Philanthropy – What Does It Really Take?
- Brainz Magazine
- Nov 4
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 5
Danisa Abiel is well known for her practical solutions to teaching and learning in the advancing fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). She is the founder of International Teaching Learning Assessment Consultants and Online Schools (ITLACO). She has authored 20 editions of her newsletter, "The Educator's Diaries," on LinkedIn.
When I first started thinking about philanthropy, I pictured gala dinners, oversized checks, and headlines about billionaires funding global causes. It felt distant, something reserved for people with resources I didn’t have. I was a science teacher at a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) in Kensington and Chelsea, London, United Kingdom, at the time, as I sought experience working with children who had been excluded from school communities due to the challenging social and economic environments in which they lived.
That perception changed the day I met an elderly literacy teacher at the youth centre where the students hung out. She was a wealthy retiree, but every Saturday, she spent hours teaching neighbourhood kids how to read (and yes, many children in the United Kingdom cannot read). When I asked her why she gave so much of her time, she said, “I can’t change the world, but maybe I can change their world.”
That moment reshaped my perspective on philanthropy. It wasn’t about money. It was about mindset. It was about showing up consistently with what you have, whether that be time, wealth, knowledge, or compassion. It was about providing social equity. At its heart, philanthropy is about a commitment to improve the well-being of others and leave the world better than we found it. But what does it really take to be philanthropic in today’s world?
What true philanthropy demands
The elderly lady showed me that true philanthropy requires and demands:
Vision beyond the self: Philanthropy requires the ability to look beyond personal gain and envision a better future for others (humility). The elderly teacher didn’t see “just a few kids who couldn’t read”. She saw children who might grow up with confidence and opportunity because someone invested in them. They, too, were learning to see beyond themselves. Philanthropy demands the ability to see beyond immediate circles. It takes a vision for community, for equity, and for future generations. It means asking, "What can I contribute that will outlast me?"
Resources, not just financial: While financial contributions matter, time, expertise, networks, and influence are equally powerful, a young professional mentoring a student or a retiree volunteering their skills is engaging in philanthropy just as much as someone who writes a million-dollar check. A mentorship session, a connection, or even patient listening can have as much impact as a big check. And not many people realise this. Thus, people hold back in their contributions of what they have, no matter how big or small.
Empathy turned into action: Philanthropy isn’t about guessing what people need, it’s about listening, understanding, and then acting. The literacy teacher didn’t assume, she asked the children what they struggled with and shaped her lessons around their answers. This strategy required time, commitment, and an excellent level of patience. Generosity without empathy risks becoming performative. Empathy without action risks becoming passive. True philanthropy combines both listening deeply to communities and then taking steps that address real needs rather than assumed ones.
Patience and persistence: Fundamental change rarely happens overnight (an aspect I am still growing into). Philanthropy is rarely about quick fixes. The most meaningful change often requires years, sometimes decades, of effort. It takes persistence to fund under-recognised causes, to advocate for policies that face resistance, and to support movements that may not yield immediate results.
Humility and collaboration: The most meaningful giving often happens quietly. Philanthropy is not about the spotlight, but about service. It takes humility to admit that we don’t have all the answers, and courage to empower others who are closer to the problem. Collaboration amplifies impact, while ego diminishes it.
A personal reflection
In my own professional journey, I’ve had the privilege of seeing how small, intentional acts can create ripple effects. On one school community-based project, the community didn’t need funding as much as they needed access. Our team of educators and administrators couldn’t solve everything. However, we could use our position to open doors, connect them with decision-makers of educational agencies, and ensure their voices were heard at the right tables.
That experience taught me an important leadership lesson, philanthropy is about leveraging whatever influence or resources you already have for the benefit of others. Sometimes leadership isn’t about having the most, it’s about using what you do have to empower those who have less.
I share this not because I have it all figured out, but because I believe leadership carries a responsibility to model generosity, in time, access, and empathy, not just in financial contributions.
Redefining philanthropy
The elderly teacher at the youth centre taught me more about philanthropy than any headline ever could. She showed me that the question isn’t “how much do you have to give?” but “how willing are you to give what you already have?”
Philanthropy doesn’t begin with wealth. It starts with willingness. So maybe the real question is not what philanthropy takes? But what are we each willing to offer today?
Suggested notable philanthropists to follow
Strive Masiyiwa (born 29 January 1961) is a London-based Zimbabwean billionaire businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder and executive chairman of international technology group Econet Global and Cassava Technologies. Strive Masiyiwa has provided scholarships to more than 250,000 young Africans since 1996 through his family foundation.
Chief Folorunso Alakija (born 15 July 1951) is a Nigerian businesswoman and philanthropist. She is currently the Group Managing Director of The Rose of Sharon Group and also serves as Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil Limited. Alakija established the Rose of Sharon Foundation, which was intended to grant scholarships and business grants to widows and orphans. Alakija has donated a skills acquisition centre to Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), a higher educational institution located in Lagos.
MacKenzie Scott (née Tuttle, formerly Bezos, born April 7, 1970) is an American novelist, philanthropist, and early contributor to Amazon. She was married to Jeff Bezos, the co-founder of Amazon, from 1993 to 2019.
Melinda French Gates (born Melinda Ann French, August 15, 1964) is an American philanthropist. In 2015, Melinda French Gates founded Pivotal Ventures as a separate, independent organisation to identify and implement innovative solutions to problems affecting U.S. women and families, in partnership with Lever for Change, an affiliate of the MacArthur Foundation. Melinda French Gates announced a 2024-25 grant competition called Action for Women's Health, which aims to provide $250 million in grants to fund women's health initiatives.
Sir Rod Aldridge OBE is the former founder and executive chair of Capita Group. Since his retirement in 2006, he has headed up the Aldridge Foundation, supporting children from disadvantaged communities to continue their education, secure university places and professional apprenticeships, and then start their own businesses. Sir Rod Aldridge also set up Aldridge Education, a national multi-academy of schools and colleges.
Suggested social impact groups to follow
BLQK Coffee
Former NFL player Justin Watson created BLQK Coffee to represent the intersection between coffee as a drink and a community. The startup pours 25% of its profits back into Black communities and donates to organisations that improve access to education, bridge opportunity gaps, and cultivate food justice.
Two Blind Brothers
Two Blind Brothers is a comfort clothing company founded by two visually impaired brothers, with 100% of the company’s profits dedicated to funding research to cure retinal eye disease. Customers can browse and purchase individual items or “shop blind” and purchase mystery boxes without seeing the products, much like the people they are supporting.
World Vision: Protect and support for vulnerable children
World Vision was founded in 1950 by Bob Pierce to aid orphans in South Korea after the Korean War. Today, they are an international partnership of Christians who operate in numerous countries, transforming the lives of children and their communities, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.
Mityana Charity
The Mityana Charity works to alleviate poverty, advance education, improve healthcare, and support community development in Mityana, Kassanda, and Mubende Districts in Uganda. They sponsor the education of vulnerable children at all levels, including vocational training, funding schools and healthcare projects, promoting religious education, and supporting sustainable farming and livelihood initiatives.
Connecting word
Acts 20:35 ESV (English Standard Version)
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Read more from Danisa Abiel
Danisa Abiel, Teaching and Learning Consultant and Founder
Danisa Abiel is a passionate leader and educator of Biology, Physics, and Chemistry with over thirty years of experience. Witnessing firsthand how students find science subjects challenging, she founded an online school to support students in different situations to improve and excel in science. Her greatest appreciation is to have all children receive the best science education, regardless of where they are in the world.
Sources:
The Bible – English Standard Version
