘social justice philanthropy’) aims explicitly to facilitate the changing of attitudes and institutions so they cease to create the very problems that traditional charity tries to alleviate. It addresses the underlying causes – not just the symptoms – of social and economic inequalities.

Community-based philanthropy holds the above principles, and is further committed to being accountable to the communities it serves and to giving people from under-represented groups a role in decision-making about how funding should be allocated.

Community-based social change philanthropy goes beyond traditional charity, focusing on providing people in need with the means to solve their own problems, including the means to change unfair social structures and build vibrant communities.

For example, while traditional charity might fund a homeless shelter, a community-based foundation might fund community groups working on policy issues related to affordable housing, services for the mentally ill, and living wage standards. In this way, community-based philanthropy addresses the underlying issues that lead to homelessness as a social problem.