Gregg Jaclin | Common Misconceptions About Philanthropists
Philanthropists are people who strive to support the welfare of people around them, often through generous donations to nonprofit organizations. While philanthropy as a concept is positive and beneficial, as in many other professions, there are misconceptions and sometimes controversies about the effectiveness of different nonprofits and the way they do their work. Similarly, while donating to good causes is laudable, some people have negative views towards philanthropists and sometimes question their motives. This blog will break down some of the misconceptions about philanthropists specifically.
Performance Activism
Some people assume philanthropists just give time and money to make themselves look good. Especially for prominent figures, it is sometimes speculated that they only give back to promote their image and reputation or check something off of a list of expectations, rather than actually caring about the cause. While this may, unfortunately, be true in some cases, it is inaccurate to assume that all philanthropists are only performance activists. Many large and prominent donors have personal connections to the cause they choose to invest in and form long-term, productive partnerships with the organizations doing the work.
