Top 101 Philanthropy Quotes

One of the great conundrums in philanthropy globally is that the way wealth creation happens itself often creates the inequities in society.

Philanthropy is the thing that I am really excited about, and having success means I can do more.

At the end of the day, philanthropy can only ever be an adjunct to what governments provide. And government coffers need to be replenished.

The sustaining fantasy of Nolan’s Batman films – which does chime uncomfortably with Romney -is that the excesses of finance capital can be curbed by a combination of philanthropy, off-the-books violence and symbolism.

You have to build a culture of philanthropy. In a country like India, we need to be sensitive and caring about the poorer, more disadvantaged section of our country.

I feel that India lacks a level of philanthropy that is proportional to the wealth that is here, particularly among the top 5,000 industrialists and entrepreneurs.

Philanthropy is activism.

Investors are right to demand a clear path to self-sustainability from every business they invest in, and I believe we should ask for the same from philanthropy.

Entrepreneurial Philanthropy is not just a philosophy or a dream. It is a promise that philanthropy is at its best when it is founded on entrepreneurial zest and agility.

Philanthropy is not about giving money but about solving problems. While well-meaning, the idea of writing a check and calling it ‘philanthropy’ is extremely short-sighted and unfortunately, extremely pervasive.

Major forces that have contributed to the evolution of philanthropy in India in the pre-modern era have mainly been driven by religion, family, and society. The Hindu teaching of ‘daan’ or ‘giving’ is present in different ways in almost every celebration or ritual.

Large-scale philanthropy, based in the private – not the public – sector, is a relatively recent historical development.

Philanthropy is often seen as society’s risk capital. That means the onus is on philanthropists, nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs to innovate. But philanthropic innovation is not just about creating something new. It also means applying new thinking to old problems, processes and systems.

When you are the head of any philanthropy organization, what you learn is empathy, how to listen and be responsive to people’s needs.

Feedie creates a wonderful symmetry between tech and philanthropy. It also nourishes the users of the app by giving them the opportunity do something incredibly positive.

I get great satisfaction from both business and philanthropy.

Philanthropy is natural. For a mother, taking care of her children is natural. If I am rich, I take care of the poor, like a mother would.

There are three lessons in philanthropy – one, involve the family, especially the spouse. She can be a remarkable driver of your initiative. Two, you need to build an institution, and you need to scale it up. Choose a leader for philanthropy whom you trust. Three, philanthropy needs patience, tenacity and time.

With my business, the way you make big money is you find a great management team and a good concept, and you stick to it, and you add to it over time. In philanthropy, there was more this idea that once an idea was formulated, you moved along.

Once you are wealthy, you are in a nice comfort zone and want to stay there. So I always look in the mirror and ask, is my philanthropy making the world a more just and fair place?

The results of philanthropy are always beyond calculation.

It’s just not our style to put our names on the philanthropy we’ve done. It’s not in the Jewish tradition of tzedakah.

Philanthropy should be voluntary.

One of the big myths about philanthropy is that it’s all about donating funds for a cause. I like to look at it quite differently. Philanthropy is about ‘giving’ – not just in monetary terms but also in non-monetary aspects, like time, ideas, or being a volunteer. Donating money is just a small part of philanthropy.

I’m a technologist by origin and by training, but I’m focused on philanthropy.

This was the invention of modern American philanthropy as we know it. The idea of systematizing giving to achieve human progress was the true innovation of John D. Rockefeller, and ultimately the Rockefeller Foundation’s legacy.

Bill Gates has become the patron saint of philanthropy and the poster child of rebirth, and from what I can tell, rightly so.

The Bharat Ram family was into philanthropy a way earlier. They build institutes such as Shri Ram College of Commerce, Lady Shri Ram College, and Shri Ram Schools. They are very inspiring.

I have failed a lot in my philanthropy, where I will make philanthropic contributions and they just won’t be effective.

I’ll get involved in philanthropy.

‘Giving 2.0’ was born of my desire to redefine and democratize philanthropy.

My philanthropy is no relation to anybody else’s. None. My philanthropy and what we do at the foundation speaks for itself and has no relation to anyone’s.

What’s success all about? What’s philanthropy all about? Let’s think of our legacy, following in the footsteps of some great Americans like the Carnegies and the Mellons who used their wealth for quality purposes.

I actually believe that this Trump phenomenon, which has affected many of us, is going to accelerate the use of art for philanthropy, because people are realizing that art is a vehicle for showing opposition – just look at the signs in the women’s marches.

It’s an irony that growing inequality could mean more money for philanthropy. In the U.S., quite a few of the ultra-rich have taken to heart the 19th century industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie’s comment that it’s a disgrace to die wealthy.

Never respect men merely for their riches, but rather for their philanthropy; we do not value the sun for its height, but for its use.

At DonorsChoose.org, you can give as little as $1 and get the same level of choice, transparency, and feedback that is traditionally reserved for someone who gives millions. We call it citizen philanthropy.

At the end of my journey, I see myself as a Rocket. That’s where I ended my career, and also the organization that did so much for me. They knew I had a vision, and I went to work for the owner, who’s a man who believes in philanthropy and believed in me as a player.

You cannot mandate philanthropy. It has to come from within, and when it does, it is deeply satisfying.

Who can begrudge the generosity of the wealthy, you might say. Wherever you stand on the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a tiny global elite, surely such charity should be applauded? But philanthropy is a dangerous substitution for progressive taxation.

The worlds of art, philanthropy, and business are absolutely intertwined.

Philanthropy without scale and sustainability is like any other bad business that will simply wither and die on the vine.

My grandfather, along with Carnegie, was a pioneer in philanthropy, which my father then practiced on a very large scale.

Philanthropy and social change work are at their best when they are driven by your values and connected to what you care about most.

I personally think that people who are inheriting the wealth must have an agreement on how that wealth will flow from generation to generation, how they would like to spend it, and have similar philosophies around philanthropy to ensure continuity and scaling up.

At what age did Warren Buffett come into philanthropy? At 76. He gave a very good reason. He said his wife was considerably younger than him. And all Americans believe they would live till 80, and they do live till 80. He told his wife that when he is gone, she should take care of whatever they need to do.

The goal of my shows, my interviews, my business, my philanthropy, all of it, whatever ventures I might pursue, would be to make clear that what unites us is ultimately far more redeeming and compelling than anything that separates me.

True philanthropy requires a disruptive mindset, innovative thinking and a philosophy driven by entrepreneurial insights and creative opportunities.

By making all my materials freely available through ‘Giving 2.0’ ProjectU, I am on a mission to extend philanthropy education to colleges globally and far beyond campus walls.

The goal of the program, called Giving With Purpose, is to teach college students – and anyone else who cares to register – how to beneficially contribute to charity. That’s not necessarily easy. There are IRS rules for giving that must be learned, and there is wayward, wasteful philanthropy to be avoided.

I’m driven by my passion – my family, my philanthropy, and the New England Patriots winning. That’s my life.

I think those who are already in philanthropy and enjoying it and making a difference have a responsibility to share their stories widely, and to be very transparent about their giving.

In business, we say that people overestimate what you can do in a year and underestimate what you can do in a decade. This is true in philanthropy as well.

Our mission is to help students in need and to democratize philanthropy.